Spanish food and wine: perfect pairings for tapas and Spanish food

Spanish cuisine, known for its bold and rich flavours, offers a wide variety of dishes that deserve an equally special wine. Whether it’s tapas, paella, or meat, fish or vegetable-based dishes, the right wine pairing can take the culinary experience to the next level.

In this guide, we’ve selected some of the best wines and sparkling wines – both Italian and Spanish – to accompany your favourite dishes from the Spanish tradition.

Origins and Key Ingredients of Spanish Cuisine – and How to Choose the Right Wines to Pair

Spanish cuisine is known for its fresh, flavourful ingredients such as tomatoes, peppers, garlic, saffron and olive oil. Dishes range from light tapas to rich, hearty stews, including the famous paella, meat and fish-based recipes, and traditional desserts. Each dish has its own characteristics, calling for a wine with the right structure and complexity.

Best Red Wines for Meat Dishes, Flavourful Starters, and Traditional Spanish Stews

To accompany rich and flavourful dishes, especially those based on meat, red wine is often the ideal choice. Wines with good structure, soft tannins and spicy notes pair perfectly with dishes like pulpo a la gallega (a traditional octopus starter) or cocido madrileño, a hearty Spanish stew prepared in various regional styles. Here are some red wine pairing suggestions for Spanish dishes:

Rioja: A full-bodied red, ideal with lamb and jamón ibérico, thanks to its gentle tannins and fruity notes. It also works wonderfully with pulpo a la gallega, as its versatility balances bold yet delicate flavours.
Chianti Classico: With a well-balanced acidity and soft tannins, it’s perfect for meat stews like cocido madrileño, and pairs equally well with cured meat starters such as jamón ibérico.
Barbera d'Alba DOC: A vibrant wine, ideal with rich meat dishes like chorizo or cordero al horno (oven-roasted lamb). It also complements croquetas de jamón, balancing their salty, crunchy exterior and soft filling.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC: Rich and full-bodied, it goes well with spiced dishes like pisto manchego (Spanish ratatouille), and is a great match for meat-based tapas such as chorizo or albóndigas (meatballs). Surprisingly good with seafood starters too, like tempura prawns or fish-based tapas.

White Wines to Pair with Spanish Fish Dishes

It’s not all about reds: white wines, with their freshness and minerality, can also offer exceptional pairings. For lighter dishes such as seafood tapas or marinated seafood salads, an aromatic white wine is the perfect choice. Spain’s coastal cuisine features fresh and delicate dishes, like bacalao a la Vizcaína (Basque-style cod) and mariscos a la plancha (grilled seafood). Fresh, aromatic white wines are ideal here.

Albariño: Fresh and citrusy, perfect with grilled fish and shellfish.
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi: A mineral white, ideal for delicate dishes like cod.
Fiano di Avellino DOCG: Elegant, with notes of yellow fruit and hazelnut, a great match for paella de mariscos or prawn tapas.

Which Wines to Pair with Paella?

Paella is Spain’s signature dish, a mix of rice, meat and seafood that calls for a wine able to balance its complex flavours.

Tempranillo: Perfect for a mixed paella, thanks to its structure and versatility.
Gavi di Gavi: Fresh and mineral, Gavi pairs beautifully with seafood or fish-based paella.

The Best Wine for Tapas? Sparkling wine!

Sparkling wines are perfect for lightening up rich dishes like tapas and jamón ibérico. Their effervescence stimulates the appetite and balances the saltiness of the food, turning every bite into a fresh, lively experience.

Cava DO: Fresh and fruity, excellent with savoury, crunchy tapas, such as ham or seafood tapas with shellfish. The bubbles in Cava complement the crispness of the tapas, creating a perfect match.
Prosecco DOC: Elegant, with bright freshness, ideal with lighter dishes like fish-based tapas, such as tempura prawns or calamari tapas.
Franciacorta DOCG: More structured than Prosecco, making it a great choice for more complex tapas, like grilled red meat or chorizo-based dishes. Its depth makes it a fine partner for richer bites.