A guide to pairing wine & beer with oysters. 

This guide was created to give you suggestions on wine and beer varieties that we love. You can purchase the suggestions we have linked here or take the list to your local wine and beer merchant and ask if they have a nice Muscadet or Albariño in stock. There are no rules when it comes to pairing, simply have fun and enjoy! 

Muscadet 

If there’s any one classic pairing for oysters, it’s the always-bright, always-crisp Muscadet. Not to be confused with the syrupy sweet Moscato, Muscadet is a dry white wine from the Loire Valley region in France and is named for the area where the wine is grown.

We recommend: COMPLEMENTERRE MUSCADET LA CROIX MORICEAU 2020 

Wine notes: This wine is grown by an Organic/ Biodynamic vineyard in France producing beautiful wines. Supremely mineraly with a rich body - citrus, apple, toasted almond and smoke - well balanced acidity pairs well with seafood.

Albariño

This grape claims dual citizenship of both Spain (in the Rias Baixas region) and Portugal. A friend to all things from the sea, Albariño pairs exceptionally well with white fish, meats and leafy green herbs. Albariño is a dry, white wine with a complex aroma profile often including orange blossom, freshly cut grass, jasmine or geranium.

We recommend: Arcán Albariño 

Wine notes: A fresh, crisp and aromatic white wine. This vintage once again displays all the character of the Albariño grape, with aromas of white stone fruit together with floral notes and a citrus touch. On the palate it is unctuous, direct and lingering. This fabulous Albariño is served in our farm store at Glidden Point.

Txakolina

Pronounced  chock-oh-LEE-nah, This wine coming from the Spanish basque country has been growing in popularity in recent years. This is an ocean wine, oftentimes grapes being grown in very close proximity to the Bay of Biscay. Their flavor closely resembles the aromas of the ocean air, rather than any particular kind of fruit. The end product is a slightly sparking, very dry white wine that pairs beautifully with shellfish. 

We recommend: Julian Ostolaza Ganeta, Getariako Txakolina, Spain 2017

Wine Notes: Margarita like lime kick with all kinds of beach fizz, briny ocean water and notes of aloe. Aromas that remind us of citrus and exotic fruits. Round, pleasant and persistent mid palate. Intense and slightly acid finish. We serve this Txakolina in our Farm Store at Glidden Point.

Champagne

There’s very little out there that doesn’t taste great with bubbles, but oysters pair particularly well. And while there are plenty of fun bubbly pet-nats and other wines being produced, we still love to pop a bottle of celebratory Champagne. 

We recommend: CHAMPAGNE PONSON LA PETITE MONTAGE PREMIER CRU NV

Wine notes: Loads of character and class, refreshing but not austere, with an impeccable balance of sweet fruit and cutting minerality

Red Wine 

While not considered the most classic pairing with Oysters, we think red wines can absolutely be a fun way to enjoy your fresh and briny mollusks, especially in the winter months. The key to pairing red wine with oysters is to ideally have the wine be fresh and lively, not heavy or with harsh tannins.

We recommend:SCRIBE WINERY 2021 Nouveau of Pinot Noir 

Wine notes: After a 100% carbonic fermentation with native yeast, Scribe Winery bottles the wine unfined, unfiltered and without sulfur. This process produces a lively, juicy wine that’s meant to be enjoyed right away. Nouveau is traditionally released on the third Thursday of November, and has become synonymous with Thanksgiving, the holidays and the harvest season.

BEER PAIRINGS

 

Citrus Beers 

It is well known that oysters served with a squeeze of lemon or lime can bring the brine to a bright new life. So when pairing beer with Oysters, it makes sense that a beer with citrus as part of the brewing process would be a great addition to any oyster feast. 

We recommend : Allagash White

Beer Notes: Allagash White is a take on a traditional Belgian-style wheat beer, brewed with oats and wheat, then spiced with coriander, Curaçao orange peel and an undisclosed secret ingredient. It's crisp and refreshing, with big citrus notes and spiciness. It has a full-bodied mouthfeel, and little to no bitterness.

 

Stouts 

Stouts may not be the first thing you think of when pairing with Oysters, but according to culinary science, Stouts and oysters are a match made in heaven. Stouts can be described as dark and rich, with flavors of chocolate, vanilla, coffee often with bitter undertones. The sharp brine of the oyster will pair with the toasty flavors of the stout cutting much from the bitter finish of the beer and leaving you with an enjoyable creamy mouthfeel. I would highly recommend a lighter stout under 9% ABV so as to not overpower the Oysters. 

We Recommend: 

Mast Landing Gunner's Daughter Stout

 

Happy Holidays!

- Glidden Point