Want to make a bunch of wine experts scratch their head in confusion and minor frustration? Put a plate of lutefisk in front of them along with a wide variety of wines (Cava, Gruner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Cru Beaujolais, and more … even sake’) and ask them to pick the perfect pairing.

Before we go too far, a quick primer on lutefisk (especially for those that don’t live in the Upper Midwest).

Lutefisk is one of the ultimate love it or hate it foods. Even the Wikipedia page on the topic mentions, “Lutefisk prepared from cod is somewhat notorious, even in Scandinavia, for its intensely offensive odor.” Mmmmm … sounds glorious!

Here’s the preparation: Dried cod, with the shape and texture of a piece of wood, is reconstituted in water for four to five days. Then it’s immersed in a bath of caustic lye for two or three more days, followed by a good rinsing to wash off the caustic lye (we are, after all, going to be eating this). Simple preparation of the fish (poaching or steaming is common) right before serving completes the process.

Properly prepared and cooked lutefisk should relish in an absence of negatives: it should not smell or taste like a fish that once had the consistency of a 1×6 board that soaked in a bath of sodium hydroxide for many days. If you achieve that, you have good lutefisk on your plate.

However, for honestly great lutefisk visit Fika Cafe at the American Swedish Institute.

Always wanting to do a wine experiment, Larry Colbeck decided to visit the American Swedish Institute with some wine expert friends to see what pairing would be best. Many thanks to Fika for letting us come in to do our little wine tasting.

If you’re looking for a lutefisk dinner in Minnesota, you can find an updated list at the Lutefisk Lover’s Lifeline website (or just see the PDF of the list here). No mention of corkage fees, though.

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Here are the wines presented in the video, with purchasing locations for the top three choices, listed alphabetically by city. Please call ahead for availability.

BLANCHET Pouilly-Fume Calcite (tied for top choice)

Cheers - Bloomington
Bloomington
952-941-0998

Dennis Brothers Liquor
Cottage Grove
651-458-8932

Edina Country Club
Edina
952-927-7151

Kowalski's Excelsior Market
Excelsior
952-229-8300

Brackett's Crossing Country Club
Lakeville
952-435-7600

Kowalski's Uptown Market
Minneapolis
612-377-3448

4 Bells
Minneapolis
612-904-1163

Stinson Wine, Beer & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-789-0678

Franklin-nicollet Liquors
Minneapolis
612-871-1511

Cafe Lurcat
Minneapolis
612-486-5500

France 44
Minneapolis
612-925-3252

North Loop Wine & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-338-5393

U.s. Liquor & Wine - Sold
Minnetonka
952-912-9797

Kowalski's Oak Park Heights Market
Oak Park Heights
651-439-9161

Oak Liquor
Oakdale
651-739-9739

Tessa's Office
Rochester
507-226-7763

St Cloud Country Club
Saint Cloud
320-253-1331

Liquor Boy
Saint Louis Park
952-512-2200

Yarmo Liquor
Saint Paul
651-698-0707

Colbeck
Saint Paul
651-487-1212

W.a. Frost
Saint Paul
651-224-5715

First Grand Liquors
Saint Paul
651-227-7039

University Club - Summit
Saint Paul
651-222-1751

Angela Kallsen
Saint Paul


Nicholas Livingston
Saint Paul


Wil Bailey
Saint Paul


Kowalski's Woodbury Market
Woodbury
651-578-8800

NIKOLAIHOF Hefeabzug Gruner Veltliner (tied for top choice)

Mendoberri
Mendota Heights
651-209-3270

Haute Dish
Minneapolis
612-338-8484

Alma Restaurant
Minneapolis
612-379-4909

Williams, Stuart
Minneapolis
612-867-6869

Closed - Spoonriver
Minneapolis
612-436-2236

South Lyndale Liquor
Minneapolis
612-827-5811

Terzo
Minneapolis
612-925-3113

Zipp's
Minneapolis
612-333-8686

Heyday
Minneapolis
651-699-3536

D.b. Searles
Saint Cloud
320-253-0655

Minneapolis Golf Club
Saint Louis Park
952-544-4471

Solo Vino
Saint Paul
651-602-9515

Deb Yanker Black
Saint Paul
651-487-1212

Ann Avant
Saint Paul


Colbeck
Saint Paul
651-487-1212

Nicholas Livingston
Saint Paul


Top Ten Liquors - Woodbury
Woodbury
651-501-1199

BRUNDLMAYER Gelber Muskateller (unanimous second choice)

New Scenic Cafe
Duluth
218-525-6274

Pikovsky, Scott
Excelsior
612-470-0080

Mendoberri
Mendota Heights
651-209-3270

South Lyndale Liquor
Minneapolis
612-827-5811

The Bachelor Farmer
Minneapolis
612-206-3920

Closed 510 Restaurant (la Belle Vie)
Minneapolis
612-874-6440

Travail
Minneapolis
612-669-5231

St. Genevieve
Minneapolis
612-353-4843

Chicago Lake Liquor
Minneapolis
612-825-4401

Closed - Brasserie Zentral
Minneapolis
612-333-0505

Alvarez, Ken
Saint Paul


Deb Yanker Black
Saint Paul
651-487-1212

Heartland
Saint Paul


Landy, Josh
Saint Paul


Wil Bailey
Saint Paul


Nicholas Livingston
Saint Paul


Ann Avant
Saint Paul

Other wines brought to the table:
FEVRE Chablis Montee de Tonnerre
MONTE VICOR Cava
DEWAZAKURA Ginjo Sake * 10th Degree
DONNHOFF Estate Riesling
CHATEAU AU COTET Sauternes
FIGUEIRASSE Gris de Gris Rose
PRIELER Blaufrankisch Ried Johanneshohe
DOMAINE LAUNAY Saint Amour