Cuisine
Perfect Wine Pairings for Your Feast of the Seven Fishes
December 9, 2025
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is one of the season’s most cherished Christmas Eve traditions—cue an elaborate seafood feast shared amongst friends and family, with copious amounts of wine enjoyed throughout. However, the best wine pairings for your seafood feast go far beyond the simple "white wine with fish" rule, as each dish brings its own unique flavors and textures; from the briny sweetness of oysters to the rich, tomato-based sauces that accompany certain preparations, the versatility of your Seven Fishes’ wine selection should be as diverse as the dishes themselves.
The key? Understanding how acidity, body, and flavor profiles interact with various seafood preparations, creating harmonious combinations that elevate each course.
It’s All in the Preparation
Selecting wines for Christmas requires a strategic approach that considers multiple factors beyond personal preference: menu composition, guest preferences, and the progression of flavors throughout the meal.Traditional Christmas menus often feature rich, complex dishes with multiple flavor components, and choosing versatile wines that favor complementing them over competing with them is essential. The key lies in identifying the dominant flavors in each dish and selecting wines that either harmonize with or provide pleasant contrast to these tastes.
The traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes presents unique pairing complexities that go beyond typical seafood dinners. Unlike a standard meal focused on one or two preparations, this feast spans multiple cooking methods: fried calamari, grilled whole fish, seafood pasta, raw oysters, and rich cioppino-style stews. Each technique demands different wine considerations to complement rather than compete with the dish.
“The way each fish is prepared has a big impact on which wines will pair best, as the cooking method changes both flavor intensity and texture,” explains Lindsay Koblitz, Sommelier at Sommsation. Koblitz notes that raw or cured fish—such as sashimi, crudo, or gravlax—is delicate and silky, so wines with bright acidity, minerality, and subtle aromatics (think Chablis, Albariño, Champagne, or lightly chilled Pinot Noir) work beautifully without overpowering the dish. “Grilled or roasted fish develops smoky, caramelized, and savory notes, so wines with a bit more weight or structure, like White Burgundy, Viognier, or light reds like Gamay or Pinot Noir, complement the richer textures,” she says.
Additionally, Koblitz notes that fried fish benefits from wines with high acidity and effervescence to cut through the oil and refresh the palate, making sparkling wines, Champagne, Vermentino, or Albariño excellent choices. “In short, the lighter and fresher the preparation, the more delicate and crisp the wine should be; the richer or more textured the cooking method, the more body, structure, or aromatic depth the wine can bring to the pairing,” she says.
Classic White Wine Pairings
White wines naturally dominate the Feast of the Seven Fishes, and for good reason. The bright acidity and lighter body of these wines complement most seafood preparations. However, the key lies in matching the weight and intensity of the wine to each specific dish rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. For a more classic, mineral-driven option, Koblitz reaches for Chablis, thanks to its laser-focused acidity and clean, chalky structure, which she notes can “seamlessly between delicate preparations and richer dishes like baked fish or lobster.” Moreover, for dishes with more substantial preparations—think lobster fra diavolo or seafood risotto—medium-bodied whites provide necessary weight without overwhelming delicate seafood flavors. Look to well-balanced Chardonnays from the West Coast or approachable Italian Arneis for an equally delicious and unique alternative.
“For the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a few white varieties reliably rise to the occasion,” Koblitz confirms, stating that Vermentino is a standout for its bright acidity, subtle salinity, and herbal lift, making it an effortless match for everything from crudo and shellfish to fried appetizers. “Additionally, Albariño offers juicy citrus-and-stone-fruit flavors with a refreshing, coastal snap that pairs beautifully with brinier dishes like clams, shrimp, and anything touched by garlic or lemon,” she says.
Sommsation Experts Recommend:
Alexana Winery 'Hillsides' Pinot Gris 2024 ($35.00) - Delicate white flowers, lemon zest, and crisp pear, layered with subtle almond and wet stone. The mix of stainless steel and neutral oak brings both vibrant freshness and gentle texture, giving the wine a silky mid-palate and a clean, mineral-driven finish. Bright, lifted, and quietly complex, it’s a beautifully balanced expression of Willamette Valley Pinot Gris.
Halter Ranch Winery Vermentino 2024 ($45.00) - The 2024 Vermentino has bright aromas of anjou pear, nectarine and citrus. The entry is crisp, with flavors of green apple and pineapple, followed by a finish containing a touch of salinity, a characteristic of this unique white grape variety.
Anderson Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 ($48.00) - The cool 2019 vintage meets the steep slopes and intense character of the Anderson Family Vineyard site. Rich and smoky aromas of grilled pineapple, savory sea spray and notes of green tea leaves, and the palate is electric and elegant with flavors of lemon verbena, peach skin, smoky grilled lemon peel and flint dominating the lengthy concentrated mineral finish – texture, richness, depth.
