Pairing Wine With Cod

Cod is one of the more interesting fish to create a satisfying dish out of, with a deliciously simple, firm body that has a great flakiness to go with it. Along with a very soft and mild flavour that it brings as well, making it an easy eat for even the minimal seafood eater. Because of this, we recommend a flavorful fruit-centric wine with a fuller body, focusing on more smoothly-balanced & recognizable characteristics on the palate. This ensures it works to complement the fish, rather than overpower it.

Wine Characteristics To Pair With Cod

Characteristic	Detail
Sweetness	Dry
Acidity	Medium-High
Tannins	Low
Body	Bold
Tasting Notes	Green fruit, Herbal, earthy

Best White Wine To Drink With Cod

The cliche of “if it’s chicken or fish, stick with white wine” continues in full force when it comes to Cod. A down-to-earth (literally) & fruit profile in a rich body white wine is what we recommend when finding a wine to pair with your Cod. With Cod being such a simple yet delectable fish, we want it to be enhanced through wine, not overtaken. Pairing it with a rich flavour and higher acidity, without the harsh density of too much tannin, will let whatever flavour profile given to your cod take center stage, to get the best way to get the most out of your seafood dinner or lunch.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc, from the right region, can be quite the sidekick to cod. Its flavour profile is one of the more versatile white varieties, ranging anywhere from herbal to incredibly fruity. Preparation of cod can sometimes dictate our pairings, but Sauvignon Blanc can remain through them all.

White Burgundy

The Burgundy region in France can have its identity most popularly be divided into 2 grape varieties: Pinot noir and chardonnay. White Burgundy style wines offer the necessary full body in their blends (thanks, Oak!) but thanks to their robust style of Chardonnay grapes, which are active in most popular White Burgundy-style wines, the necessary fruit enjoyment will still be found with your wine & cod pairing.

Dry Riesling

A good, well-made Riesling, in a classic Dry style, is a very safe bet for any cod dish. Think the style of Alsace, or for a simpler option, a Washington style.

Pinot Gris/Grigio

As with most Pinot Gris/Grigio, the sharp & zesty flavour profile can be matched with a great white fish dish. Packed with flavour, this is exactly the type of wine to grab yourself when you need a pairing on the fly!

Cava

Cod is most famously known as the fish used in Fish & Chips dishes, where it is deep fried. With this type of serving, we recommend keeping that flavour profile eccentric with a nice sparkling Cava to compliment your classic meal!

Best Red Wine To Drink With Cod

A common disbelief is that red wine should not be paired with white fish. While it is a more specific field to choose from, to say that it is impossible is simply untrue. Many light-bodied red wines can pair great with a Cod, especially depending on the preparation of the Cod. Something like a Sonoma Pinot Noir or a classic Beaujolais can be a perfect pairing for your Cod dish.

Pairing Wine With Cod Prepared Different Ways

Wine With Deep-Fried Cod (Fish & Chips)

As stated above, a great pairing for your deep-fried cod would be a very sharp and spicy mouthfeel wine. A good sparkling option, like Cava, or a Vinho Verde varietal to help round out the flavour of a classic comfort food.

Wine With Roasted Cod

A common cooking method, roasted cod can be made with a variety of different ingredients. If you are using some bold peppers or tomatoes, a full body red becomes an option. For softer ingredients and the usual light roasting styles, we recommend to stick with full body white wines.

Best Wine To Drink With Cod

Cod can be a wonderful centerpiece to any main course, and prepared in a variety of different ways. You never want to over shine such a mild fish, and instead make sure to get the most out of its potential. Here is our list of your best bets when pairing wine with cod: