Marinated Baltic herring

The Baltic herring is a subspecies of herring. It's an important fish for the counties around the Baltic Sea in terms of catch volume. Finland's largest fish catch comes from Baltic herring. The main fishing areas in Finland are around Åland islands and the Bothnian Sea. Due to pollution and environmental toxins in the Baltic Sea, Baltic herring is recommended to be eaten only in small amounts. Nevertheless, it holds a traditional place in Finnish cuisine.

The main preparations include fried herring fillets, smoked or charred herring, and marinated herring. The finest herring, suitable even for festive occasions, is achieved by marinating it in spiced vinegar, mustard, or tomato sauce. Every autumn, the capital of Finland, Helsinki, hosts a herring event, "Stadin Silakkamarkkinat," celebrated since 1743. During the week, thousands of kilos of herring are sold. In 2024, the event attracted 65,000 visitors.

Baltic herring is a small medium-fat fish, less fatty than Atlantic herring, and is eaten with its skin. While often undervalued in everyday use, Baltic herring can be transformed into more sophisticated products, especially when marinated.

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Wine pairings

The best wine pairings for this dish are crisp and lightly aromatic whites like Picpoul de Pinet, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Vinho Verde and Weissburgunder.

A traditional drink recommendation for Baltic herring appetizers is beer. Suitable wine pairings can be found among pleasantly acidic, refreshingly fruity, and lightly nuanced white wines. Compared to Atlantic herring, wines suitable for Baltic herring can be lighter, straightforward, and fruitier.

In Portugal, grilled sardines are a summer delicacy, enjoyed with lightly sparkling Vinho Verde, a Portuguese 'green wine'. Vinho Verde can be considered a good wine for herring as well, as by analogy, it is a suitable choice for fried, smoked, or charred herring. Vinho Verde's nice aromatic nuances and refreshing sparkle also make it a great match for marinated herring.

If the herring and other incredients on the plate contain very strong flavors, it's better to choose a more robust Alsace Riesling.

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Vinho Verde

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Alsace Riesling

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