Sparkling Wine Solutions
Koblitz describes sparkling wine as a brilliant choice for holiday gatherings, particularly for those centered around seafood, as it’s both festive and food-friendly. “The high acidity and fine bubbles act like a palate refresher, cutting through richer dishes while brightening delicate flavors, making it one of the most versatile wines at the table,” she says. Similarly, Koblitz describes that the wines’ effervescence works like a squeeze of lemon, as it lifts briny, buttery, or fried preparations and highlights the natural sweetness of shellfish.
Koblitz equally notes that the vibrant structure found in sparkling wine also makes it a crowd-pleaser, offering a “crisp, cleansing, celebratory” quality that keeps everyone reaching for another sip. “Whether poured as a welcome glass or served throughout a meal, sparkling wine brings energy, elegance, and effortless pairing power to any holiday spread,” she says.
Bonus recommendation: For those seeking something unique, Lambrusco presents an intriguing option—a dry, sparkling red that defies conventional wisdom about seafood pairings. Its light body and bright acidity work surprisingly well with tomato-based seafood preparations, while its slight tannins provide structure without overwhelming delicate fish.
Sommsation Experts Recommend:
Breathless Sparkling Wines Blanc de Noir NV ($39.00) - Aromas of light earth, black cherry. While the fine mousse of our Blanc de Noirs highlights these notes in the mouth, the lingering, long finish demands yet another taste. Amanda Nichols, Vice President of Revenue at Sommsation, regularly reaches for this bottle for her holiday dinners. “While I love the Alexana Hillsides Pinot Gris for one of my main Feast of the Seven Fishes dishes, I always begin the evening with something sparkling, as it instantly sets a festive vibe as guests arrive and pairs beautifully with the first-course raw bar,” she says, describing the wine as a perfect match for succulent jumbo shrimp and chilled crab claws, all while setting the tone for a wonderful night of toasting friends, family, and cherished Christmas Eve traditions.
Adelsheim Vineyard Sparkling Blanc de Blanc 2017 ($75.00) - The most crisp, juicy apple. An immaculate curl of lime peel. Lemongrass, smashed with the back of a knife to release its profound fragrance. On the palate, a slicing acidity, incisive and meticulous. A finish long and driving and clearly with someplace important to go. This is a symphony of precision.
SAMsARA Wine Co. Blanc de Blancs 2022 ($84.00) - Compact bubbles give this sparkling wine a fine texture. Extended lees aging reveals patisserie-like aromas of marzipan and croissant dough, beautifully balanced by crisp Bosc pear, Meyer lemon zest, and a hint of tarragon.
Strategic Red Wine Options
While white wines dominate seafood pairings, certain red wines can enhance specific preparations within the Feast of the Seven Fishes. “The idea that red wine shouldn’t be paired with fish is really just a leftover stereotype from the days when most reds were big, tannic, and overpowering—that is, styles that can clash with delicate seafood and even create metallic flavors,” Koblitz reveals. However, she notes that lighter-bodied reds that are low in tannins and high in acidity can pair beautifully with a myriad of fish dishes. Koblitz explains that varieties like Pinot Noir and Gamay are naturals with richer, oilier fish such as salmon, tuna, and trout, where their silky texture and red-berry brightness enhance the fish’s depth without overwhelming it.
Additionally, Koblitz notes that juicy, chillable reds like Frappato, Cinsault, or Zweigelt work well with grilled shrimp, seared tuna, octopus, and Mediterranean flavors, offering a refreshing, almost rosé-like snap. “Meanwhile, more earthy, savory reds such as Schiava or Mencía shine with smoked fish, anchovy-driven dishes, and tomato-based seafood preparations, where their herbal nuance meets the dish’s umami,” she says, noting that the only real exceptions are very delicate white fish, which are best left to crisp whites or sparkling. “Otherwise, the right red can create a wonderfully unexpected, rule-breaking pairing that feels both confident and delicious,” she affirms.
Sommsation Experts Recommend:
Nottingham Cellars Highlands Gamay 2023 ($36.00) - Lively aromas of red cherry, cranberry, and a hint of violet. On the palate, it delivers a fresh burst of red fruit, with avors of raspberry and pomegranate complemented by subtle notes of white pepper and a touch of earthiness.
brick & mortar Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2023 ($42.00) - Bright and brambly fruits with alpine notes are distinctive in our 2023 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Beautifully aromatic and boisterous elements blackberries, violets and redwood forest notes frame the deep and luscious palate. Black raspberry and plum flavors combine with cherry blossom and fresh cedar, highlighted by juniper and bay laurel.
SOM Eola Springs Pinot Noir 2023 ($75.00) - Aromatically lifted with notes of red cherry, rose petal, and black tea, the wine opens into a tightly woven palate defined by savory spice, mineral depth, and fine-grained tannin.
Above all, the perfect wine pairings for your Feast of the Seven Fishes create more than just flavor harmony—they weave together tradition, celebration, and the joy of sharing exceptional moments with loved ones. Ready to dive in? Explore our expert-approved wine selections or contact our concierge for a list of curated recommendations today.