Delicious and Easy-to-Make
You might have heard of Ahi tuna before. And you may even have tried it at some fancy Japanese restaurant. But I bet you did not know how easy it is to prepare Ahi tuna at home and impress your family or friends. To prepare Ahi tuna, you need 6-10 minutes. All you have to do is cook the tuna steaks to medium-rare or medium for a perfect and juicy result. For delicious umami flavor, before cooking, marinate the tuna in soy sauce and sesame honey. Serve over a bed of rocket and lettuce with an Asian-or-Italian-style dressing.
What Is Ahi Tuna?
Ahi tuna is a tuna type, divided into two different species, bigeye, and yellowfin. Usually, it is cheaper and easier to find than Bluefin tuna and has a similar texture and flavor. You can find it in the frozen section at most grocery stores or fresh at fish markets. Keep in mind that seared tuna is different from canned tuna since it holds its form and does not flake apart. And, when cooked medium-rare, it is pure food heaven: red on the inside, and crispy, pan-seared on the outside. Perfection!
What Wines Pair Well With Ahi Tuna?
Apart from being easy to cook, the best thing about Ahi tuna is how elegant and delicious it is. And because tuna is an oily fish, you need wines high in acidity to break down the fats. A sumptuous Chardonnay with pronounced stone fruit and yeasty aromas and flavors or an oily, highly aromatic Viognier blend are some fine choices to combine with the tuna.
For reds, earthy, fruit-forward Pinot Noir and an acidic Beaujolais are light enough to complement Ahi tuna’s aromatic ingredients and zesty, juicy character. Here are some of the best wines for your Ahi tuna wine pairing:
Best White Wines With Ahi Tuna
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars KARIA Chardonnay
- Winery — Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa County, Napa Valley
- Type — Napa Valley Chardonnay
- Aroma — Pear, Apple, Melon, Lime, Almond, Flint, Vanilla Spice
- Grapes — Chardonnay
- Taste — Honeycomb, Peach, Apricot, Passion Fruit, Wet Stones, Brioche Bread, Smoke
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Ahi Tuna, Honeycomb, Peach, Apricot, Passion Fruit, Wet Stones, Brioche Bread
Tasting Notes
Graceful, filled with generous aromas of green fruits and citruses and a juicy mid-palate that drives to an oaky, creamy finish, this Chardonnay is perfect to pair with Ahi tuna. In addition, KARIA Chardonnay is a great cooking wine. Just pour a bit in the pan and sauté the tuna for about 1-2 minutes for the best taste.
Opulent, structured, and mineral-driven, KARIA Chardonnay begins with fragrances of pears, apples, and melons along with nuances of limes, almonds, and vanilla spice. Medium-to-full-bodied, the wine has a round, silky texture and a delicious palate, richly layered with honeycomb, peaches, brioche bread, and passion fruit flavors. The fresh acidity offsets the general creaminess, complementing the oaky aftertaste, and a dash of stone fruits concludes the tasting profile.
A Wine Industry Cornerstone
Founded in 1970, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars brought international recognition to California and the Napa Valley when their Cabernet Sauvignon won the 1976 Paris Tasting, known as the Judgement of Paris. Since then, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars has produced some of the most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons worldwide, fashioned to express the richness of the Napa Valley terroir.
Château de Campuget 1753 Viognier
- Winery — Château de Campuget
- Country/Region — France, Vin de Pays, Pays d’Oc, Gard
- Type — Languedoc-Roussillon Viognier
- Aroma — Honeysuckle, Violet, Orange Peel, Peach, Apple, Lime, Sage
- Grapes — Viognier
- Taste — Pineapple, Mango, Lychee, Banana, Honey, Thyme, Brioche Bread, Almond, Hazelnut
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Ahi Tuna, Grilled Scallops, Crab Soup, Sauté Lobster With Butter, Oven-baked Chicken, Hazelnuts, Brie, Mature Cheddar Cheese
Tasting Notes
This might very well be, the best white wine with Ahi tuna. A bouquet of honeysuckle and stone fruits combines with the sweetness of mangoes and pineapples to create the perfect wine-pairing experience. I would recommend that you try a sip of 1753 Viognier with Ahi tuna. It will beat any other white wine without a doubt!
As soon as the bottle uncorks, a nose of fragrances arises. You will get the scent of violets, orange peel, honeysuckle, and peach – all emerging to showcase the vibrancy of this wine. The palate is buttery with rich honey flavors. At the same time, tastes of thyme, brioche bread, and pineapple surface. Slight suggestions of mango exist, too, as well as banana. The finish is quite lengthy and nutty due to the taste of almonds and hazelnuts in the background. The acidity is balanced and pleasing.
