Staff Selections • Noelle Starr
Seasonal Pick 2023
Domaine Raphael Luneau Brin d’R Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie
(Loire Valley, France)
Surdyk's Price
The holidays are my favorite time of year for several reasons, but mainly because they provide the ultimate excuse for elaborate meal planning. And while my family usually caps off Christmas dinner with Beef Wellington and a good bottle of red, I find most of my holiday recipes pair best with white wine. Cheese boards, charcuterie, quiches, creamy dips, chilled seafood platters, roasted oysters, as well as most fish or various holiday preparations of white meat will pair brilliantly with Muscadet, the crisp white from the Loire Valley. Sustainably farmed by the now 9th generation of family winemakers, this is mineral-driven with white fruit and floral notes. It is more delicate than the grapefruit-forward or grassy Sauvignon Blancs that I love in warmer weather. Long fermentation, partial skin-contact maceration, and extended ageing on fine lees creates a wine with character that retains its elegance. Stock up on this delicious, affordable white and have a blast pairing with your holiday menus.