If you are a lobster fan - and you probably are if you are reading this - then you would definitely appreciate a fine lobster meal with the best appetizers, desserts, side items, and drinks that all fully complement the lobster. After all, what to serve with lobster should revolve around one thing: the lobster itself. One of the most important components of a great lobster meal, I believe, is what you drink with it - and there is no better choice than a nice glass of wine. This article will tell you what to serve with lobster as far as wine is concerned, so that you can get a drink that truly brings out the flavor of your delicious seafood.
What to Serve With Lobster: A Wine Primer
Wines
Before I give you specific types of wine or brands to purchase, you should first know a couple of facts about wine and lobster. The first is that wine is really up to you, ultimately. While certain wines taste good with certain foods, you do not have to drink anything but what you like. With that being said, as a general rule you should stay away from red wines when eating lobster. Why? Red wines have lots of tannin, which give the red wine its signature flavor. Tannin will clash with iodine that is found in lobster, which will make your meal taste like metal. You can still drink red wine, but I would recommend staying away from it as much as possible.
Also, what you eat with your lobster will impact your choice of wine to some extent. In the guide below I will give you a few pointers regarding what wine tastes best with the respective side items or sauces you may be inclined to eat with your lobster. In general, though, the best category of wine for lobster, hands down, is white wine.
What to Serve With Lobster: White Wines
White wine is absolutely perfect for complementing the light, delicate taste of seafood, especially lobster. Red wines are too acidic and heavy and can overpower the meat, whereas white wines subtly complement the taste and texture of the lobster - making the meal taste that much better. If you had to pick only one type of white wine to drink with your lobster, I would recommend a nice California chardonnay, such as the Flora Springs Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2006. The all-around crips and sweet taste of the chardonnay goes great with just about any type of lobster.
If you tend to eat the lobster relatively plain, or with a minimum of side items, then I recommend a nice German or Austrian Pinot Blanc (which tend to be less full-bodied than other types). One nice offering is the Biegler Pinot Blanc 2005. Chablis is also good for lobster that does not have a lot of garlic or other seasoning, and is not as sweet as other types. Finally, just about any pinot grigio will work beautifully as well.
A good rule of thumb is this: The richer the food, the 'bigger' the wine. You will want a nice, full-bodied wine that can complement a thoroughly-prepared lobster. One of my favorite pairings for this type of lobster incorporates a crisp and bold New Zealand sauvignon blanc, such as the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2001. Austrian Rieslings are also great for lobster that in a cream sauce, or is heavily seasoned.
What to Serve With Lobster: Blush and Sparkling Wines
If you want a different variety than white wine to go with your lobster, then you can choose from either blush or sparkling wines. Sparkling wines are very light and tend to be sweet. The hands-down favorite choice for sparkling wine for lobster is a nice, light champagne. But if you do not want to shell out the money for a nice bottle of champagne (it can get pretty expensive), a nice bottle of Korbel will be just as good.
Another alternative to champagne is a delicious wine called Moscato d'Asti. It is my favorite type of wine because of its strong, sweet, and fruity flavor and light, airy body. Proseco is another choice from Italy that is light, bubbly, and has the slight taste of fruit, but not in a way that will overpower your lobster. And finally, if you want a blush wine (called rosè outside of North America), then I recommend a fruity yet not overly-sweet brand, like the La Scolca Rosa Chiara Rosato 2007. Any Italian rosato wine will more than likely be delicious, though.
When trying to figure out what to serve with lobster, just remember this: While these wines above are great matches, there is no better pairing with your food than a wine that you truly love.
What to Serve With Lobster - Finding the Perfect Wine
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