As people around the culinary world are celebrating the
amazing contributions of Julia Child on what would have been her 100th
birthday, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some great wines from
the Loire Valley, otherwise known as the Garden of France.
This region in central France is home to some fabulous
summer whites that will be music to your palate and your wallet.
While Julia was focused on Mastering the Art of French Cooking, I am striving to master the
art of French wine and believe me there is a lot to learn.
Some of my favorite red wines come from Bordeaux, Burgundy
and Rhone, but a great way to beat the summer heat is with a lovely Muscadet, Sancerre
or Pouilly-Fumé.
When I think of summer, I dream of sitting by the beach with
a big bucket of crab legs, mussels or peel and eat shrimp. As I reach for a refreshing libation to wash
down my briny treats, I often to turn to a Muscadet.
Muscadets are made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. The wines are light bodied with a hint of
brininess, light fruit notes including apple, pear and melon with a pop of
refreshing acidity that make it a lovely pairing with many seafood dishes
especially shellfish. Oh, and did I
mention that you can usually get a great bottle for $10 or less.
While these wines makes for a great summer sipper, don’t
discount them in the fall with a nice roasted butternut squash soup topped with
lump crab meat. Absolutely delightful!
When looking for a Muscadet at the wine store, look for the
labels that feature the words Muscadet Sèvre
et Maine, these tend to be better quality. Sauvion is a great producer.
I am also a big fan of Sancerre. Sancerre is made from the Sauvignon Blanc
grape. If you are used to the big bold Sauvignon Blanc’s from Marlborough, New
Zealand, you will be in for a bit of a surprise. I find a Sancerre to feature a bit more
minerality that tends to pair better with
foods. You will still find the refreshing citrus notes with aromas of fresh cut grass, but I find these notes to be a bit more restrained and balanced on the palate than its New Zealand counterpart.
One of my favorites right now is the 2010 Christian Salmon,
which sells for about $20 a bottle. I
love this wine paired with a roasted shrimp risotto topped with lobster
sauce. This wine also goes great with
oysters.
Until next time, let your palate be your guide.
