📜 Muscadet
Light dry white wines from the Melon de Bourgogne grape around Nantes.
Muscadet is an appellation for light dry white wines around the city of Nantes in the west of the Loire in France. The area is called the Nantais. Muscadet is made from one grape, Melon de Bourgogne. Despite the name, it comes from Burgundy, but it settled well on the Loire.
The climate here is oceanic and cool, so the wine is light, with good acidity, citrus notes and a mineral touch. Strength is moderate. Muscadet is drunk young and cold, usually with oysters, mussels and fish: the area is next to the ocean, and the pairing is traditional.
Its famous feature is ageing on the lees, in French "sur lie". The wine stays on the yeast sediment after fermentation and is not racked off it until bottling. This gives it a light creaminess and barely noticeable bubbles. The words "sur lie" on the label mean exactly this method. Muscadet is a still white wine and stands next to the better-known Loire appellations as a simple, fresh everyday wine.
How it connects to Wine
📜 Muscadet ← grows in ← 🍇 Melon de Bourgogne → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Lees ageing
- Where it is
- 📍 Pays Nantais
- Grapes
- 🍇 Melon de Bourgogne
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Melon de Bourgogne
- Wines
- 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Still wine
Frequently asked questions
What is Muscadet?
An appellation for light dry white wines from the Melon de Bourgogne grape around Nantes, France.
What does "sur lie" mean on a Muscadet label?
The wine was aged on its yeast sediment, which gives it a creamy texture.
What is Muscadet served with?
Traditionally with oysters, mussels and fish.
What to read next
- 📍 Pays Nantais — The Atlantic mouth of the Loire, home of Muscadet.
- 🍷 Still wine — Ordinary wine without carbon dioxide bubbles.
Similar
📜 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine · 📜 Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire · 📜 Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu · 📜 Gros Plant du Pays Nantais · 📜 Evksinograd · 📜 Novi Pazar
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.