Wine lifeFood & wine pairing
The best wines with sushi
Why Riesling, Champagne and Chablis work with sushi, which wine to choose for salmon, tuna, eel or spicy rolls, and the reds to leave in the rack.
Alper Billik · Advanced Sommelier
Updated October 2026 · 4 min read · Edited with AI
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The short answer: a German Riesling Kabinett, a dry sparkling wine or a Chablis. Sushi wants a wine with high acidity, little or no oak, low tannin and moderate alcohol. If I can only open one bottle for a mixed platter, it is a Riesling Kabinett: bright acidity, a touch of sweetness for the soy and wasabi, and a lightness that never covers the fish.
Why sushi is tricky to pair
- Vinegared rice: sushi rice is seasoned with rice vinegar, salt and sugar. A wine with low acidity tastes flat next to it.
- Umami: raw fish, nori and soy are full of savoury umami, which makes tannin taste harsher and bitterness stronger.
- Salt: soy sauce loves fruit and a little sweetness, and fights high alcohol, which tastes hotter with salty food.
- Wasabi and ginger: heat and spice are softened by a touch of sugar and made worse by alcohol and tannin.
- Delicate fish: heavy oak and big fruit simply drown it.
So the formula is simple: high acid, low tannin, little oak, moderate alcohol, and, if the soy or wasabi is generous, a touch of sweetness.
The five wines I would pour
- Riesling Kabinett (Germany): off-dry, light and lively. The all-rounder for a sushi platter, and the best partner for eel with sweet sauce and for spicy rolls.
- Champagne and traditional-method sparkling: a young non-vintage Brut or a Blanc de Blancs. The bubbles and acidity refresh after every bite, and the brioche note loves tempura.
- Chablis: unoaked Chardonnay from northern Burgundy, taut and saline. Lovely with white fish, scallops and shellfish.
- Sauvignon Blanc: Sancerre or New Zealand. Citrus and green herbs for cucumber, shiso and seaweed rolls.
- Prosecco or Cava: light, fresh and easy, for a casual evening and for vegetable rolls and prawns.
Which wine for which sushi
| Sushi | Wine | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon nigiri or sashimi | Riesling Kabinett, dry rosé, Blanc de Blancs | Acidity for the rich, oily fish |
| Tuna (maguro), fatty tuna (toro) | Champagne, light Pinot Noir, dry rosé | Firm, meaty fish can take a little red fruit |
| White fish (hirame, tai), scallop | Chablis, Muscadet, Grüner Veltliner | Delicate fish, clean and saline wine |
| Eel (unagi) with sweet sauce | Riesling Kabinett or Spätlese | Sweetness in the wine meets the sweet glaze |
| Spicy tuna, spicy mayo rolls | Off-dry Riesling, Gewürztraminer | A touch of sugar cools the heat |
| Prawn (ebi), tempura rolls | Champagne, Cava, Prosecco | Bubbles cut the batter |
| Cucumber, avocado, vegetable rolls | Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Prosecco | Green, fresh flavours on both sides |
| Sea urchin (uni) | Champagne, Chablis | Rich, briny and creamy: acidity and minerality |
- Salmon nigiri or sashimi
- WineRiesling Kabinett, dry rosé, Blanc de Blancs
- WhyAcidity for the rich, oily fish
- Tuna (maguro), fatty tuna (toro)
- WineChampagne, light Pinot Noir, dry rosé
- WhyFirm, meaty fish can take a little red fruit
- White fish (hirame, tai), scallop
- WineChablis, Muscadet, Grüner Veltliner
- WhyDelicate fish, clean and saline wine
- Eel (unagi) with sweet sauce
- WineRiesling Kabinett or Spätlese
- WhySweetness in the wine meets the sweet glaze
- Spicy tuna, spicy mayo rolls
- WineOff-dry Riesling, Gewürztraminer
- WhyA touch of sugar cools the heat
- Prawn (ebi), tempura rolls
- WineChampagne, Cava, Prosecco
- WhyBubbles cut the batter
- Cucumber, avocado, vegetable rolls
- WineSauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Prosecco
- WhyGreen, fresh flavours on both sides
- Sea urchin (uni)
- WineChampagne, Chablis
- WhyRich, briny and creamy: acidity and minerality
Can you drink red wine with sushi?
Yes, carefully. Choose a light, low-tannin red served cool: Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Oregon or Germany, or a Beaujolais. Save it for tuna, salmon and seared fish. Leave big, oaky reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Shiraz or Barolo for another night: tannin plus umami plus soy tastes bitter and metallic.
And saké?
Saké is the natural partner, made from rice like the sushi itself. A well-chilled junmai or ginjo is a fine choice if the table is open to it. Wine is the choice when you want contrast: acidity and bubbles where saké brings roundness.
For more on Riesling's styles and labels, read my Riesling guide. For salmon cooked at home, see what wine goes with salmon. Ordering tonight? Ask SOMM DIGI AI what to open.
Questions people ask
What is the best wine with sushi?
German Riesling Kabinett is the most versatile. Champagne and Chablis come close behind.
What red wine goes with sushi?
A light, low-tannin red such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais, served slightly cool, with tuna or salmon.
Is Champagne good with sushi?
Yes. A young non-vintage Brut or a Blanc de Blancs is a classic match, above all with tempura, prawns and fatty fish. Very mature, toasty styles are harder.
What wine should I avoid with sushi?
Tannic, oaky, high-alcohol reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec or Shiraz, and heavily oaked whites.
Is Prosecco good with sushi?
Yes, for a casual meal: it is light, fresh and works well with vegetable rolls and prawns.
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