
Seafood, with its delicate, iodized flavors, calls for wines capable of sublimating it without overpowering it. To create harmonious pairings, it’s essential to choose white wines dry, fresh and mineral. Here are a few suggestions to accompany your seafood platters.
Oysters and shellfish
Oysters and other shellfish pair perfectly with dry, tangy white wines.
- Muscadet Originally from the Loire Valley, Muscadet is renowned for its freshness and lemony notes, which ideally complement the salinity of oysters.
- Chablis : This unoaked Burgundy wine offers pronounced minerality and white flower aromas, pairing well with shellfish.
Shrimps, crabs and prawns
For these soft, slightly sweet shellfish, choose fresh, fruity white wines.
- Sancerre This Loire Valley wine, made from Sauvignon Blanc, has lively, fruity aromas that enhance the flavor of shrimp and crab.
- Petit Chablis With its notes of citrus and white flowers, it adds a refreshing touch to gambas.
Lobsters
These noble shellfish, with their firm, flavorful flesh, require more complex white wines.
- Chablis Grand Cru: Its richness and minerality elegantly accompany the finesse of the lobster.
- Chignin-Bergeron This Savoy wine, with its fruity, floral aromas, goes well with lobster, especially when served cold with a cocktail sauce.
Moulds
Mussels, often prepared with white wine sauces, go well with light, fresh wines.
- Muscadet Its thirst-quenching character and lemony notes make it an ideal companion for mussels marinière.
- Pouilly-Fumé This Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire region, with its smoky, mineral notes, brings a lovely aromatic intensity to mussels marinière.
Scallops
The sweetness of scallops calls for well-balanced wines, combining freshness and roundness.
- Chablis Its minerality and freshness enhance the delicacy of the scallops.
- Gewurztraminer This Alsace wine, with its floral and spicy aromas, is the perfect accompaniment to pan-fried scallops or scallops in a creamy sauce.
To enhance your seafood dishes, opt for dry, fresh, mineral white wines. French wine-growing regions such as the Loire, Burgundy and Savoy offer a variety of wines to suit every type of shellfish. By choosing the right pairing, you’ll enhance the marine flavors and offer your guests an unforgettable taste experience!