Fish pie is a rustic, creamy dish, traditionally made in Britain and parts of Eastern Europe. It typically includes white or smoked fish, such as cod, haddock or salmon, with a rich cheese sauce and a crust of mashed potatoes – similar to shepherd’s pie.
Although this is a rich, comforting dish, its flavor profile is a far better match for white wine, so we will be looking exclusively at those in this article. It is simply seasoned, so the ideal wine will also be clean and straightforward, with high acidity and without too many tropical notes.
Wine Characteristics To Pair With Fish Pie
| Characteristic | Detail |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Acidity | High |
| Tannins | Low |
| Body | Light to Medium |
| Tasting Notes | Citrus fruits, green apple and quince, with cool minerality and high acidity. |
A dry wine is an obvious choice with fish pie – anything too sweet will simply get lost between the dish’s creaminess and its subtly sweet fishy flavors. High acidity is also important, as even the most perfectly crafted fish pie can become claggy and palate coating, without the right companion.
The ideal flavor profile is clean, bright and classic. Think along the lines of lemon zest, salinity and perhaps a slight herbaceousness – in short, flavors that usually pair well with fish.
Best White Wine To Drink With Fish Pie
While crisp and clean is desirable with fish pie, you can also explore some white wines that have been aged in oak. Hints of butter, vanilla and nuts gained from oak aging can complement the richness of the pie beautifully.
Chardonnay
Our first suggestion is Chardonnay, which is always available in oaked or unoaked styles. An unoaked Chardonnay from Chablis, for example, will provide a refreshing contrast to the pie’s creaminess, with its irresistible citrus notes and mineral edge. Meanwhile, a fully oaked Chardonnay from California will be a brilliant match for the buttery, creamy texture of the dish.
Sparkling Wine
As with a piece of fresh white fish, there are a variety of sparkling wines that would make a great pairing for fish pie. Look for “blanc des blancs” sparkling wines made from white grapes, such as Cava, Prosecco or Champagne. Champagne can be wonderfully creamy, while also providing a wonderfully refreshing contrast to the pie with its classic notes of citrus rind and green apple skin.
Chenin Blanc
In its most traditional form, Chenin Blanc is from the Loire Valley and will work with fish pie in a similar way to an unoaked Chardonnay, with zesty citrus fruits and solid minerality. You can also explore options from regions much further south, such as South Africa. These tend to be slightly fuller-bodied while retaining a rich acidity for cutting through all of the creamy mashed potatoes.
Soave
Now we move on to Italy, a country packed with elegant white wines. Soave is a brilliant wine to consider. Along with its notes of lemon and white-fleshed fruit, it brings subtle saltiness and hints of green herbs, making it a perfect match for fish dishes. Like Pinot Grigio, Soave has a reputation for being “neutral”. Although that seems like a negative trait, it’s exactly what you want when pairing a wine with fish pie.
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio is another fantastic Italian wine, in the same vein as Soave. Strong notes of lime, lemon and apple are typically underpinned by a cool minerality – the perfect contrast to a rich, buttery fish pie.
Best Wine To Drink With Fish Pie
To summarize, the ultimate companion for fish pie is an elegant, pure white wine, with a stern and unadventurous character. Italy is an excellent place to start looking, but of course, it’s hard to go wrong with a good bottle of Chardonnay.
- Chardonnay
- Soave
- Pinot Grigio
- Champagne
- Chenin Blanc
