Best Wine for Shrimp Scampi: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated - 3/23/23

Quick Answer: A dry light bodied white wine with a crisp acidity that will cut through the richness of the dish. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Albariño are all excellent choices. Another interesting option is a dry medium to full bodied white wine, like a Chardonnay, which would accentuate the creaminess of the dish.

Shrimp scampi dish is made with shrimp that has been sautéed in garlic butter and olive oil, and it’s absolutely delicious. But what wine should you pair with it?

In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about pairing the best wine with shrimp scampi. We’ll provide some tips on how to choose the best wine for the occasion, as well as a list of specific types of white wines that pair well with this dish.

What is Shrimp Scampi?

Butter + Garlic + Shrimp

“Shrimp scampi means different things to different people, but it always involves butter, garlic and shrimp.” – The Modern Proper

Some people only consider it shrimp scampi if it’s served over pasta, while others prefer theirs pan-fried, garlic and buttery shrimp.

In Italian, scampi actually means “large shrimp” or Dublin Bay Prawn. So whether its on its own or poured over pasta I think you can call it Shrimp Scampi.

What are the 10 Best Wines with Shrimp Scampi?

1) Pinot Grigio (Best Overall)

Italian Pinot Grigio (aka Pinot Gris outside of Italy) is an dry, light-bodied white wine with a crisp acidity that will cut through the richness of the dish. The flavors of Pinot Grigio are typically citrus and lemon zest, which goes well with many seafood dishes such as a shrimp scampi meal.

As you may know, a good Shrimp scampi recipe needs the acidity of a lemon juice to balance out the richness of the dish. Therefore, Pinot Grigio is a perfect pairing for this dish.

2) Prosecco (Best Sparkling)

An Italian sparkling wine that is light, refreshing and has a slight fruitiness to it. The acidity and citrusy characteristics of Prosecco complement the briny tastes of fresh seafood. Always a good pairing for any type of seafood.

Also the bubbles in the sparkling white wine will help cleanse your palate in between bites of shrimp scampi.

3) Sauvignon Blanc

A dry, light to medium-bodied white wine with a crisp acidity. The grassy and herbal flavors of Sauvignon Blanc can stand up to the garlic in this shrimp scampi dish. In addition, the acidity of the crisp wine will help cut through the richness of the butter sauce.

4) Sancerre (My Favorite White Wine)

Sancerre is a region in France that makes Sauvignon Blanc.

One of my favorite white wines in the world. This refreshing and crisp wine has high acidity with flavors of citrus, minerals, and salt. The salinity of the wine really helps add to the flavor of the shrimp scampi dish.

5) Albariño (Seafood Lover's Wine)

This wine is best known for the BEST wine pairing with any and all seafood. This is a dry, light to medium-bodied Portuguese/Spanish white wine with mouthwatering acidity, slightly effervescent, and a mineral finish.

Also the citrus and stone fruit flavors of Albariño (Alvarinho) go well with the shrimp and garlic in this dish.

6) Chardonnay (Best Full-Bodied Wine)

A dry, medium to full-bodied white wine with a creamy texture. The buttery flavors of Chardonnay will accentuate the creaminess of the dish. If you are looking for a richer wine pairing, then this is your best bet.

However, make sure to choose a Chardonnay that is not too oaky. The oaky-ness can overwhelm the delicate flavors of the garlic in the shrimp scampi.

7) Chablis

A dry, light to medium-bodied white wine made from Chardonnay grapes. Although Chablis wines are very different from your typical oak aged California Chardonnay, these particular wines come from the Burgundy region of France.

Chablis has a mineral quality with citrus and green apple flavors. And this pairs well with shrimp scampi because it can handle the richness of the dish while still being refreshing. In addition, the acidity of Chablis will help cut through the creamy butter sauce.

8) Dry Riesling

A dry, light-bodied, clean, crisp white wine with refreshing acidity and flavors of citrus. Try a wine from the Alsace region or Finger Lakes region of NY. Again the high acidity in these wines will nicely balance the creaminess of your dish.

9) Grüner Veltliner (Best for Spicy Shrimp Scampi)

Grüner Veltliner is an Austrian wine known for their zesty and crispness with a hint of spice and white pepper. So if you like to make your shrimp scampi a little more peppery this might be the perfect pairing.

10) Riesling (Best for Garlicky Shrimp Scampi)

A sweet Riesling is versatile wine that can go with most cuisines. The sweetness of this wine can pair well with the garlic flavors. So if you like to make your scrimp scampi extra garlicky, this would be a great pairing.

Wine Pairing Tips with Shrimp Scampi

# 1 rule to wine pairing with food is respect the region. So shrimp scampi is an Italian-American dish, that it would naturally pair well with Italian and American white wines (like Pinot Grigio, Prosecco, and Sauvignon Blanc).

Also if you enjoying this meal on a hot summer day, choose a light bodied, refreshing, and crisp white wine.

Best Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Here is our favorite and most simple recipe for Shrimp Scampi without pasta.

FAQs

What is shrimp scampi sauce made of?

Shrimp scampi sauce is typically made of butter, garlic, and white wine (can be substituted with chicken broth).

What makes scampi a scampi?

The word “scampi” refers to the method of preparation, which includes garlic, white wine, and butter. It can be used to describe both the dish and the type of shrimp used in the dish. In Italian “Scampi” means large shrimp or the dublin bay prawn.

Why is it called shrimp scampi?

Translation is “Shrimp large shrimp”. Again we believe it just means using a type of Italian preparation method of cooking shrimp, which includes garlic, white wine, and butter.

What is creamy scampi sauce made of?

Creamy scampi sauce can be just made of pasta water, garlic, and butter. Some recipes have called for the addition of parmesan cheese and/or heavy cream.

Can you drink red wine with shrimp scampi?

Although red wine is not a typical pairing with shrimp scampi, some people might prefer it. A light-bodied Pinot Noir or Beaujolais Nouveau would be our best recommendation.

Is red or white wine better with shrimp?

White wine is typically better with this shrimp dish. But as we mentioned earlier, it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Summary

We hope you enjoyed this blog post on the best wine pairing for shrimp scampi.

If you liked this article, be sure to check our other food and wine pairings like:

Best Wine for Shrimp Scampi: Everything You Need to Know

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