Welcome to the Garden of France

As people around the culinary world are celebrating the amazing contributions of Julia Child on what would have been her 100^th 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.