Top pairings

6 of the best matches for fish and chips

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on January 7 2022 at 07:39

Now that fish and chips can found in every posh fish restaurant, wine has become as popular a pairing as a nice cup of builders' tea (good though that is). But which one?

* sparkling wine is always great with deep-fried foods - Champagne or a good bottle of English bubbly if you’re feeling extravagant, cava if you're not. (Champagne’s wicked with fish fingers too!)

* a crisp Sauvignon Blanc is always a winner. So are similarly citrussy whites like Rueda, especially if you have a very sharp, punchy tartare sauce with your fish.

* smooth dry whites like unoaked Chardonnay (especially Chablis) or Chenin Blanc go particularly well if you’re serving your fish with mushy peas.

* dry perry - or cider - but I personally prefer perry (pear cider) with fish as it tastes more like a white wine. Sparkling perry is good too - on the same basis as Champagne.

*best bitter or pale ale - depending on what you call it. I’m not sure this isn’t the best pairing of all.

*black tea - with milk, of course. Another great British favourite.

Top tip: Chips rarely make much difference to a wine or beer match. Unless you slather them with gravy.

Photo by Robert Anthony @shutterstock.com

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Tags: chips fish black tea drink:tea & coffee sparkling perry perry best bitter pale ale Rueda Sauvignon Blanc drink:white wine cava Champagne drink:champagne & sparkling mushy peas tartare sauce fish and chips food:fish & shellfish

Comments: 8 (Add)

Stiffman on July 12 2023 at 22:03

Chocolate Milk

Sue on June 4 2021 at 17:10

Definitely a dry draught bitter/IPA such as Thornton's Jaipur for me, and conveniently a combination available in many good pubs especially those on the coast

john burns on March 25 2021 at 14:46

manzanilla yes! picpoul de pinet too even if it is the new chardonnay/pinot grigiot etc!

Colin R on February 26 2021 at 21:13

Surely an omission? fresh Fino or better still Manzanilla (try La Gitana) absolute classic

Nick Brett on February 5 2020 at 17:12

Fish and chips and Chablis. Such decadence, have to be f&c out of newspaper and the Chablis out of a crystal glass. Got to try that.

Nodds on January 11 2019 at 17:23

Vodka and red bull.

Roithamer on April 11 2017 at 21:10

In Andalusia, deep-fried fish is usually served with dry sherry ("fino" or "manzanilla"), which provides a sharp and salty match to the crispy batter and the juicy fresh fish. I think the same principle could work for fish & chips.

tania_nexust on June 12 2012 at 15:28

I can definitely recommend porper ale - the Black Country styles seem to go particularly well with fish & chips, such as Holdens range and Bathams - Chamberlains Fish & Chip shop just outside Birmingham have now started stocking Holdens beers following customer requests (mostly mine!) and they seem to be selling well as a good accompaniment!

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