Maple salmon is a delicious dish that pairs nicely with a variety of wines. The maple glaze adds a touch of sweetness that enhances the flavor of the salmon without overpowering it. When choosing a wine to serve with maple salmon, you’ll want to select varieties that complement rather than compete with the maple and salmon flavors.
Light-Bodied White Wines
Lighter-bodied white wines are an excellent choice to pair with maple salmon. The crisp acidity of these wines balances out the sweet and fatty flavors of the salmon glaze. They also let the delicate flavors of the fish shine through. Great options include:
- Pinot Grigio
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Dry Riesling
- Unoaked Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Vinho Verde
Of these, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and dry Riesling are particularly good choices. The citrus and mineral notes complement the maple glaze without overwhelming the salmon. For a sweeter pairing, look for an off-dry Riesling.
Sparkling Wines
The crisp effervescence of sparkling wines cuts through the rich maple glaze beautifully. Bubbles also help cleanse the palate between bites. Sparkling wines to try with maple salmon include:
- Prosecco
- Cava
- Champagne
- Cremant
- Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir
Brut styles will be drier while Extra Dry and Demi-Sec will have a touch more sweetness. For an indulgent pairing, look for a tete de cuvee Champagne.
Rosé
The pretty pink hue of Rosé isn’t the only thing it has going for it. Dry rosé wines also pair wonderfully with maple salmon. Look for styles from Provence, the south of France, California, or Oregon. Dry rosés made from these grapes work particularly well:
- Grenache
- Cinsault
- Syrah
- Sangiovese
The red fruit flavors complement the maple notes without overshadowing the salmon. A touch of richness from the salmon also helps soften drier rosé wines.
Lighter Red Wines
While full-bodied reds might overpower it, lighter bodied reds can complement maple salmon nicely. Good options include:
- Pinot Noir
- Gamay
- Grenache
- Sangiovese
The tart red fruit flavors match well with maple’s sweetness. Pinot Noir is an especially popular pairing. The mushrooms and earthy notes in French Burgundy wines integrate beautifully.
Off-Dry Riesling
While dry Riesling is an excellent choice, off-dry Riesling can also pair wonderfully with maple salmon. The touch of sweetness enhances the maple glazed salmon while the bright acidity cuts through the richness.
German Rieslings labeled Kabinett or Spatlese make great options. Their fruity flavors complement the salmon without overwhelming it. Alsatian and Canadian Rieslings with a hint of sweetness also pair nicely.
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is a floral white wine with noticeable sweetness. It makes a delicious pairing with maple salmon. Gewürztraminer balances the dish’s flavors rather than competing with them.
The wine’s rose petal, lychee, and spice notes integrate well with maple’s sweetness. A touch of ginger or cinnamon can also mirror the salmon’s seasoning. While Alsatian Gewürztraminers are most common, look for American versions as well.
Ice Wine
For an indulgent dessert pairing, consider serving maple salmon with ice wine. These wines are made from grapes that freeze on the vine. Concentrated sugars and flavors result in lush sweet wines.
Canadian and German ice wines pair beautifully with maple glazed salmon. Their intense fruitiness stands up to the bold salmon flavors. Ice wines made from Riesling or Vidal grapes both complement the dish well.
Avoid Heavy Oak and Tannins
While the above wines complement maple salmon beautifully, certain styles won’t pair as harmoniously. In general, avoid big bodied wines that will overpower the delicate salmon flavors.
Heavy oaking can also mask the glaze’s maple notes. Skip heavily oaked Chardonnays in favor of cleaner, fruit-forward styles.
High tannins can leave your mouth feeling dry and astringent when paired with the fatty salmon. Avoid tannic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Shiraz.
Matching Wine and Salmon Doneness
When pairing wine with salmon, it’s also helpful to consider doneness. Lighter wines typically complement rarer preparations. Bolder wines stand up to well done salmon flavors.
For rare or medium rare salmon, pinot gris, brut sparkling, and lighter reds like Pinot Noir are great picks. Pair a lightly cooked filet with lighter white Burgundies as well.
As salmon cooks longer, fuller-bodied whites and reds complement the bolder flavors. Try oaked Chardonnay, white Rhone blends, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah with well-done salmon.
Recommended Wine and Maple Salmon Pairings
Here are some of my top recommendations for wine pairings with maple salmon:
| Wine | Variety/Style |
|---|---|
| Martin Codax Albariño | Spanish White |
| Leese Fitch Sauvignon Blanc | New Zealand White |
| Gerard Bertrand Côte des Roses Rosé | French Rosé |
| Raventos i Blanc Rosé Cava | Spanish Sparkling Rosé |
| Erath Pinot Noir | Oregon Red |
| Saintsbury Chardonnay | California White |
| Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling | Washington White |
Pairing Tips
Here are some final tips for pairing wine successfully with maple glazed salmon:
- Choose crisp, high-acid wines that offset the dish’s richness
- Complement rather than compete with maple’s sweet yet subtle flavor
- Rosés and sparkling wines work particularly well
- For whites, look to Pinot Grigio, dry Rieslings, Sauvignon Blanc
- With reds, stick with light-bodied options like Pinot Noir
- For dessert, ice wines pair beautifully
- Consider the salmon’s doneness and match lighter or bolder wines accordingly
- Ultimately, choose a wine you enjoy drinking that enhances the meal
Conclusion
Maple salmon is a versatile dish for wine pairings. The maple glaze lends just enough sweetness to bridge white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines. Focus on crisp, fruit-forward varieties that complement rather than compete with the salmon’s flavors.
Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and rosé all make excellent choices. For reds, stick with light-bodied options like Pinot Noir. If you enjoy off-dry whites, Gewürztraminer and sweet Rieslings like ice wine also pair deliciously. Sparkling wines are another foolproof option.
Ultimately, the right wine comes down to your personal taste preferences. Choose a vibrant, food-friendly wine you enjoy sipping and the pairing will come together beautifully.