At Bear Trail Lodge, there’s always an adventure! A typical trip here, depending on the season, means fishing for a variety of salmon: King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Silver, Chum, and Pink Salmon. One of the best parts about Bear Trail Lodge is that once your adventure is over, we can send you home with your fresh-caught salmon so you can enjoy a tasty meal. Nothing makes a delicious fish dinner better than a perfectly paired wine. If you aren’t sure what wine goes best with each variety of salmon, not to worry. When it comes to seafood, we typically think that white wine is the way to go. However, with salmon being such a versatile dish, you can choose from whites, reds, or rosé depending on how you prepare it! We have compiled some of the best wine pairings for your catch at Bear Trail Lodge.
King Salmon
King Salmon has a tender texture and a moist, buttery flavor. These fish are large and typically produce a thick fillet. A Chardonnay crafted in oak barrels brings a delectable, refreshing flavor when paired with King Salmon, because it complements the rich, oily flavor of the salmon. Personally, we love the Alaskan Chardonnay from Bear Creek Winery with its aromas of kiwi, rhubarb, and lime. If you go for a blackened salmon dish, Pinot Noir offers a fruity flavor to go along with it. On the other hand, if you choose a dish that features an herb flavor, a Sauvignon Blanc provides a crisp pairing. For a flavorful salmon, such as King Salmon, find a wine that pairs perfectly depending on the dish you prepare.
Sockeye Salmon
Sockeye salmon typically produce thinner fillets with a firm, flaky texture. The deep red color gives it a rich taste, making it pair well with both sparkling wines, white wines, and dark rosé. A rule of thumb when it comes to rosé and salmon is to match the color of the rosé to that of the salmon —darker salmon, darker Rosé. This helps the rich flavor of your wine match that of your fish. In terms of red wine, a rich Pinot Noir also pairs well with sockeye salmon. In fact, Alaska Denali Winery offers a New Zealand Pinot Noir. Support local businesses and pick up a bottle of wine on your way out of town!
Silver Salmon
Silver salmon provides a mild flavor with a slightly flaky texture. Due to its mild flavor, again, Pinot Noir is a full-bodied, delectable pairing. If you whip up your silver salmon into a pasta dish, a Riesling like the Australian Traminer-Riesling from Alaska Denali Winery will add a bit of sweetness to your meal. Should you choose to use a garlic ginger basil sauce while cooking your salmon, a dry Muscat adds a bit of zest. No matter how you prepare your salmon dish, there’s a wine that will wash it down perfectly!
If you’re planning on visiting Bear Trail Lodge any time soon, be sure to plan ahead to the season that best suits the variety of salmon you want to catch. With these wine pairings, you have plenty of tasty meals to look forward to after your adventure! Reach out to us today to book your trip.