48 pairings
Riesling
Sushi with Nackenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Grosses Gewaechs: Saline-iodine register and tropical fruit suit fatty tuna and salmon nigiri.
The short answer
Across 207 sushi pairings on 203 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Riesling (48), Chardonnay (47), Pinot Noir (28) and Sauvignon Blanc (22). For example, Nackenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Grosses Gewaechs from Rheinhessen with sushi: Saline-iodine register and tropical fruit suit fatty tuna and salmon nigiri.
By style: white 119, sparkling 75, rosé 6, fortified 4, red 3 of the 207 pairings.
The wines that turn up most: Rheinhessen, DO Cava Reserva, DOC Vinho Verde - Monção e Melgaço, Wachau DAC, Rheingau Pradikatswein, DOC Dão.
The best grapes for sushi
47 pairings
Chardonnay
Sushi and sashimi with Krug Clos du Mesnil: Saline precision flatters delicate raw fish.
28 pairings
Pinot Noir
Seared tuna tartare with Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose: Saline freshness and red fruit meet raw fish.
22 pairings
Sauvignon Blanc
Sea bass crudo with Miani Saurint Sauvignon: Raw Adriatic fish and high-acid Sauvignon lock together.
16 pairings
Albariño
Ceviche of sea bass with Soalheiro Granit: The citrus-driven acidity lifts lime-cured fish and the granite minerality keeps the palate clean.
16 pairings
Xarel-lo
Sea bass crudo with Claror Cava de Paraje Calificado: Raw fish and long-lees Cava share fine texture.
13 pairings
Parellada
Sea bass crudo with La Ticota Gran Reserva: Raw fish and long-lees Cava share fine texture.
13 pairings
Macabeo
Sea bass crudo with Nuria Claverol Gran Reserva: Raw fish and long-lees Cava share fine texture.
Bottles to pour with sushi
The best-rated pairings, one per producer and no more than two from any one region, so the list travels.
Sushi and sashimi
Saline precision flatters delicate raw fish.
Sushi
Saline-iodine register and tropical fruit suit fatty tuna and salmon nigiri.
Sushi with unagi
Racy acidity and stone-fruit concentration pair with the sweet glaze.
Sea bass crudo
Crystalline acidity lifts raw fish; white-flower aromatics partner with citrus dressings.
Seared tuna tartare
Saline freshness and red fruit meet raw fish.
Sushi omakase
Pure salinity and high acid suit raw fish.
Ceviche
Racy acidity matches citrus cure without adding sweetness.
Ceviche of sea bass
The citrus-driven acidity lifts lime-cured fish and the granite minerality keeps the palate clean.
Prosciutto crudo di Parma
Fine bubbles cleanse the fat; cherry fruit complements the sweet ham.
Sashimi
Nothing in the wine is sweet enough to fight raw fish.
Scallop crudo
Saline slate minerality echoes the sweet shellfish.
Sea bass crudo with Adriatic olive oil
Raw fish and high-acid Sauvignon lock together.
Taste the pairing: food and wine in Franciacorta
Food and wine tastings you can book in Franciacorta, one of the regions whose bottles our editors pour with sushi.
From Bergamo: Winery Tour in Franciacorta with Lunch
Savor a traditional lunch in a restaurant, visit an iconic Franciacorta winery to try some famous sparkling wines, and take scenic tour of Franciacorta and Lake Iseo o...
Wine Tour and Tasting of Lugana Wines near Sirmione
This experience offers an authentic introduction to the wines of Lake Garda in a welcoming, family-run winery. Unlike larger commercial wineries, guests enjoy a more p...
Tasting with winery visit in the heart of Franciacorta
Live an authentic experience in the heart of Franciacorta, in a family-run winery where tradition, passion and attention to detail meet. During the visit you will di...
Wine tastings and winery visits in Franciacorta (10) · Cooking classes in Franciacorta (9) · Food tours in Franciacorta (5) · Wine tours and day trips in Franciacorta (8) · All wine and food experiences
pairings by region
- Franciacorta: 24 pairings, Franciacorta food and wine pairing
- Penedes: 23 pairings, Penedes food and wine pairing
- Loire Valley: 16 pairings, Loire Valley food and wine pairing
- Vinho Verde: 16 pairings, Vinho Verde food and wine pairing
- Rheinhessen: 14 pairings, Rheinhessen food and wine pairing
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia: 13 pairings, Friuli-Venezia Giulia food and wine pairing
- Rheingau: 11 pairings, Rheingau food and wine pairing
- Mosel: 8 pairings, Mosel food and wine pairing
- Alto Adige: 7 pairings, Alto Adige food and wine pairing
- Brda: 7 pairings, Brda food and wine pairing
- Dão: 6 pairings, Dão food and wine pairing
- Languedoc: 6 pairings, Languedoc food and wine pairing
Wine with sushi, FAQ
What wine goes with sushi?
Across 207 sushi pairings on 203 of our bottle pages, the grapes our editors pour most often are Riesling (48), Chardonnay (47), Pinot Noir (28) and Sauvignon Blanc (22). For example, Nackenheimer Rothenberg Riesling Grosses Gewaechs from Rheinhessen with sushi: Saline-iodine register and tropical fruit suit fatty tuna and salmon nigiri.
Red or white wine with sushi?
Most often white: of the 207 sushi pairings, the split by style is white 57%, sparkling 36%, rosé 3% and fortified 2%. The bottles below show which of each work and why.
Which wine regions are best with sushi?
The regions with the most sushi pairings on our bottle pages are Franciacorta, Penedes and Loire Valley.