End-of-year meals, and especially Christmas meals<\/strong>, are often the ideal time to spend with family, friends and colleagues, and to mark the end of a new year<\/strong>. Meals are varied and copious, and certain gastronomic classics<\/strong> are naturally returning to tables all over the world. What wines should you pair with Christmas meals<\/strong>?<\/p>\n Without hesitation, if you had to choose just one wine-growing region in France<\/strong>, turn to the Loire Valley<\/strong>! The Loire Valley<\/strong> is France’s largest wine-growing region<\/strong> in terms of surface area. Its diversity of terroirs<\/strong>, techniques <\/strong>and wine styles<\/strong> means it can accompany an entire meal, from aperitif to dessert<\/strong>!<\/p>\n The Loire Valley<\/strong> is renowned for the quality of its Cr\u00e9mants<\/strong>. Whether Cr\u00e9mant de Loire blanc<\/strong> or Cr\u00e9mant de Loire ros\u00e9<\/strong>, they’re all made using the traditional m\u00e9thode champenoise<\/strong>. This is the same winemaking technique<\/strong> as for Champagne, but with a Loire twist<\/strong>! The grape variety<\/strong> most commonly used is Chenin<\/strong>, the king of the Loire Valley<\/strong>. Most cremant production takes place in the Saumur region<\/strong>, where tuff stone<\/strong> characterizes the soil. This limestone<\/strong> lends the essential freshness<\/strong> to Cremants de Loire<\/strong>. For all special occasions, including the festive season, bubbles<\/strong> are the order of the day. Choose a Cr\u00e9mant de Loire<\/strong> to celebrate Christmas<\/strong>!<\/p>\n Les Cr\u00e9mants de Loire<\/strong>, avec leur belle fra\u00eecheur<\/strong> et leur min\u00e9ralit\u00e9<\/strong>, se savourent avec plaisir \u00e0 l\u2019ap\u00e9ritif<\/strong>. Ils s\u2019appr\u00e9cient seuls, avec des g\u00e2teaux ap\u00e9ro<\/strong> ou encore des petites bouch\u00e9es<\/strong>. Gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 leurs grandes qualit\u00e9s gustatives<\/strong>, certains Cr\u00e9mants de Loire<\/strong> rivalisent plusieurs Champagnes<\/strong> ! De rapport qualit\u00e9-prix imbattable, \u00e0 l\u2019aveugle, plusieurs pourraient confondre un Cr\u00e9mant<\/strong> avec un Champagne<\/strong> !<\/p>\n After the aperitif<\/strong> comes the meal starter. The idea is to pair the starter with a light wine<\/strong> that accompanies the appetizer<\/strong> and prepares the taste buds<\/strong> for the rest of the meal. Beyond the aperitif, Cr\u00e9mant de Loire<\/strong> is once again more than interesting. Not only do its fine bubbles<\/strong> awaken the taste buds, the wine’s acidity<\/strong> makes the mouth water and whets the appetite! AOP Cr\u00e9mants de Loire<\/strong>, AOP Montlouis sur Loire<\/strong> and AOP Vouvray<\/strong> are ideal partners to get a holiday meal<\/strong> off to a good start.<\/p>\n In France, it’s customary to serve seafood<\/strong>, shellfish<\/strong> and crustaceans <\/strong>as starters. If, as in France, your holiday meals<\/strong> feature these delicious seafood<\/strong> products, dry white Loire wines<\/strong>, with their unrivalled minerality<\/strong>, acidity <\/strong>and freshness<\/strong>, are recommended. The wide range includes Appellations d’Origine Contr\u00f4l\u00e9e (AOC)<\/strong> from the Nantes region, such as Muscadet S\u00e8vre et Maine sur lie<\/strong>, or white wines<\/strong> made from Sauvignon Blanc<\/strong> and Chenin<\/strong> in AOC Anjou<\/strong> or IGP Val de Loire<\/strong>.<\/p>\n To continue with the French culinary traditions<\/strong> of the holiday season<\/strong>, there is of course foie gras<\/strong>! Although eaten all year round, foie gras is a precious product that is often found on family tables at Christmas<\/strong>. Goose or duck foie gras<\/strong> is particularly appreciated with sweet white wines<\/strong>. This is a classic pairing<\/strong> that many repeat every year for Christmas meals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n While sweet white wines from Bordeaux<\/strong> are often mentioned, such as the famous Sauternes<\/strong> or Monbazillac<\/strong>, for example, sweet wines<\/strong> from the Loire<\/strong> are just as delicious and just as good partners for foie gras! AOC Coteaux du Layon<\/strong>, AOP Coteaux de L’Aubance<\/strong> or AOC Quart de Chaume<\/strong> are absolutely sublime with foie gras, or blue cheeses <\/strong>at the end of the meal!<\/p>\n For your main courses<\/strong>, opt for a bottle of red wine<\/strong> from the Loire Valley<\/strong>! Red wines<\/strong> come in a wide variety of styles<\/strong> in the Loire region<\/strong>. The most popular grape varieties are Cabernet Franc<\/strong>, C\u00f4t<\/strong> and Pinot Noir<\/strong>. To accompany a traditional turkey<\/strong> or any poultry dish<\/strong>, a red wine from AOC Anjou Villages<\/strong>, AOC Anjou Villages Brissac<\/strong> or AOP Chinon<\/strong> will enhance your meal. Some wines are aged in oak barrels<\/strong> to add structure and accompany superb, complex and refined meat dishes<\/strong>. The controlled tannins<\/strong>, fruit expression<\/strong> and freshness<\/strong> of Loire Valley red wines<\/strong> are simply superb!<\/p>\n After the starter and main course, it’s time for the cheese platter<\/strong>! In France<\/strong>, cheeses are traditionally served at the end of the meal. In North America<\/strong>, for example, such as the USA <\/strong>and Canada<\/strong>, cheeses are served as starters. White wines<\/strong> are the best accompaniment to cheese, whether as an appetizer<\/strong> or at the end of the meal<\/strong>. In the Loire Valley<\/strong>, magnificent dry white wines<\/strong> are the ideal partners<\/strong> for goat’s cheeses<\/strong>, hard cheeses<\/strong> and soft cheeses<\/strong> such as Camembert<\/strong> and Brie<\/strong>. Dry white wines <\/strong>made from Chenin<\/strong> and Sauvignon Blanc<\/strong> grapes bring out the fine, distinctive taste of these cheeses. For blue cheeses<\/strong>, opt for a Loire white wine<\/strong> with residual sugar<\/strong>. The sweet-savory contrast<\/strong> will delight your taste buds!<\/p>\nCr\u00e9mants de Loire, sparkling wine for special occasions<\/h2>\n
Cr\u00e9mant du Val de Loire for aperitif<\/h3>\n
Cr\u00e9mants and dry white Loire wines as starters<\/h2>\n
Loire dry white wine and seafood<\/h3>\n
Sweet Loire Valley wines and foie gras<\/h2>\n
Red wines from the Loire Valley and Christmas main courses<\/h2>\n
Dry and sweet white wines for the cheese platter<\/h2>\n
Cr\u00e9mants and sweet Loire wines for dessert<\/h2>\n
Chocolate or custard dessert<\/h3>\n