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Tuna tataki is far from an everyday dish. With its particular texture and the often diverse flavours that accompany it, it can be difficult to choose the right wine to match. Red and white wine lovers alike, discover the suggestions of the Vinatis experts.

PINOT NOIR FROM ALSACE

WHAT IS TUNA TATAKI?

Originating in Japan, tataki is a meat cooking technique that consists of simply searing the pieces very briefly over heat or flame. The heart remains raw and soft, offering a unique texture. It is common to find tuna, salmon or beef cooked in a tataki style. Associated with refined, even gastronomic meals, tuna tataki is not an everyday dish. It is often served with a sweet and savoury sauce made of sesame, vinegar, ginger and soya, with various vegetables which also express typical Asian notes in their flavours.

Wine and food pairing must therefore take several factors into consideration. Not only the texture provided by the cooking method, but also the marinade, the sauce and the seasoning are all criteria to consider in the search for the perfect wine. While it would be obvious to pair a white wine with a fine fish dish, some red wines are excellent candidates.

WHICH RED WINE TO PAIR WITH TUNA TATAKI?

You have probably already heard that red wine should not be served with fish (Read the article: Which red wine to pair with fish?). However, tuna is not just any fish as it is quite meaty! Be careful not to match just any red wine with this fish, whose flesh is so special. Although this large fish makes it possible to pair with red wine, the proteins it contains are completely different from those of meat. Contrary to red meat, they do not support tannins and the pairing should therefore be oriented towards wines where time has sufficiently softened the tannins, or else towards regions and grape varieties expressing very little, if any, tannins.

PINOT NOIR WINES

Pinot Noir, a noble grape variety that thrives in cool regions, not only has an aromatic complexity that matches the particularities of the dish, but its very light tannins allow the desired combination. Its aromas of red berries, especially raspberry and redcurrant bring complexity and persistence to the palate. A red wine from the Pinot Noir grape variety is indeed ideal for enhancing the flavours of tuna as well as the spices and other elements that accompany the dish.

PINOT NOIR FROM ALSACE

In order to ensure a balance of tannins, it is preferable to opt for a Pinot Noir wine from more northern regions where the wines evolve more quickly. Alsace, with its cool climate, offers 100% Pinot Noir wines that go wonderfully with tuna tataki. For your tataki, Vinatis suggests a cuvée from the Fernand Engel estate which is organically grown.

PINOT NOIR TRADITION - DOMAINE FERNAND ENGEL

BURGUNDY PINOT NOIR

Burgundy is also a land of predilection for Pinot Noir. A true star of the vineyard in this region renowned for its Grands Crus, Burgundy Pinot Noir reveals aromas of wild red fruits both on the nose and on the palate. Notes of undergrowth, leather and fur develop over time, further enhancing the complexity of the nectar. AOCs such as Givry and Rully, or Mercurey, offer cuvées with an interesting chewiness on the palate to match the soft texture of the tuna. In the Mercurey AOC, Vinatis recommends a cuvée from the renowned Burgundy house Albert Bichot.

MERCUREY - EN PIERRE MILLEY - DOMAINE ADELIE - ALBERT BICHOT

WHICH WHITE WINE TO PAIR WITH TUNA TATAKI?

SOUTHERN FRANCE WHITE WINE

White wine is definitely a good match for tuna tataki, but not just any white wine! In order to achieve a judicious pairing, the same elements mentioned earlier should be considered, i.e. the texture of the meat, its seasoning, and its accompaniment. Thus, it is preferable to choose a white wine that is full-bodied enough to accompany the texture of the tuna. The southern regions of France offer appellations whose climate contributes to the development of wines with body and aromas that go with the dish.

CORSICAN WHITE WINE

Corsica offers a wide range of white wines made from local grape varieties that express refined aromas of fruit and white flowers. The predominantly sunny climate, punctuated by a very present heat, gives the white wines of the island of Beauty a nice richness giving way to a long finish, yet marked by freshness. To accompany tuna tataki, Vinatis suggests a Clos Canarelli wine made from Vermentino grape variety.

CLOS CANARELLI BLANC

BANDOL WHITE WINE

In Provence, the Bandol AOC produces wines whose aromas and texture are just what you're looking for in terms of food and wine matching. To sublimate tuna tataki, try the Cuvée Saint-Louis from Domaine de la Begude. This cuvée has a perfect balance between freshness, aromatic power and richness, perfectly matching the various textures and flavours of a dish in which the semi-cooked tuna is put to the fore. The saline and thirst-quenching framework of this cuvée, made from a blend of grape varieties, majority of Clairette, makes it a reference of choice for all fish dishes, including Asian cuisine, which is often explosive in terms of flavours and textures.

CUVÉE SAINT-LOUIS - DOMAINE DE LA BEGUDE

WHITE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

If tuna tataki is not an everyday wine, neither are the wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, especially the whites! Known mainly for its red wines, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation has plenty to impress with its white wines, which are worthy of the finest and most prestigious dishes. The warm, dry climate of this region of the Vaucluse gives the white wines of the AOC aromatic richness and roundness that are perfectly balanced with freshness. To accompany your tuna tataki, Vinatis suggests a cuvée from an excellent estate, Château La Nerthe. This blend is sure to seduce and harmonize with the complex flavours of the tuna tataki.

CHÂTEAUNEUF DU PAPE BLANC - CHATEAU LA NERTHE

WHITE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

Still in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, the Chante Cigale estate offers a cuvée full of freshness and complex aromas marked by exotic fruits. Ideal to match the notes of the possible flavours of the dish as well as in sauce and marinade. The nice richness on the palate gives a pleasant buttery sensation that echoes the softness of the tuna. Pleasure is guaranteed!

CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC - DOMAINE CHANTE CIGALE

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