When we think about celebrating, we typically focus on what we are going to eat and drink. You don’t need a special occasion—or even a partner—to celebrate. Our wines are crafted to increase your appreciation for life, so don’t hold back on treating yourself ever. Celebrate any day with an extraordinary meal. Finding the right wine and food pairing brings the festivities to another level, and these best practices will help create an unforgettable dining experience. Cheers!

Drink with Intention

If you’re like us, you often think about what you are going to drink first, and then choose a meal to compliment it. We specialize in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so those are our go-tos. Our vineyard is a mere 1.5 miles from the beach, which infuses our wines with oceanic influences. Our long growing season, combined with our location, gives Oceano Wines a beautiful acidity that creates a fantastic food wine. To enhance the taste, open your wine bottle well before your meal to allow the flavors an opportunity to develop.

“What grows together, goes together”

Wine takes on the characteristics of where it grows, and our coastal wines have a delightfully briney character derived from our coastal location. This is why our Chardonnay pairs perfectly with briney and savory dishes: the flavors match. Coastal wines like ours are ideal for seafood dishes, like ceviche, because they share the same beachy environment. A great rule of thumb to keep in mind when creating a food and wine pairing is that “what grows together, goes together”.

Other Considerations

A glass of white wine next to a plate of vegetables and fish, garnished with sprouts.

You don’t have to limit yourself to protein entrees when you are choosing wine and food pairings. There are lots of options for vegans, too! Think of the flavors present in your wine and food dishes to create your menu. A sweet dish increases the perception of tannin in a wine, so pairing a sweet dish with a high tannin level wine might be too much for the palate. If you like heat and complex flavors in your foods, hot or spicy meals match up beautifully with acidic wines like ours. Fatty dishes, such as those with heavy creams, pair perfectly with acidic wines that cut through the richness of the fat.

Five Fabulous Food and Wine Pairings from Oceano Wines

We have teamed up with the best regional chefs to craft unbelievable food and wine pairings that will make your mouth water. Enjoy these incredible meals with our wines, and use what you learn to develop your own winning food and wine menus.

5 Spice Brined Boneless Pork Chop With Oceano Pinot Noir 2019

A fine dining experience with a pork chop and Oceano's Pinot Noir wine in a bottle and a glass.

Oceano Pinot Noir 2019 is surprisingly bright, with hints of tobacco, black pepper, and pomegranate. The high acidity of this wine inspired World Wine Guys LLC to pair it with a brined dish. The pork chops are brined overnight with Chinese spices to infuse the meat with astonishing flavor. Take it up a notch with the Dijon cream sauce to enhance the flavor even more with a little heat. You can find the complete recipe on our food pairings page.

Lemon Zested Diver Scallops served over wilted Spinach

Buttery scallops are mouthwatering and make the perfect companion for our Oceano Chardonnay 2018 wine. The creaminess of butter poached, pan seared zesty diver scallops matches perfectly with the bright citrus notes and crisp acidity of our Chardonnays. Learn more with our exclusive recipe created by World Wines LLC.

Salmon Fettuccine

A plate of pasta and a protein next to a bottle of Oceano's Chardonnay wine.

This Oceano 2019 Chardonnay has a lot of jasmine, honeysuckle, and lemon blossom aromas, which lend it a nice level of acidity. This beautiful wine is counterbalanced with this rich dish. Salmon lives in cold water, making it a fattier fish. This wine pairs delightfully with the fattiness in the salmon and the cream sauce. World Wine Guys LLC enhances the flavors even more with a dash of Parmigiano Reggiano. The saltiness of the cheese complements high acid wines nicely.

Dungeness Crab Cakes with Chardonnay Beurre Blanc Sauce

As another example of “what grows together, goes together”, we offer this seafood and wine pairing. The salinity and spice of these Dungeness Crab Cakes are a great match with the bold, briny citrus flavors of Oceano Chardonnay. The wine’s creaminess and crisp acidity pairs seamlessly with the delectable Beurre Blanc sauce.

Polynesian Honey Grilled Tri-Tip

The title of this recipe from David Guas of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery, might make this sound like a sweet dish, but don’t be fooled by the name. This Polynesian Honey Grilled Tri-Tip is infused with the salty and savory flavors of soy sauce and Black Asian Vinegar, giving it an acidity that pairs seamlessly with Oceano Pinot Noir 2018. The bold taste of our Pinot Noir is a fantastic match with this exotic yet easy-to-make dish.

A pinnable graphic for "Wine and Food Pairing: Five Tantalizing Options" from Oceano Wines.

At Oceano Wines, we believe that a perfect wine and food pairing can elevate any meal into a memorable experience. Our unique wine, with coastal influences and vibrant acidity, are ideal for a variety of dishes. Whether you’re enjoying red or white, the right combination of flavors can create an unforgettable dining experience. Explore Oceano Wines’ Shop to learn more about our offerings and discover how our wines can complement your culinary adventures.