5 Best Wines to Pair With Paella (2023)

5 Best Wines to Pair With Paella Featured

Paella: Delicious and Irresistible

Vibrant, comforting, and very nourishing, paella has held a place of honor in Spanish cuisine for centuries. Originating in Valencia, paella is considered Spain’s iconic dish. Mussels and rice are the main ingredients, followed by shrimps, chicken thighs, chorizo, and veggies. If mussels are not your thing, you can substitute them for clams, but scrub the shells in cold water before cooking.

To complement the meal, go for a great Spanish red wine from Rioja and a crispy baguette or fresh Margherita bread. A light salad is also recommended when serving paella, as it will help to balance the pronounced creaminess.

Bottle
Name Vie di Romans Chardonnay Venica & Venica Jesera Pinot Grigio Hartford Court Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Château Yon-Figeac Les Roches de Yon Figeac Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Rosé
Color White White Red Red Rosé
Country Italy Italy United States France United States
Grapes Chardonnay Pinot Grigio Pinot Noir Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot Pinot Noir
Taste Passion Fruit, Honey, Apricot, Cream, Brioche Bread, Cumin, Saffron, Sandstone Mango, Passion Fruit, Grapefruit, Strawberry, Peach, Cherry Prune, Bramble, Barnyard, Mushroom, Dried Soil, Forest Floor, Barnyard, Strawberry Bramble, Fig, Prune, Grapefruit, Chocolate, Coffee, Dried Soil, Bell Pepper Melon, Peach, Apricot, Hibiscus, Honey, Plum, Pepper, Tomato Leaf
Food Pairing Paella, Vegetable Lasagna, Red Snapper, Tuna, Roast Chicken, Pizza, Asiago, Brie Paella, Shrimp Scampi, Scallop, Baby Greens, Branzino, Cheesy Pasta Paella, Bejing Duck, Bacon, Brie, Camembert, Chocolate-covered Strawberries Paella, Filet Mignon, Roast Beef, Roast Chicken, Mushrooms, Jarlsberg Paella, Pork Chops, Burger, Bolognese, Pesto, Pizza, Asiago
Alcohol Content 14.4% 13.5% 14.5% 13% 13%
Sugar Content Dry Dry Dry Dry Dry
Our Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars (4.8 / 5) 4.7 out of 5 stars (4.7 / 5) 4.8 out of 5 stars (4.8 / 5) 4.6 out of 5 stars (4.6 / 5) 4.3 out of 5 stars (4.3 / 5)
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What Wines Pair Well With Paella?

Paella is a seafood dish made with rice, broth, chicken, and vegetables, as stated above. Hence, due to its flavor complexity, paella pairs incredibly well with all types of wine, including white, red, and rosé. If you intend to enjoy your paella in summer, go for a very fruit and vibrant wine, especially from Valencia and Penedès.

Otherwise, highly aromatic wines, like floral, citrusy Chardonnay are recommended. Similarly, combining paella with Pedro Ximenez wines is also a perfect choice. For paella with clams or mussels, you should try a Verdejo, Albariño, or Rueda. Since paella usually includes meat, such as beef, duck, rabbit, or chicken, elegant red or rosé wines pair exceptionally well.

Monastrell reds, packed with red fruits and sweet spices, are also great options as they intensify the flavor of the rice. But, let’s not waste any more time. We have tasted countless wines to find the best paella wine match. Here are our recommendations for the perfect paella wine pairing:


Best White Wines With Paella

Vie di Romans Chardonnay

  • Winery — Vie Di Romans
  • Country/Region — Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Isonzo
  • Type — Italian Chardonnay
  • Aroma — Grapefruit, Meyer Lemon, Peach, Melon, Vanilla Spice, Apple
  • Grapes — Chardonnay
  • Taste — Passion Fruit, Honey, Apricot, Cream, Brioche Bread, Cumin, Saffron, Sandstone
  • Alcohol Content — 14.4%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Paella, Vegetable Lasagna, Red Snapper, Tuna, Roast Chicken, Pizza, Asiago, Brie
Overall Rating: 4.8

Positives
  • Mineral
  • Complex
  • Well-Balanced
Negatives
  • High Alcohol Content

Tasting Notes

Straw yellow, this Chardonnay draws wine fans in from the get-go. Aromas of citrus, sweet spices, and green fruits entice. Similarly, the rich palate is balanced and delicious with a persistent, mineral-driven finish. Silky and polished, Vie di Romans Chardonnay is balanced and gives equal amounts of weight to the quality of the fruit and flavor intensity. On the nose, aromas of grapefruit, Meyer lemons, peaches, and melon dominate, followed by scents of vanilla and rich golden apple.

