Which wine to pair with sole?

Delicate par excellence, sole captivates with its fine flesh and subtle flavor.

Whether served as sole meunière with brown butter and a squeeze of lemon, or prepared with a creamier sauce, it requires careful consideration when pairing food and wine. The goal is above all to respect the fish's delicacy while complementing the richness of the butter and the brightness of the lemon. Here are all our tips to successfully pair wine with your dish, whatever your recipe!

Which wine to drink with sole?

With sole, the priority is freshness, minerality, and balance. Cooking is often gentle, the flesh is delicate, and flavors remain nuanced, so overly powerful wines should be avoided. In most cases, a dry white wine is the best choice, as it adds tension and enhances the taste of the fish without overpowering it.

Which white wine with sole?

White wine is the most obvious pairing with sole and fish in general. Ideally, choose white wines that are both lively and precise, capable of supporting the sauce while maintaining elegance.

Our white wine tips with sole

• A fresh and saline Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, perfect for seafood and delicate fish
• A Sancerre blanc, Menetou-Salon, or Pouilly Fumé, if you enjoy crisp whites with an expressive nose from the Sauvignon grape
• A Chablis is always effective with fish in butter, thanks to its straight profile and saline finish
• Meursault or Puligny Montrachet, with golden yellow color and a rich nose, if you want a fuller style, ideal with cream-based sole
• A Vouvray (made from Chenin grape) is a great option if the sauce is slightly creamy
• In Alsace, Rieslings and Pinot Blanc work very well if you add lemon, herbs, or a touch of spices
• A Crémant de Bourgogne, excellent with sole meunière, as it keeps finesse while “cutting” through the richness of brown butter

Which rosé wine with sole?

A dry rosé can be a very good choice when sole is served in summer or with a Mediterranean garnish. The idea is to maintain delicacy and freshness without opting for an overly powerful rosé.

Our rosé wine tips with sole

• A rosé from Côtes de Provence, perfect for a light seasonal recipe with lemon, herbs, and vegetables
• A flattering pale rosé with citrus notes, ideal if sole is served simply with a drizzle of oil and a hint of lemon

Can red wine be served with sole?

Yes, but only in specific cases. Sole is a delicate fish, and highly tannic reds quickly overpower the flesh and spoil the pairing. If you want to serve red wine, choose a very light, low-extraction red and serve it slightly chilled.

Our red wine tips with sole

• A delicate Pinot Noir, very low in tannins, can work if the sauce is not too lemony
• Avoid powerful reds, even if you enjoy Bordeaux or Rhône reds, as they are better suited to meat

Best food and wine pairings with sole

Which wine with sole meunière?

For sole meunière with brown butter and lemon, you need a white wine that adds tension and a saline finish.

Our tips:

• AOC Chablis for minerality and precision
• AOC Sancerre blanc or AOC Pouilly Fumé for a clean pairing with Sauvignon
• AOC Meursault if you want a fuller white that can accompany a very generous brown butter sauce

Which wine with cream-based sole?

With a creamy sauce, a rounder white is often the best. It should retain freshness but offer more body in the mouth.

• AOC Puligny Montrachet or AOC Mercurey blanc, great companions to cream sauces
• AOC Vouvray from Chenin grape, if you want a softer, very elegant white for fish

Which wine with grilled or simply roasted sole with olive oil and herbs?

When the recipe is light, with olive oil and herbs, the food-and-wine pairing should be clean, with a straight and briny wine. This is the perfect option for most seafood and fish.

• AOC Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, fresh and saline, always excellent with fish
• AOC Coteaux du Giennois or AOC Menetou-Salon, for Sauvignon lovers and mineral-driven wines
• A southern-style white made from Rolle grape in AOC Côtes de Provence if you want a fresh but sunny style

Bonus: Our sole meunière recipe

This sole meunière is a simple and effective seasonal recipe, ideal for highlighting this delicate fish with few ingredients!

Ingredients (for 4 people)

• 2 sole (or 4 small ones), ready to cook
• 80 g butter
• 2 tbsp neutral oil
• Flour
• 1 lemon
• Salt, pepper
• Parsley

Preparation

1. Dry the fish, season with salt and pepper, then lightly flour with chopped parsley.
2. Heat the oil and half the butter, then cook the sole over medium heat until golden.
3. Keep the fish warm.
4. Add the remaining butter to the pan and let it turn brown (beurre noisette).
5. Pour the brown butter over the sole, add lemon juice, and serve immediately.

Sole is a delicate fish that requires precise wines, capable of complementing your recipe without overpowering it. To succeed with food and wine pairings, a dry white wine remains the best ally. You can also explore pairings with rosé or sparkling wine.

Discover our selection on Avenue des Vins and find the bottle that best suits your recipe, delivered directly from the vineyard or château of your choice.

FAQ - Wine with sole

Which dry white wine works with sole meunière?

Brown butter and lemon call for a taut white with a saline finish. Chablis brings minerality and precision, while Sancerre blanc or Pouilly Fumé play the Sauvignon card. If the butter is very generous, a fuller Meursault holds the pairing without overpowering the flesh.

Which wine should be served with sole in a creamy sauce?

A cream sauce needs a rounder white that keeps freshness but offers more body in the mouth. Puligny Montrachet or Mercurey blanc make great allies. A Chenin-based Vouvray gives a softer profile, very elegant with fish.

Can red wine be served with sole?

Yes, but only in specific cases. Sole is a delicate fish and highly tannic reds quickly overpower its flesh. Choose a delicate, low-extraction Pinot Noir served slightly chilled, and avoid it if the sauce is very lemony.

Which wine suits grilled sole with olive oil and herbs?

With a light recipe, the pairing should stay clean, with a straight and briny wine. A fresh, saline Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine always works. Coteaux du Giennois or Menetou-Salon suit Sauvignon lovers, and a Rolle-based white in Côtes de Provence gives a fresh but sunny style.

Can a crémant or a rosé go with sole?

A Crémant de Bourgogne is excellent with sole meunière: it keeps its finesse while cutting through the richness of brown butter. As for rosé, a dry, pale Côtes de Provence with citrus notes suits summer or a Mediterranean garnish, as long as it stays light.