Pairings | Shellfish

The best wine (and other) pairings with oysters

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on September 4 2019 at 07:25

Now that we're back into months with an 'r' in them it's time to enjoy oysters again. But what’s the best wine - or beer - to pair with them?

Unusually there’s more than one outstanding match plus some good alternatives you may not have thought of. Which one you choose will obviously depend on which drink you like best - there’s no point in serving Guinness if you hate the stuff - and how the oysters are served. Cooked oysters are generally rather more forgiving than raw ones.

It also makes quite a difference how you season them. Personally I’m in favour of no seasoning at all, letting the wine do the job of a squeeze of lemon but conversely adding lemon can make richer chardonnays and champagnes work better if those are the wines you’d rather drink.

Chablis
There are actually fossilised oyster shells in the soil of the Chablis region so it’s maybe not too fanciful to say that’s why it hits just exactly the right note. I’d pick a recent vintage though rather than a mature one, a premier cru if you’re treating yourself to natives (below), whose season starts on Septmber 1st.

Champagne (and dry sparkling wine)
Here it’s the bubbles that provide the magic, the perfect textural contrast to the smooth velvety texture of the oysters. Ultra dry champagnes like Laurent Perrier Ultra Brut and Drappier Brut Nature that don't have any dosage (sugar and wine solution) added to them before bottling work best though lighter styles of regular non-vintage Champagne such as Taittinger will do a perfectly good job. Sparkling wine is also the best match by far for deep-fried oysters.

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Comments: 10 (Add)

Rodrigo Mainardi on September 8 2020 at 16:07

Savennières goes very well with oysters!

Alicia on September 19 2019 at 15:50

I don't eat oysters but in my early 20s I was captivated by Mireille Johnston's Cooks Tour of France - she made eating oysters with hot sausages and cold Muscadet look like the most desirable thing in the world.

Martha on September 7 2018 at 21:09

My favourite oyster /wine / location combination is the outdoor oyster bar in the Place Ste Catherine. The vendor opens your order right before your eyes hands you the plate and a glass of Muscadet and you stand there with other Bruxellois ingesting heaven. And I agree - no lemon needed

Me_saare on December 29 2017 at 14:54

Muscadet sur Lie has been my go-to wine with oysters since my very 1st visit to Brittany in ..... more years than I care to remember

Chardonnay? on September 4 2017 at 16:32

Some unfortunate confusion about styles, regions and grapes here. Claiming chardonnay is a poor match for raw oysters is a bit weird considering Chablis is made exclusively on chardonnay. Maybe this is was meant to refer to American chardonnay?

I'd also contest the point about lemon and muscadet tbh.

Matt on January 2 2017 at 06:36

Young Hunter Valley semillon is great with oysters!

Fiona Beckett on February 13 2014 at 07:28

Agree! They're good too!

Kincho on February 13 2014 at 02:10

I'm very partial to a dry Riesling, especially those from Australia's Eden Valley with oysters natural.

Fiona Beckett on December 30 2012 at 08:21

Oh, I agree! I also love the way the locals serve red Bordeaux with oysters when they serve them with those little sausages or crépinettes. Surprisingly tasty!

Mary Harrington on December 30 2012 at 05:57

A dry Bordeaux blanc with Arcachon Oysters at the Chartrons market in Bordeaux is a match made in heaven.

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