The palate shows pastry crust, passion fruits, honey, and apricots. To improve the delicious flavors, ten months of aging on yeasts gives the mouth a creamy, brioche texture. Cumin, saffron, and crushed sandstones are integrated into the silky, long finish. Moderate acidity.

Vie di Romans

Producing outstanding wine from exceptional grapes is the focus of Vie di Romans. This winery has an in-depth understanding of the factors underlying the sensory experience of drinking wines. Thus, Vie di Romans has a great appreciation of the winemaker’s art. To sum up, the winery produces wines with character and shows respect for the environment, viticulture, and the palate. That’s why Vie di Romans Chardonnay is possibly the best white wine with paella.


Venica & Venica Jesera Pinot Grigio

  • Winery — Venica & Venica
  • Country/Region — Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Collio
  • Type — Italian Pinot Grigio
  • Aroma — Acacia, Honeysuckle, Grape, Pear, Pepper, Rennet Apple, Ginger
  • Grapes — Pinot Grigio
  • Taste — Mango, Passion Fruit, Grapefruit, Strawberry, Peach, Cherry
  • Alcohol Content — 13.5%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Paella, Shrimp Scampi, Scallop, Baby Greens, Branzino, Cheesy Pasta
Overall Rating: 4.7

Positives
  • Refreshing
  • Crisp Finish
  • Great Body
Negatives
  • A Tad Too Acidic

Tasting Notes

The appearance of the Pinot Grigio grape becomes vibrant and coppery after a short maceration. The bouquet is welcoming and intriguing, with white florals and peppery scents. Savory in the mouth, Venica & Venica Jesera Pinot Grigio is creamy and slightly acidic with juicy fruity flavors.

The nose brings fragrances of acacias, honeysuckle, grapes, and pears, alongside hints of pepper, apple, and ginger. The palate is a reflection of the nose aromas. That said, it also shows the taste of mangoes, passion fruit, grapefruit, and strawberries. The flavors of peaches and cherries combine with the tangy acidity to keep everything tasty and balanced. A moderate finish.

Production of High-End Pinot Grigio

Venica & Venica began in the small village of Mernico, which is located close to Dolegna del Collio, the heartland of Pinot Grigio. After the Second World War, the property was just an organic fruit farm. However, after much perseverance, the family kept working abandoned vineyards until they found the best combinations of vine and vineyards to produce high-quality Pinot Grigio wines.


Best Red Wines With Paella

Hartford Court Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

  • Winery — Hartford Court
  • Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  • Type — Californian Pinot Noir
  • Aroma — Blackberry, Blackberry, Dried Violet, Cherry, Mint, Allspice, Crushed Rocks
  • Grapes — Pinot Noir
  • Taste — Prune, Bramble, Barnyard, Mushroom, Dried Soil, Forest Floor, Barnyard, Strawberry
  • Alcohol Content — 14.5%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Paella, Bejing Duck, Bacon, Brie, Camembert, Chocolate-covered Strawberries
Overall Rating: 4.8

Positives
  • Great Bouquet
  • Soft Tannins
  • Lively Finish
Negatives
  • A Bit Unbalanced

Tasting Notes

Aromas of dark fruits, like cherries and blackcurrants, blend with allspice and crushed rock to form the bold bouquet. The palate is dense, packed with a juicy mouthfeel, smooth tannins, and tangy acidity. There is a deliciously earthy finish.

This delicious Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley opens with an intoxicating bouquet of spiced cherries, blackberries, blackcurrants, mint, and dried violets. Medium-bodied, the palate displays soft, succulent tannins and fine acidity. Flavors of ripe dark fruits, barnyard, mushroom, and dried soil offer complexity and savoriness, finishing with a lively strawberry kick.

Hartford Family Winery

Hartford Family Winery was established in 1993 to produce wines highly expressive of Russian River Valley’s terroir. The Hartford family believes that the strengthening of character through adversity applies to grapevines and people. The Hartford family winery produces single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, exclusively from fruit sourced from the Russian River Valley, Green Valley, and other Sonoma Coast appellations.


