Hello!
Food and wine pairing is one of the most thrilling activity after wine tasting! Summer is on, and its getting really hot out there! So our fridges are being packed with light, crisp white wines from France, Spain and sometimes Italy…
Obviously to match lighter food such as salads we will, instinctively, search for wines from cooler climates : Chablis, Sancerre or Muscadet but do not hesitate to be curious, sometimes southern wines can be just as refreshing!
“Ah! le petit vin blanc…”
William Fêvre produces a stunning Petit Chablis, 100% Chardonnay. Dry, steely but round with some fresh apple notes. Light-bodied it will work nicely with many light dishes or salads. From the Loire Valley we have Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, but you should have go at Les Athletes du Vin Sauvignon Blanc! A new-world style Sauvignon Blanc from Touraine in France, highly affordable, it offers great value : Gooseberry, grapefruit, passion fruit with a floral element, light bodied, juicy, soft and fresh. Try it with fresh goat cheese or a salads with grapefruit’s dressing (in order to harmonize with the wine).
This year Muscadet is back! first thing about Muscadet, it is not related to Muscat (The grape Variety). It is elaborated with melon de bourgogne near the town of Nantes, and produces some dry, crisp and light white wine. Citric, yeasty (lee aging), easy and dry. If you love Chablis, and you are looking for a cheaper version, then this is your wine! you must have oysters or fresh sea food with it. As well, you must try, simply, with fresh bread and pâté!
Going slightly exotic!
From Hungary, we also have a Dry Tokaji, entirely made with a local variety called furmint. fetching 11.5%, it is a light white! Unoaked, honey dew, rhubarb, and discreetly off-dry. The perfect summer drink, but dangerously quaffable. Château Pajzos (actually owned by Chateau Clinet, Pomerol)
From Spain, many producers are now heading for lighter styles. Castellroig from the Penedes’ upper part is yielding a xarel.lo that is saline, fresh and simply delicious. From the same area, Torello has been offering a fantastic Chardonnay aged on the lees for just 2/3 months. It is easy and complex. you should try both with sushis or marinated salmon. If ceviche is your scene, then you should have a go with the Menade from Rueda.
On the Italian side…
Last word would be for the Vermentino grape variety. Recently we have tasted a few, and we have really impressed. Luigi Rivetti, from La Spinetta is producing a Vermentino in Toscana and the result is mind blowing and so unusual. Last week we also had from Provence a great Vermentino bottling from Grand Boise, light and stunningly fresh with saline notes, grapefruit with a touch bitterness. Ideal for an aperitif with tapenade, anchovies or fried fishes!
We have plenty of other options, Château Marjosse or Croix Blanche from Bordeaux, Palacio de Fefiñanes from Rias Baixas in Spain, Vouvray from the Loire or Riesling from Alsace… But if you want to discover our full range browse on our web-site or, if you can, come and visit us in Santa Coloma, Andorra La Vella!
Cheers!!!
Check our selection of white wines.
https://classic-vins.com/wine-selection/french/french-white/
https://classic-vins.com/wine-selection/spanish/spanish-white/
