Pairing Wine With Catfish

What about a fried fresh catch like catfish? You can pair this fish with several wines and especially some sparkling options. Who doesn’t like fried fish and cava on a hot summer day! We’d recommend a Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, or Pinot Grigio for some classic whites. Red wine lovers could opt for lighter, less tannic wines such as Pinot Noir or a Rose.

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Catfish

Characteristic	Detail
Sweetness	Dry
Acidity	Low
Tannins	Low
Body	Light White / Light Red / Sparkling
Tasting Notes	Herbaceous, citrus, floral

Catfish offer a complex mouthful of flavors with fattiness coming through in deep-fried fish. This makes it a great candidate to pair with sparkling wine.

Best Red Wine To Drink With Catfish

We’d suggest some lighter red wines given their soft tannins yet intense flavors. You don’t want the wine to overpower the fish flavor so sticking to some light wines and rose would be good.

Pinot Noir

One of the best choices to pair with catfish is Pinot Noir given its fruit-forward notes. The dark fruit aromas and light tannins will complement the fattiness of the deep-fried fish.

Pinotage

The balanced and soft berry notes of Pinotage make it a perfect pairing for catfish. The strong red fruit flavors of the fruits will offer an intense finish to the overall meal.

Rosé

Another accompaniment would be a light, crispy and dry rosé of Grenache, Syrah, or Cinsault. Served chilled, it would balance the seasoned and charred flavors coming from grilled catfish.

Best White Wine To Drink With Catfish

The variety of ways in which catfish is served makes it a great accompaniment for a host of white wine options including an all-time favorite sparkling wine, cava.

Sauvignon Blanc

Most fish pair well with Sauvignon Blanc. The wine’s dry, tart, and acidic nature makes it a great candidate to go with many main course fish dishes, especially those that are fried.

Chenin Blanc

The soft tropical and floral notes of a Chenin blanc make it another great wine to pair well with catfish. Its mild sweetness and strong aromas will complement the main course.

Pinot Grigio

We love the light, citrus, and fruity notes of a Pinot Grigio. When the food is batter-fried, you’ll want a wine that doesn’t overpower, but enhances the pairing experience. Pinot Grigio does that!

Cava

Saving the best for the last, we think catfish are an excellent opportunity to pop open a sparkling white too. What’s not to like popping open a bottle of Spanish cava with some fried catfish?

Pairing Wine With Catfish Prepared Different Ways

Baked Catfish

From grilling, frying, pan-seared to baking, catfish can be prepared in many ways. The mild, sweet-ish, and denser nature of this fish is excellent for an oven-baked and healthy choice. Serve with lemon rice, or cornbread if you prepare it more like a stew with broth. Either way, with a coleslaw salad or french fries, catfish is a versatile dish that doesn’t disappoint.

Best Wine To Drink With Catfish

Catfish is an easy fish to prepare and a go-to option for weeknights or parties. The best part is that you don’t need fancy wines to pair with this dish. Instead, you can make it casual with a couple of classic whites like Sauvignon Blanc or fancy with a bottle of Cava. Our best recommendations for a catfish would be: