Shrimp Scampi & Wine Pairing

Citrusy whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Muscadet, Fiano pair best with Shrimp Scampi, along with Pinot Grigio, Sparkling Wine or Manzanilla Sherry, which offer their own strengths. The citrusy notes of the white wine help soften the pungent garlic flavours of the Shrimp Scampi, while the crisp acidity of these dry white wines washes away the buttery and olive oil flavours of the dish in between bites.

Best Wine with Shrimp Scampi

Sauvignon Blanc & Shrimp Scampi Pairing

Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp white wine that has a grassy or green herbal edge to it that complements the green flavours of the garlic found in your Shrimp Scampi.  With Sauvignon Blanc, you’ll also find steely notes of lemon, lime, grapefruit, lemon and mineral that provide refreshment against the garlicy oil in your Shrimp Scampi, but also accentuates the sweet and subtle mineral flavours of the shrimp.  The shrimp is the star of this meal after all, so you’ll want to ensure you’ll taste its ocean kissed flavours over buttery garlic richness.

Acidity is incredibly important as it washes the butter garlic flavours away from your cheeks in between bites.  Without acidity, the meal would taste fabulous for the first several mouthfuls, but then it all starts to become homogenous and bland as your taste buds are swamped with fat and carbohydrates.  With Sauvignon Blanc, every sip is going to wash those fats and carbs away, making every bite of Shrimp Scampi taste delicious.

Verdejo & Shrimp Scampi Pairing

Verdejo is a Spanish white wine from the Rueda region of Spain.  Expect vibrant flavours of lemon, apricot, nectarine grapefruit, along with bitter notes of fennel, anise, grass and if aged, almonds.

It’s the bright citrus flavours of Verdejo that offset the dense garlic flavours of Shrimp Scampi, which make this pairing so great.  With citrus comes acidity, and the acidity helps keep your mouth refreshed while accentuating the delicate and sweet shrimp or prawn flavours.  The fennel and grassy herb notes found in Verdejo also complement the green and pungent garlic flavours of Shrimp Scampi.

Clean, juicy, a touch grassy and inexpensive, Verdejo is a wine to experiment with if love Sauvignon Blanc, but want something a little different.

Prosecco & Shrimp Scampi Pairing

Prosecco is a sparkling white Italian wine with light flavours of citrus, apple, pear, almonds and custard, along with a sharp acidity that quickly to removes any garlic or buttery oils from your taste buds. This is desirable since garlic and butter can clog your taste senses, making a great shrimp scampi dish dull and drab after a few bites.  While light in flavour, Prosecco is also bubbly, and the bubbles help carry away the garlicy fats and oils found in your Shrimp Scampi, ensuring the subtle flavours of Prosecco still shine through on the finish.

Fiano & Shrimp Scampi Pairing

Fiano is a southern Italian white wine from Campagna loaded with notes of pear, honey, herb, mineral and hazelnut (when aged) that make it out of this world with Shrimp Scampi.  The refreshing pear, apple and peach notes help sand down the sharp garlic flavours, while the herbal aspect of Fiano complements the green garlic flavours.  You’ll also find a hint of white pepper and smoke that add further intrigue to the dish.

Fiano comes in a wide range of styles, from dry to a sweet dessert wine.  With Shrimp Scampi, you’ll want the dry version that is lean fresh and young.  The goal is to keep things refreshing.  However, if you have a rich Shrimp Scampi loaded with butter and served over butter noodles in a parmesan sauce, I’d still stick to a dry Fiano, but I’d opt for an aged Fiano. Here the nutty hazelnut flavours of the wine complement the past and the parmesan sauce.  Meanwhile, you’ll still find the vibrant apple, apricot and pear flavours that make Fiano such a treat to drink.

Pinot Grigio & Shrimp Scampi Pairing

Not every dining restaurant will have an extensive wine list meaning that sometimes your options will be limited when dining on Shrimp Scampi.  The popularity of Pinot Grigio in North America, however, nearly guarantees that if the restaurant serves wine, they’ll probably offer Pinot Grigio by the glass.

Pinot Grigio isn’t my top choice, but it is a dry white wine that is refreshing and cleansing, so it will wash away all those pungent garlic flavours from your taste buds, helping them stay alert.  This makes every bite taste delicious and fresh.  Garlic is a strongly flavoured seasoning and has the potential to overpower the mellow flavours of pear, green apple, smoke, citrus, and mineral found in Italian Pinot Grigio.  With Shrimp Scampi served over a bed of noodles, rice or on bread, the weight of the garlic is spread out as the starches absorb the garlicy goodness.  Thus, the pungent impact of the garlic is reduced, allowing your Pinot Grigio to hold up to the garlic’s sharpness.