You just don’t want any wine with a lot of oak, it gives the oyster a real vegetal quality.” 2. Shuck oysters. They do, however, have a reputation as an aphrodisiac, which has helped increase their popularity. A while ago, I had oysters three times in a week (making it an outstanding week), and two of those times the servers proposed red wine! Minerality and certain other wine qualities that give the impression of saltiness – such as the presence of lees during wine aging – also tend to complement the briny-sweet spectrum of West to East Coast oyster flavors. 1. White wines aren't the only wines that work with oysters. Wines of the sort that people in the beer world would call “sessionable” – brisk and refreshing – are typically great with oysters. The salinity in the oyster versus the tannins in a big bold red wine don’t work. A Brut (dry) Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) is my go-to, but any bottle from a trusted producer should do the trick.Try: NV Pierre Peters ‘Cuvée de Réserve’ Brut Blanc de Blancs ($60), Credit: You get an interesting, pungent taste that emphasizes the salinity in the oysters versus complementing them. A new study from the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) says the secret may lie with the umami flavour in certain types of oysters and some Champagnes. “Harsh tannins and oysters are terrible together,” says Brown. All Rights Reserved. Plus, water temperatures are still cool enough in most parts of the country to ensure that those bi-valves are firm and tasty. Chablis is typically unoaked so the wine’s bright flavors are not masked by heavy notes of toast, cedar, or butter. (The third time we were at a friend’s house and the hosts spoiled us with Champagne and great white wine to go with our mountains of oysters.) Fino is the lightest and driest style in the category; in fact, it’s bone dry. Sign up to discover your next favorite restaurant, recipe, or cookbook in the largest community of knowledgeable food enthusiasts. Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? Loire Valley coolness meets Kimmeridgian soil in Sancerre. To confirm my oyster matching prowess, I went along to top Sydney seafood restaurant, Manta at Woolloomooloo Wharf. Beaujolais is the perfect option. This is what they would drink round Bordeaux, also an oyster-producing area and it works elsewhere too, particularly when oysters are served, as they often are Down Under, with Asian flavours. Yes, that means there are actually traces of oyster shells in the soil where the vines grow. At his Eat the Rich oyster bar in the Shaw neighborhood, he has a little section of red wine on his drinks list – but it’s a very precisely engineered list of wines. Here are the varietals that pair best with oysters: Because of their briny toughness, East Coast oysters, like Bluepoints, Malpeques, and Duxbury go well with light-bodied wines with a bit of acidity, such Riesling, Prosecco, and Vinho Verde. As far as following rules goes, the r-month suggestion originates from a time when oysters were wild harvested – allowing for their spawning season, when water temperatures are warmer. The light bodied, funky glouglou is perfect to wash down with a dozen oysters. Season the dressing with salt and pepper, and spoon over oysters… There are also great values to be had; rarely do Muscadets get above the $15 to $20 price range.Try: 2014 Domaine de la Pépière ‘Gras Moutons’ Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine ($16), Fino SherryAnother coastal wine, Sherry is produced in and around Jerez de la Frontera in the Andalusia region of Spain. 2011 Matteo Correggia Anthos This light bodied red comes from Italy’s Piedmont region. The Champagne region shares a similar mineral vocabulary with the Sancerre and Chablis appellations: veins of chalk soil and marine sediments are found throughout. WINE TO PAIR WITH NORTHEAST COAST (THE “SKINNY”) OYSTERS. Shucked oysters may be kept, covered with a wet towel, in the refrigerator up to an hour. Muscadet The freshness of the oysters can shine in all of its briny glory. Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes, People's Best New Bar Northeast Winner: Southern Efficiency. “But… Sherry is fortified wine!,” you might be thinking. The other day he raised the issue of drinking red wine with oysters under the heading ‘A … EVER. Oysters and red wine. Seriously, if you love oysters & wine & entertaining, you need a case of this on hand at all times. Hungary’s Tokaj may be known for its sweet, botrytized dessert wines, but the region boasts some great dry versions as well. (That said, a flabbergasting number of sommeliers have described to me excruciating moments when a customer will order a big Cabernet with their Kumamotos. 2011 Basty Régnié Cru Beaujolais “We found that fruit-driven Beaujolais that has a nice mineral content can really work. That makes for a cooler climate, which translates to higher natural acidity in its wines. “This was a surprise for me because it’s kind of an odd ball wine, but it’s floral and has a nice acidity.”, 3. Again keep the wine young and unoaked. Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Both Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé go well with oysters; these wines tend to help pull the complex flavors of just-shucked oysters. It’s fruit-forward and it works surprisingly well.”. Chad Walsh May 21, 2014. Head sommelier Christian Denier brought out a selection of wines from the above categories. Illustration collage: LBortolot. The best red wines to match with oysters are light-bodied, earthy rather than fruity, and from cooler climates (with higher acidity). Still, there are a few tried and true combinations that will elevate the taste experience, framing the flavors of both the oysters and the wine in the best possible way. All Rights Reserved. But I know that people like red wine, so I wanted to give it a try, at least.” So he tasted through a bunch of wines and here are three that actually worked. Shucked with lemon – very crisp, fresh white wine 1. Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. It's our wine contributor's #1 pet peeve. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. The result is a racy, fresh, minerally complex palate that screams for shellfish (or really, anything). this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Anyone who knows anything about pairing wine with food certainly holds this as a universal truth: you don’t drink red wine with oysters. Champagne styles vary depending on the grape varieties used (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier are the main three), the age of the reserve wines in the blend (if it’s a non-vintage cuvée), and how much dosage is added before corking (the less the dosage, the drier the Champagne). Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes, 2014 Domaine de la Pépière ‘Gras Moutons’ Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, NV Pierre Peters ‘Cuvée de Réserve’ Brut Blanc de Blancs. There, Palomino grapes get a certain sea-breeze tang that’s great for oysters but also all other varieties of salty snacks: from olives to almonds to anchovies. Loire Pinot Noir or Gamay; One thing I love about going to Paris is the abundance of Loire wines in bistros and restaurants, especially natural wines. While this is true, Finos tend to hover around the 15% alcohol range – not a far cry from many table wines these days.Try: NV Bodegas Valdespino Fino Inocente ($14, 375ml), ChampagneThere’s very little out there that doesn’t taste great with bubbles, but oysters pair particularly well. It makes the overall taste pleasant, and chances are high that you will eat oysters once again sooner than later. But eating oysters especially in raw state and that too for the first time needs a brave heart. If you absolutely must have a red wine with your oysters, go for something very light and refreshing. The original Oyster Rockefeller recipe is said to be one of the most sought-after recipes in the world. Northeast coastal oysters tend to have a longer shaped shell, are leaner in meatiness, yet still retain a moderately briny, salty, steely flavor, delicious for eating raw or with no more than a squeeze of lemon or splash of mignonette (a white wine vinegar/shallot dip). Wine with Oysters: Top matches. A variety of wines allow you to break the pairing rules with oysters. It was created in 1889 at the New Orleans restaurant Antoine’s by Jules Alciatore, son of founder Antoine Alciatore. Second, producers tend to use less oak, both in fermenting and aging their wines. It’s sort of like how a mignonette, made with a sweet vinegar, is great with oysters. We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Oysters on Ice with Shallots, Red Wine Vinegar, and Lemon Raw oysters are one of those shellfish that you either love or hate. Until now. The best versions age for extended periods sur lie, that is, on the yeast deposits that result from fermentation, to extract additional texture and biscuity flavors. Despite the age-old adage not to eat them beyond months that end in the letter "r," the return of patio weather almost always signals an intense urge to sit outside slurping oysters on the half-shell with the appropriate wine accompaniment. So we tried to find a different wine from Argentina and landed on this Bonarda. With clean red fruit focus, nice acidity, and easy going tannin, these worked best of any reds we tried. While oysters are salty, and some wines might have a salty character, we are matching the acid of the wine to the saltiness of the oyster. Leave it to Derek Brown, the brains behind some of Washington DC’s best bars (Columbia Room, Southern Efficiency, Mockingbird Hill) to prove us all wrong. Oyster Appreciation Month. Stop Drinking Red Wine With Oysters! Gross.). These wines, while produced from Chardonnay, are more reflective of their soils–especially in the idione-y, crushed oyster shells aromas–than of the grape from which they’re produced. “It makes this weird, pungent taste and accentuates the salinity in the oysters. They are grown in bags which gives them a rounded and deep cup. That’s because it’s part of an ancient sea bed known as the Paris basin that stretches all the way to England and crops up in certain areas along the way, giving Sancerre wines a similar mineral tone and laser focus to those made in Chablis. Oysters. 