Definition: Muscadet

A famous wine from the Nantes region in the Loire Valley, made from the grape variety of the same name. A fairly neutral wine, without the aroma suggested by its name. The grapes are harvested fairly early to preserve their acidity, then the best vintages are kept on lees until bottling. This gives them more fruit and depth, as well as a very slight sparkle.

The production area is located mainly south of Nantes, within the communes of the Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire and Vendée departments.

Classified as an AOC in 1937.

Area under production: just over 1,900 hectares.

White grape variety: Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet). Vinified exclusively as a dry white wine and on lees. In this case, the wines must be bottled in the winery between 1 March and 30 November of the year following the harvest, and the vintage must be indicated on the label.

It can be kept: drink within 2 years of harvest. Ideal serving temperature: between 8 and 10°C.

Pair with: white meat, Milanese risotto, grilled red mullet à la Nantaise, sole meunière, stuffed mussels, stuffed spider crab, sole fillets with grapes, sea perch with baby vegetables, langoustine tails on skewers, scallop skewers, pike grenadines with sorrel, spring crab, American-style or stuffed oysters, salmon pâté, gurnard in white wine or white pudding.