Desperately Seeking the Ginger Snaps of Muscadet

We’ve been ever so slowly treating ourselves to wine brought back from the Loire last fall. The other night we had an ‘09 Domaine de l’Ecu Muscadet served with oysters. The wine was delicious and the match was synesthesia-like: Was that the wine I just tasted or was it the oysters? Seafood is overwhelmingly the food recommendation for Muscadet. But is there something simpler that doesn’t require cooking? One of our great discoveries was how well Gewurztraminer goes with ginger snaps. Is there an equivalent for Muscadet?

[David M. Bueker]

A sunny day?

Dan,
Muscadet goes with a surprisingly diverse range of foods. Chicken, pasta, sausages, cheeses all can do well with Muscadet. Of course, it depends on which wine you're talking about, too, as a Clos des Briords or Granite de Clisson from Marc Ollivier will be a much bigger wine than his Domaine de la Pepiere or many other producers' Muscadets.

Mark Lipton

is there something simpler that doesn’t require cooking?

Raw seafood.

Peel-and-eat shrimp is a "can't miss" with Muscadet.

You "cooked" the oysters?? Like Rahsaan said: pony up to the raw bar.

Muscadet does go with lots of things but raw seafood is the perfect match for young Muscadet. Every time I drink Champagne with sashimi I end up wishing the wine were Muscadet.

Every time I drink Champagne with sashimi I end up wishing the wine were Muscadet.

Muscadet went very well with vegetarian sushi last night. Not daunted at all by the pickled ginger.

Of course that has nothing to do with your sashimi comment.

Yes, Muscadet does handle sushi rice very well. Again, IMHO Muscadet beats out Champagne with sushi. Must be the vinegar.