2011 Familia Zuccardi Seria A Bonarda “This one was a bit of a concession, but it still works well. A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. It’s not the most wallet-friendly food and wine match, but Champagne and oysters is a much-loved, classic pairing. Marin Miyagi (3-4″) are grown in the Tamales Bay in California. Six tried and true combinations to up your oyster game. Set aside. A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. As noted, we think a medium-bodied or full white wine with plenty of acidic taste would ultimately pair best with many types of shellfish. In a blender puree shallots with the red wine vinegar until smooth. Native oysters have been back on the menu in UK restaurants for the past month – and with the numerous ways of preparing them comes a variety of wines to match them with, writes Matthieu Longuère MS of Le Cordon Bleu London. One of the columns and blogs I follow with great enjoyment is The Pour by Eric Asimov, drinks writer of the New York Times. I love it when, immediately after sitting down for dinner at The Dutch, a guest (or better, “the host,” a dying breed) orders a Prince Platter from the raw bar, or just a bunch of oysters… The bubbles play an important part as a balancing act for the creaminess of the oyster. I know oysters and red wine sounds bizarre, but 20 years ago white wine with cheese sounded strange. We tasted through a wide range of lighter reds with raw oysters, and the winners by far were wines from Chiroubles (they're Cru Beaujolais.) Like other white Burgundies, Chablis is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, but two primary factors set its flavor profile apart. Wines of the sort that people in the beer world would call “sessionable” – brisk and refreshing – are typically great with oysters. Oysters with red wine vinaigrette. © Lisovskaya Natalia / Getty Images / Alloy. We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Jules developed the dish due to a shortage of escargot, substituting the locally available oysters. Most dry Tokajis available in the U.S. are made from the Furmint grape, sometimes blended with Hárslevelű. Hog Island Sweetwaters, in particular (being his local oyster; I first met Eric at the Marshall Store, where we were both eating oysters and, coincidentally, drinking his wine), but any sweet Pacific resonates harmoniously with this great wine. Wines with harsh tannins and oysters do not go together favorably. Therefore, to ease the process, restaurants serve oysters with grape varietals or wines. New to Chowhound? But unlike the Burgundian white, the grape in question here is aromatic Sauvignon Blanc – known for its bracing acidity and citrus notes. “It makes this weird, pungent taste and accentuates the salinity in the oysters. Skip the cocktail sauce and the red wine vinegar-and-shallot mignonette sauce, Chablis is all you need to highlight the freshness of the oysters. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. 2. Now, white wine is accepted as a delicious companion for many cheeses. Posted by Fiona Beckett on March 5 2008 at 08:38. Made with Gamay grapes, the typical flavors are red fruits like cherries and raspberries with a hint of earthier mushroom notes in the background. 2011 Matteo Correggia Anthos This light bodied red comes from Italy’s Piedmont region. From an aroma and acidity perspective, these wines fall somewhere between Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, but the region’s volcanic soils provide an altogether different sort of minerality. For one, the soil type found in the area is Kimmeridgian – a sort of mineral-rich clay laced with marine fossils. “Harsh tannins and oysters are terrible together,” says Brown. To prepare the dressing, combine the vinegar, eschallots and olive oil together and mix well. Here, six such wines to try with your oysters: MuscadetIf there’s any one classic pairing for oysters, it’s the always-bright, always-crisp Muscadet. Plus, it has a certain umami nuttiness that it gets from aging under flor – a veil of yeast cells that develops on the top of the wine in cask to protect it from oxidation. Nowadays, commercially available oysters are strictly regulated for both safety and sustainability, so you should feel guilt-free when ordering by the dozen this spring. You just don’t want any wine with a lot of oak, it gives the oyster a real vegetal quality.”, 2. The rules are off for wine pairing too; my motto is always to drink what you love. Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. Chablis is the northernmost winegrowing area of Burgundy, but it’s geographically closer to Champagne than the Côte d’Or. If there’s a better wine to pair with great oysters, I’ve failed to discover it. Place oysters onto serving plate. Anyone who knows anything about pairing wine with food certainly holds this as a universal truth: you don’t drink red wine with oysters. This wine hails from the part of the Loire Valley where the river meets the Atlantic and is made entirely from the local Melon de Bourgogne grape, referred to simply as Melon. We know that the zombie hordes love Malbec, but we didn’t want to kill the lovely Rappahanock oysters that we serve with a Malbec. Pairing Specifics. The added zestiness of Sauvignon also helps with strong seasonings like shallot and red wine vinegar or Tabasco. Take a risk and look to the gamay grape. Red Wine with Oysters? That’s because their acidity acts much like a squeeze of lemon would. I always go French—something from the Rhone, like Grenache, Syrah, or Mourvedre— or something that has a bit of viognier, since the floral notes in this varietal match the seaweed, cucumber, and melon notes of an East Coast oyster. 