Honourable Accompaniment: How to Match the Perfect Beverage to Caviar

Caviar means a feast, and a feast means champagne. They are bound to be together. But is that where it hinges? Let’s find out which beverages are best to pair caviar with, and which ones should be avoided.

The taste that shall never be blurred

The first thing to bear in mind when selecting drinks for any caviar, whether salmon or sturgeon, is that the beverages should emphasise, reveal or complement its unique flavour. Never blur it! This means that if you want to enjoy a real high-quality delicacy, put aside all sugary drinks, sodas, juices (even freshly squeezed) and alcoholic cocktails.

Choose sparkling wines and you will not be wrong!

The pairing of bubbly and caviar is a classic, but there are some nuances. Caviar is usually served with Brut, classic sparkling wine, Prosecco or Crémant. If you like the combination of sweet and salty, do not choose Extra Brut or Brut Nature, but give preference to dry sparklers like Extra Dry or Dry. All sparkling wines ‘refresh’ the tongue, allowing you to enjoy the taste of sturgeon or salmon caviar unhindered, so you can try a variety of options.

If wine, then white wine only

Russian caviar goes well with light white wine, not too sour. Choose the kind that pair perfectly with oysters such as Chablis, Riesling, Chardonnay or Sauvignon blanc. If there are none available, just make sure that your white wine is not aged in an oak cask as these flavours can also alter the perception of your receptors. Never choose strong wines with a high tannin content, such as red and orange wines. Their bright taste will blur the subtle nuances of sturgeon and salmon caviar and may give undesirable taste sensations, for example, excessively intensifying the noble bitterness characteristic of almost all types of salmon caviar (except for chum salmon caviar).

Strong drinks: not just Vodka

Vodka and caviar are definitely a classic Russian duo. Even Feodor Chaliapin used to take sturgeon caviar exclusively with Vodka. No need to follow in this genius’ footsteps: you can also choose salmon caviar to accompany the drink; it's all a matter of personal preference. Whatever you choose, Vodka should be cold, but caviar temperature can vary: salmon caviar is also recommended to be served cold, but sturgeon caviar should be left at room temperature for a while to deliver the best taste on the tongue.

Another strong beverage to accompany caviar is Sake (especially if you have added caviar as an ingredient to a Japanese dish). On the other hand, Whisky, Cognac, Gin, Sambuca and various liqueurs are better kept for other occasions as their taste is too intense.

No matter what kind of recommended beverage you choose, you can enjoy the taste of real, high-quality sturgeon and salmon caviar by ordering it at the Lemberg Caviar House. It takes no more than 48 hours for caviar to be delivered to your meal (all over Europe!) and you can enjoy all the flavours of your favourite delicacy, provided you choose the right beverage and serve it properly.

Published date: May 03, 2023