Château Yon-Figeac Les Roches de Yon Figeac Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  • Winery — Château Yon-Figeac
  • Country/Region — France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
  • Type — Bordeaux Saint-Émilion
  • Aroma — Blackberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tobacco, Vanilla Spice, Smoke, Hazelnut
  • Grapes — Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
  • Taste — Bramble, Fig, Prune, Grapefruit, Chocolate, Coffee, Dried Soil, Bell Pepper
  • Alcohol Content — 13%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Paella, Filet Mignon, Roast Beef, Roast Chicken, Mushrooms, Jarlsberg
Overall Rating: 4.6

Positives
  • Bright Aromas
  • Juicy Mouth
  • Fine-grained Tannins
Negatives
  • A Bit Heavier

Tasting Notes

This Merlot shows vibrant aromas of black and red fruits in the bouquet. Next, after a few swirls, notes of tobacco, vanilla, and smoke follow. A soft, rounded character in the mouth joins the polished tannins before finishing with a moderate peppery finish.

As soon as the wine reaches the nose, bright aromas of plums, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries surface. Scents of sweet tobacco and vanilla blend with smoke and hazelnut touches to complete the bouquet. The mouth is juicy, packed with flavors of brambles, figs, prunes, dried soil, and bell peppers. The tannins are fine-grained and polished, while the finish is peppery and savory.

Fine French Winemaking

Château Yon-Figeac was built in 1886 and is one of the largest wine estates in the Saint-Émilion appellation. Even though not widely used, they have the largest Petit Verdot vineyards in Bordeaux. Château Yon-Figeac ensures the high quality of the vines and grapes. Therefore, every action they make is tailored to meet the needs of the terroir.

The grapes are hand-harvested, and the viticulture has been entirely sustainable since 2011. Grand Vin (first wine) is aged exclusively in French oak barrels. However, the wine aged for a second time goes in foudres (large casks) to minimize the impact of the oak on the wine’s character. All Château Yon-Figeac wines stay in the barrel for up to a year. If this does not sound like the best red wine with paella, we don’t know what does.


Best Rosé Wines With Paella

Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Rosé

  • Winery — Kendall-Jackson
  • Country/Region — United States, California
  • Type — Californian Rosé
  • Aroma — Grapefruit, Lemon, Strawberry, Cherry, Apple, Pear, Kiwi, Honeysuckle
  • Grapes — Pinot Noir
  • Taste — Melon, Peach, Apricot, Hibiscus, Honey, Plum, Pepper, Tomato Leaf
  • Alcohol Content — 13%
  • Sugar — Dry
  • Pairing — Paella, Pork Chops, Burger, Bolognese, Pesto, Pizza, Asiago
Overall Rating: 4.3

Positives
  • Aromatic
  • Refreshing
  • Enjoyable Aftertaste
Negatives
  • Alcohol-based Palate

Tasting Notes

Gorgeous pink hues spring from the glass with scents of citrus, red fruits, and florals. A great, fresh palate of melon, stone fruits, and hibiscus sensations is waiting to be enjoyed. Brisk acidity and moderate but pleasant finish bring the palate to a satisfying close.

A harmony of grapefruit, lemon, strawberries, and cherries surface on the nose, mixing with scents of apples, pears, kiwi, and honeysuckle. Now, in the mouth, flavors of melon, peaches, apricots, and hibiscus lead the way before joining tastes of honey, plums, pepper, and tomato leaf. The acidity is refreshing and counterbalances the pronounced fruitiness, while the finish is moderate and enjoyable.

Bold, Oaked, And Dynamic Wine

Established in 1983, Kendall-Jackson has produced outstanding cuvées, offering value and quality to customers. For the most part, he produces hand-crafted vino that is rich, with bold flavors. Yet, above all, Kendall-Jackson loves oak-aging and cask maturation for his wines. He has, perhaps, the largest barrel-fermentation collection in the world.

Conclusion

I feel confident that these are the best wines you can pair with your paella. Next time you intend to prepare the Spanish classic, plan to open one of our selections of wines. Not only will you enjoy your rice dish, but you will also complement the flavors while sipping these delicious wines.

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