Food & wine pairing

Best wine with crab

Sweet crab wants rich, round whites. Chilli crab wants Riesling.

How are you cooking it?

Chardonnay

Rich, sweet crab meat suits Chardonnay’s creamy texture.

  • Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
  • Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
See all 632 →

Why it works Dish Wine

Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine

Riesling

The go-to for chilli crab and Singapore-style sauces.

  • Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
  • Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
See all 296 →

Why it works Dish Wine

Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine

Sparkling & Champagne

Celebration crab and Champagne. Simple as that.

  • Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
  • Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
See all 408 →

Why it works Dish Wine

Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine

Viognier & Marsanne

Rich and aromatic, it matches crab with butter or cream.

  • Same weight as the dish, so neither drowns the other
  • Fresh acidity lifts the flavours and cleans up each bite
See all 36 →

Why it works Dish Wine

Weightrichness vs body
Aciditytang vs freshness
Fat / tanninfat softens grip
Sweetnessdish vs wine

Tip

Spicy crab needs Riesling; plain crab with butter suits Chardonnay.

Best avoided

Red wine, which turns shellfish metallic.

About crab and wine

Today’s picks run from $7.94 to $24.83 a bottle, chosen for value from 1,372 matching wines across the Australian retailers we compare. Six-packs and dozens are shown as a price per bottle.

Questions

What wine goes best with crab?

Chardonnay, Riesling and Sparkling & Champagne are the best matches for crab. Rich, sweet crab meat suits Chardonnay’s creamy texture.

What’s a good cheap wine with crab?

Winesmiths Premium Chardonnay 2000ml is the cheapest of today’s picks at $7.94 a bottle from Cellars. Prices are checked every 4 hours.

What wine should I avoid with crab?

Red wine, which turns shellfish metallic.

More pairings

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