Innovation and Tradition Combine to Produce High-End Wines
With a 400-year history, Château de Campuget has had an enormous influence on French winemaking. Since 1941, the winery has belonged to the Dalle family and continues to produce wines faithful to tradition. Yet, the winery has also embraced using modern enological techniques and continues to produce a perfect result.
d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier – Marsanne
- Winery — d’Arenberg
- Country/Region — Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
- Type — Australian White
- Aroma — Peach, Apricot, Cherry, Cranberry, Ginger, Vanilla Spice
- Grapes — Marsanne, Viognier
- Taste — Grapefruit, Lemon Rind, Apple, Pear, Melon, Brioche Bread, Cinnamon Spice, Hazelnut
- Alcohol Content — 13%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Ahi Tuna, Seafood, Sea Bass, Crab, Pork, Spicy Asian
Tasting Notes
Freshness and density define the wine. A fragrant nose packed with stone fruit and ginger spice and a luscious palate of generous fruity and yeasty notes create an unparalleled and immersive wine-drinking experience.
Aromas of peaches, sweet apricots, cherries, and cranberries, along with scents of ginger and vanilla spice, fill the nose of this delightful Marsanne and Viognier blend. The plush mouth has the oiliness of lemon rind and notes of brioche, apple, pear, apricot, and melon. An impressive acidity surfaces in the mid-palate, offering freshness and crispiness. This wine is truly terrific and follows through to a balanced and harmonious finish.
Australian Winemaking Tradition
One of the kings of Australia Shiraz, the d’Arenberg winery has developed the McLaren Vale wine industry. d’Arenberg planted their first Shiraz plantings back in 1912 and almost a third of McLaren Vale’s Old Vine Grenache. Recently, they decided to focus entirely on biodynamic viticulture, converting their vineyards to organic. As for winemaking, however, not much has changed. They still produce basket-pressed whites and, foot-trodden red wines which are highly expressive of McLaren Vale terroir.
Best Red Wines With Ahi Tuna
Andrew Rich Prelude Pinot Noir
- Winery — Andrew Rich
- Country/Region — United States, Oregon, Willamette Valley
- Type — Oregon Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Cherry, Strawberry, Violet, Lavender, Smoke, Charred Wood
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Cranberry, Raspberry, Blood Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Plum, Leather, Flint, Wet Stones
- Alcohol Content — 14.9%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Ahi Tuna, Roast Chicken, Game Meat, Pan-fried Salmon, Casseroles, Beef Bourguignon
Tasting Notes
A balanced wine with red and black fruit aromas and flavors. High in acidity and light-bodied, with smooth, velvety tannins, and a fruity aftertaste, this Beaujolais is delicious. Hands-down, this is an outstanding Beaujolais, maxed with fragrant aromas of red berries, such as raspberries, cranberries, and cherries.
These scents are accentuated by nuances of cinnamon and vanilla. On the palate, the wine shows bright flavors of tomato leaf, blueberries, prunes, and blackberries. At the same time, hints of pepper and smoke add depth, while the fine-grained tannins produce a nice, rounded sensation. The ending is fruity and the acidity is fresh and balanced
Great Winemaking in the Heart of Burgundy
Founded in 1865 by Jean-Marie Mommessin, the Mommessin winery is a classic Burgundian wine state. Since the 19th Century, it has produced high-quality wine, mainly Pinot Noir. Today, the 5th generation of the Mommessin family runs the winery and continues the tradition of creating dynamic wines.
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly
- Winery — Château Thivin
- Country/Region — France, Beaujolais, Côte de Brouilly
- Type — Beaujolais Red
- Aroma — Cherry, Raspberry, Cranberry, Cinnamon Stick, Vanilla Spice
- Grapes — Gamay
- Taste — Blackberry, Blueberry, Tomato Leaf, Mint, Pepper, Smoke
- Alcohol Content — 12.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Ahi Tuna, Grilled Pork, Paté, Confit Duck, Seared Tuna, Sushi, Fruit Salad
Tasting Notes
A balanced wine with red and black fruit aromas and flavors. High in acidity and light-bodied, with smooth, velvety tannins, and a fruity aftertaste, this Beaujolais is delicious. Hands-down, this is an outstanding Beaujolais, maxed with fragrant aromas of red berries, such as raspberries, cranberries, and cherries.
These scents are accentuated by nuances of cinnamon and vanilla. On the palate, the wine shows bright flavors of tomato leaf, blueberries, prunes, and blackberries. At the same time, hints of pepper and smoke add depth, while the fine-grained tannins produce a nice, rounded sensation. The ending is fruity and the acidity is fresh and balanced
Great Winemaking in the Heart of Burgundy
Founded in 1865 by Jean-Marie Mommessin, the Mommessin winery is a classic Burgundian wine state. Since the 19th Century, it has produced high-quality wine, mainly Pinot Noir. Today, the 5th generation of the Mommessin family runs the winery and continues the tradition of creating dynamic wines.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect Ahi tuna wine match was not easy, for sure. However, if you really want to impress your guests, you must try to uncork one of the above wines on your Ahi tuna night. In fact, they make the best possible food pairing combination with the intricate dish by a long shot. So, stop wasting time. Head to your closest grocery store or wine store webpage, and order a couple of these bottles of wine!