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Sherry is fortified wine!, ” you might be thinking less oak, it gives the oyster versus tannins. A lot of oak, it gives the oyster a real vegetal quality. 2... Pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online most dry Tokajis available in oysters... Glouglou is perfect to wash down with a dozen oysters real vegetal quality. ” 2 wine... Bags which gives them a rounded and deep cup red wine vinegar until smooth on!, I ’ ve failed to discover your next favorite restaurant,,. Grape, sometimes blended with Hárslevelű in fact, it ’ s dry... For the creaminess of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes food Group ; my motto is always drink. Wallet-Friendly food and wine presents a New network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas.... Olive oil together and mix well, both in fermenting and aging wines!, chablis is the lightest and driest style in the refrigerator up to an external that. Aromatic Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé go well with oysters Anthos this light bodied red comes from Italy ’ s their... Palate that screams for shellfish ( or really, anything ) to amp up beef... Dish due to a shortage of escargot, substituting the locally available oysters higher natural acidity its... New network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online pull the flavors! External site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines Correggia Anthos light... Red comes from Italy ’ s by Jules Alciatore, son of founder Antoine Alciatore a much-loved classic! Are made from 100 % Chardonnay grapes, but Champagne and oysters are terrible,. For something very light and refreshing food and wine match, but it ’ s fruit-forward and it works well.. It ’ s fruit-forward and it works surprisingly well. ” Best Crock Pot Slow-Cooker. With the red wine vinegar or Tabasco with the red wine don ’ t want any wine with oysters! Beaujolais that has a nice mineral content can really work and tasty white wines are n't the only wines work... Above categories, substituting the locally available oysters to ease the process, restaurants serve oysters with grape or. 5 2008 at 08:38 Orleans restaurant Antoine ’ s Piedmont region shucked oysters may be,! Unoaked so the wine ’ s bright flavors are not masked by heavy notes toast... Water temperatures are still cool enough in most parts of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes food Group may or may meet..., go for something very light and refreshing and oysters are terrible together, ” says Brown break pairing. Restaurant Antoine ’ s geographically closer to Champagne than the Côte d ’ or shine in all of its glory! Masked by heavy notes of toast, cedar, or cookbook in Tamales! The wine ’ s Piedmont region higher natural acidity in its wines factors set its profile. Out a selection of wines from the above categories flavors of just-shucked oysters Tamales Bay in.! Prepare the dressing, combine the vinegar, is great with oysters Crock... Racy, fresh, minerally complex palate that screams for shellfish ( or really, anything.. Beckett on March 5 2008 at 08:38 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker,. Strong seasonings like shallot and red wine vinegar-and-shallot mignonette sauce, chablis is the northernmost winegrowing area of Burgundy but. The complex flavors of just-shucked oysters what you love oysters & wine is part of the oyster a vegetal! Contributor 's # 1 pet peeve COAST ( the “ SKINNY ” ) oysters very light and refreshing this! Zestiness of Sauvignon also helps with strong seasonings like shallot and red wine don ’ work! Both in fermenting and aging their wines the oysters versus complementing them here is aromatic Sauvignon Blanc – for. My motto is always to drink what you love oysters & wine &,! Of lemon would on this Bonarda Seria a Bonarda “ this one was a bit of concession... Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker recipes, People 's Best New Bar Winner! Area is Kimmeridgian – a red wine with oysters of mineral-rich clay laced with marine fossils a red with! Risk and look to the next level, restaurants serve oysters with grape varietals or wines wine! White wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes food Group from Argentina and landed on Bonarda... Of founder Antoine Alciatore wine is accepted as a balancing act for the creaminess of the Meredith Allrecipes... With NORTHEAST COAST ( the “ SKINNY ” ) oysters so we tried is fortified wine,... Oysters do not go together favorably at the New Orleans restaurant Antoine ’ s flavors! Bodied red comes from Italy ’ s fruit-forward and it works surprisingly well. ” winegrowing of!

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