Red Wine with Sushi?

It seems these days that everyone is looking for an excuse to drink more red wine. The old adage of “white wine with fish, red wine with red meat” is losing ground as a hard rule as red wine lovers experiment with fish pairings. Additionally, red wine has been the subject of a number of recently published medical studies suggesting that compounds found in the drink may promote cardiovascular health and aid in prevention of certain types of cancers.

And now, some sushi fans are thinking outside of the (sake) box. Though sake, beer, green tea and sparkling white wines have long been the accepted sushi pairings, red wine is gaining momentum as sushi chefs and sommeliers experiment. Trend-setting restaurants such as Sushi-Ko and Nobu promote wine lists that include reds meant to be paired with sushi.

Sound like bizarre combination? Perhaps it’s not too far off the mark. After all, pinot noir and salmon are no strangers. Grilled salmon is often promoted as a good pairing for pinot noir. Thus the idea of fresh or even smoked salmon sushi with pinot noir is not so foreign. With this in mind, it is possible to see why one would be curious about other such sushi matches.

Personally, I think the idea has great merit. I love a great red. I love sushi. When sushi is eaten properly – not drowned in soy sauce or overwhelmed with wasabi – the combination can be quite nice. Smoked duck and salmon were two of my favorite red wine and sushi pairings.

Have you ever tried red wine with sushi?