Pairing Wine With Anchovies

Anchovies can range from eating right from the can, especially if they are the good quality ones, or to putting them on pizza, pasta or as a salad dressing. This versatile ingredient add a meaty brininess to a dish and will certainly be elevated with the right kind of wine! Rosé wines go quite well, as well as light bodied savory whites, and also savory light to medium bodied reds. 

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Anchovies

Best White Wine to Pair with Anchovies

Fino Sherry

This is the classic pairing with a salty strongly flavored fish as it has complementary notes of salinity, and also since it is exposed to yeast for an extended period of time, it develops a delicious yeasty bread character to it that amplifies the flavors of anchies well. These wines are dry, delicate, and are also redolent miniscent of wild herbs, which heighten the bold yet delicate nature of the dish. The higher acidity of fino sherries have the capability to cut through the richness of the oiliness of the anchovies, making it a great pairing! 

White Vermouth 

This is an aromatized wine that is not usually associated with a wine and food pairing, but in this case it works quite well as it is dry (ensure to choose a dry option as there are some sweet ones available), savory like Fino Sherries are that are reminiscent of italian herbs with a touch of sea salt. These notes will complement those of the anchovies well. 

Txakoli

This is a wine that is not often thought of due to its small production, however would create magic with a dish containing anchovies. This dry wine has a bit of a spritz, with notes of lemon and lime juice, brine, herbs and white blossom. This wine would elevate your dining experience when pairing it with anchovies alone or in a dish as the brightness of the wine will bring an aromatic lift, while the saline and herb notes will complement those of the anchovies. 

Rosé from Provence

Rosé can have a bad reputation of being sickeningly sweet with low acidity thanks to some cheaply made examples from central California, however there are many higher quality examples that are worthy of exploring, and in particular the ones from Provence. There is a reason why these wines are famous, as they are dry, tinged with mineral aromas, and have notes of raspberry, strawberry, watermelon, cantaloupe, and roses.

These wines are light in body and have the faintest hint of color to them and are relatively delicate compared to some other rosé wines around the world. The grapes for these wines are picked early to retain acidity, thus making it a great food wine, and the fruity notes will make the savory notes of the anchovies stand out well. 

Sancerre

This white wine from the Loire Valley in France is made from Sauvignon Blanc and is known to be bone dry with notes of lime, gooseberry, grapefruit, nectarine, and a distinctive grassiness. This wine is also famous for its searing high acidity that make it great wine that pairs with fish that has a touch of oiliness, such as anchovies to create a delicious well balanced pairing The fruity nature of the wine will elevate the savory notes of the fish, and will the grassy notes will also bring out any of the herbs that are likely in the dish you are serving it with!

Best Red Wine to Pair with Anchovies

For red wine lovers, there are some great choices you can serve with them to create delicious pairings. Depending on the dish they are being served with (unless you are enjoying them on a charcuterie board or straight out of a can), there are a variety of choices. Here are some to consider.

Rioja DOCa

This is a wine that can sometimes be a surprise as the percentages of the black grapes that go into this red blend can vary. Look for a wine (ask for some assistance at your local wine store!) with one that is not dominated with Tempranillo, but with a bit more Garnacha in it. These wines would go best with dishes that are not not extremely bold, such as a pizza that has anchovies, or a pasta with red sauce with anchovies for instance. Its medium to medium plus tannins would stand up well to the dish, providing some texture and complexity. Also, if possible look for an older vintage as Rioja red wines often see some iodine-brine like notes as they age that will complement the anchovies well.

Northern Rhône

Red wines from this region are made from 100% Syrah (however some regions allow for a small inclusion of white wines, but most producers choose not to). There is something about these wines that are beautifully savory with olive tapenade notes that can create such a harmonious balance with the sweet black spice and fruit. As these age, they also gain a slight saline note that will highlight those of the anchovies. Their high acidity (mostly) make it a perfect match with the oily texture of the anchovy itself, creating a contrast that just works.

Red Bordeaux AOC

This humble wine is not from any of the prestigious communes, but definitely has its place. These red wine blends tend to be Merlot dominated which lend a plush red fruit nature to the wine, along with medium tannins and medium plus acid levels. This acidity in the wine harmonizes well with richer dishes, and the medium tannins will not overpower whatever you are serving the anchovies with. 

Oregon Pinot Noir

This wine is world renowned for its elegance, high acidity, and balance of bold fruit flavors with savory earthiness that will age beautifully with notes of truffle and earth. Choose a wine with some age on it (at least 5 years old) that will have some earthy or smoky characteristics to bring out these same notes in the anchovies. You will enjoy the bright acidity of this wine as it balances with the rich mouthfeel of this dish.

Chilean Merlot

This wine tends to be overlooked, but it is bursting with red fruits with hints of sweet spice. Ask your local wine store for an example of one that has a higher acid level to balance out with the richness of the anchovies. You will like how the red fruit plays off the salty pungency of the anchovies. Something that Chilean reds are well known for are their distinctive bell pepper or jalapeno notes to them, which would highlight the savory aspects of the dish. 

Best Wine to Pair with Anchovies

As one can see, there are many choices that range from white, rosé or red. It is fun to play around with different choices based on your mood, your preference or what dish the anchovies are served with or in. If you prefer a white, choose a lean crisp white with briney characteristics. Great red choices would be the ones that have great savory notes or herbaceous notes as listed above. Enjoy!