Simply Prepared

• Shrimp that is cooked with mild seasonings pair well with almost any type of riesling, except for the super sweet dessert wines. For pan-fried shrimp with just a touch of lemon and butter, choose a dry, crisp wine to bring out the brightness in the lemon. A sweeter wine with notes of honey will bring out the natural sweetness of the shrimp. A dish such as grilled shrimp seasoned with just salt and pepper will have a slight charred taste. Pair it with a German wine that is semi-sweet with hints of grapefruit, lemon and honey to complement the barbecued flavor.

Citrus and Acidic

• Shrimp tacos go well with a variety of rieslings, depending on the dominant flavor component. For tacos on the hotter side, go with a sweeter Riesling to balance the spice. A dry, crisp riesling from Austria complements tomato salsa, mimicking the acid in the condiment. Going with a sweet riesling will also work by balancing the citrus and acid components. Ceviche, a seafood dish of raw shrimp that is soaked in lime juice until “cooked,” also pairs well with a sweet wine that has bright citrus notes. The sweetness will balance the tang, while the citrus undertones will complement the acidity in the dish.

A Lot Going On

• Dishes that have a lot of complex flavors can still pair well with a riesling. For a dish like shrimp pad thai, which features spice and sweetness, choose a dry riesling that is acidic and has apple undertones. The crispness of the wine will cut through the richness of the dish. A hot and spicy shrimp curry will go well with a sweeter wine to balance the heat. Look for a riesling that is semi-sweet as apposed to dry. Choose a wine from Washington State, because the rieslings produced in this area tend to be fuller-bodied and on the sweeter side.

Lush and Creamy

• Shrimp Louie, a cocktail made with a creamy mayo-based sauce, pairs deliciously with a fresh riesling that is heavy on citrus notes. Choose a wine from Alsace, as they are drier and tend to be acidic. These wines will cut through the fattiness of the sauce, while the lemon tones will complement the seafood. A shrimp salad with crisp vegetables will also go well with this type of wine. For shrimp bisque, choose a slightly sweeter wine that has honey notes to complement the creaminess of the soup without overpowering it.