Pairing wine with lutefisk (seriously)

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 - BloomingtonBloomington
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)
MendoberriMendota 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 CafeDuluth
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