Which wine pairs with cod? See sommelier tips

Tradition during the Easter period, codfish always raises questions about harmonization. After all, which wine harmonizes with cod? With a more pronounced flavor, this fish allows for numerous harmonizations. That is, you can combine cod with red wine, yes. However, this does not apply to all forms of fish preparation.

Who shares the tips with the Good Gourmet which wine pairs with cod is the sommelière of the Wine store, Thamirys Schneider. “Cod is a more structured fish, slightly fatty and with a good presence of fibers, so it brings the possibility of being harmonized with a red wine. However, it is important to pay attention to the cut of cod and its accompaniments to propose harmonization “, she explains.

According to Thamirys, the cod loin is the most suitable cut for pairing with red wine. “Because it is the central part of the fish, the loin offers thicker, juicier and nobler pieces, which are usually grilled or roasted and combine with red wine”, he comments.

In this case, Thamirys indicates a light to medium-bodied red wine, with round tannins and good acidity that helps break up the fibers and make chewing smoother. She explains that a good way to choose which wine to pair with codfish is to bet on regionality.

In Portugal, mainly in Bairrada and Douro, it is common to harmonize red wines with the characteristics mentioned above with cod dishes. As an example, the sommelière suggests wine Pedro Teixeira Selected Harvest Bairrada DOC 2020.

“This wine is made with grapes from vineyards located in DOC Bairrada, an exceptional geographical area with a special terroir further north of Portugal that has direct influence from the Atlantic Ocean and brings characteristics of climate and soil that make it a unique region”, says Thamirys .

And when not using the sirloin, which wine pairs with the codfish?

When the chosen recipe is lighter and includes preparations with cod chips or shredded cod, it is worth betting on white wines. Rosés and sparkling wines are also recommended in this case by Wine’s sommelière.

The recommendation applies, for example, to the classic bacalhoda. Made with pieces of desalted codfish, potatoes, boiled eggs, olive oil, tomatoes, onions and peppers, the dish can be accompanied by lighter wines. It’s worth a white wine more voluminous on the palate or a rosé – even a light red, with subtle tannins and vibrant acidity, such as cold climate Pinot Noir wines are worth an option.

Because it contains a wide variety of ingredients and a lot of olive oil, it also harmonizes with sparkling wines. For this pairing, Thamirys recommends the Sparkling Partridge Stars Brut, made with Chardonnay (80%) and Pinot Noir (20%) grapes, a delicate wine, but with good presence in the mouth, fresh, fruity and with a discreet touch of bread.

Creamy preparations call for wines with more acidity

And when it comes to a dish with cream, like the famous Bacalhau à Natas? For this type of preparation, in which flaked or shredded cod is combined with cream and cheese, opt for a white wine with medium to high acidity. This will help clean the palate, teaches Thamiry.

But it is also important that this white wine has more body and volume to accompany the structure of the dish. The tip here is to look for a specimen that has been briefly in barrels or in tanks with its lees, such as the Quinta Las Cabras Reserva Chardonnay 2021.

The wine suggested by the sommelière has part of the composition in French oak barrels in the company of its lees. This, according to Thamirys, adds greater volume, creaminess and complexity to aromas and flavors, in addition to enhancing the freshness of the wine.