Top 10 French Recipes to Pair with Centre-Loire Wines
Enjoying wine and food together is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and few regions in France offer as much pairing versatility as that of the Centre-Loire. Home to a handful of globally renowned grape varieties—including Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir—the wines of the Centre-Loire come in an array of colors and styles, and promise to pair well with a variety of French-inspired dishes. To highlight the region’s versatility, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most popular Taste France Magazine recipes of all time and paired them with a distinct Centre-Loire appellation. Check them out below (and get your aprons ready!)
Cherry Tomato and Fresh Goat Cheese Tartelettes Tatin - Pouilly-Fumé
Few things in life go together like cherry tomatoes and fresh goat cheese, and when wrapped up in buttery pastry, all the better. Prepared using the Tatin-style cooking technique, which allows the cherry tomatoes to simmer slowly so as to preserve their innate sweet and tangy flavors, these delicious tartelettes are ideal for serving at picnics, parties, and happy hours at home, or could easily double as an on-the-go lunch dish when served with side of green salad. For a wine pairing that pairs equally well with all components of the dish, reach for a Sauvignon Blanc for Pouilly-Fumé, whose bright acidity and touch of flint will simultaneously highlight the sweetness of the tomatoes and tanginess of the fresh goat cheese.
Salmon Fillets en Papillote - Sancerre Blanc
Cooking salmon fillets en papillote—in other words, in parchment—is a great way to ensure that your fish stays fresh and moist, and when prepared with this signature mustard-tarragon sauce, the flavor pop is tenfold. For a go-to wine pairing that will amplify both the tanginess and herbaceousness found in the dish, look no further than the white wines of Sancerre. The fuller-body of the protein and citrus-forwardness of the sauce bring out the best of one another’s zingy flavors, ensuring that this protein and Sauvignon Blanc pairing will be a match made in heaven.
Shrimp Provençal - Quincy
Inspired by the southerly, sun-drenched region of Provence, this classic Shrimp Provençal recipe is the perfect plate to satiate your palate on a warm day. Featuring plump, flavor-packed shrimp and a bright, garlic-laden tomato broth, the flavors in this dish come to life when enjoyed with Sauvignon Blanc from Quincy, which is known for its zingy acidity and signature flavors of grapefruit, acacia, and touch of white flowers. For an extra authentic taste of France, we recommend preparing the dish with Cévennes Sweet Onions (PDO) and Drôme White Garlic (PGI), or simply using olive oil from the Vallée des Baux-de-Provence Olive Oil PDO.
Quiche Lorraine Muffins - Pouilly-Fumé
Quiche Lorraine lovers looking for an easy solution to take on the go, these mouthwatering muffins are a solid solution. Prepared with eggs, Emmental de Savoie PGI, and bacon (feel free to eliminate here for a meat-free version), these easy-to-take treats are perfect for transporting to picnics, park outings, and other outdoor gatherings—and pair beautifully with the refreshing acidity found in wines from Pouilly-Fumé. Crafted just across the river from Sancerre, these Sauvignon Blanc-based wines are known for their signature notes of citrus and crushed stones, which is certain to quench the palate between bites of these peppery Lorraine-inspired muffins.
Grilled Leeks & Mimosa-style Eggs - Coteaux du Giennois Blanc
For those looking to enjoy French-inspired dishes on a budget without ever sacrificing flavor, this Grilled Leeks & Mimosa-style Eggs recipe is just the ticket. Prepared with capers, dill, and Piment d’Espelette PDO, this herbaceous and peppery dish offers a burst of flavor on the palate, and also promises to impress a wide array of guests. The peppery notes in the dish scream for something crisp and refreshing, making the Sauvignon Blanc-based wines of the Coteaux du Giennois a perfect fit. Located northeast of Sancerre, this highly underrated appellation crafts flinty expressions of the grape marked by notes of quince and white flowers, which, just similar to the leek-based dish, also are sure to please a crowd.
Pumpkin and Potato Gratin with Comté Cheese - Menetou-Salon Blanc
The only thing better than creamy, potato-rich gratin? One prepared with layers of pumpkin, of course. Crafted with nutty Comté cheese from the Jura mountains, this striking take on the classic French gratin showcases a distinct nuttiness—thanks to the type of cheese used—which perfectly complements the sweetness found in the root vegetable addition. For a versatile wine that can cut through the dish’s richness (while also bringing out the best of the pumpkin twist), look no further than a Sauvignon Blanc from Menetou-Salon, whose distinct minerality and versatility on the palate can truly do it all.
Trout Rillettes with Orange, Dill, and Black Bread - Reuilly Gris
When entertaining at home, one of the most authentically French routes to take is welcoming your guests with refreshing Trout Rillettes—and this citrus-inspired twist doubles down on the zestiness. Prepared with shallots, pink peppercorn, dill, and orange, this herbaceous take on rillettes comes to life when served with Reuilly Gris. Bone dry and fruit-forward, the bright acidity found in these pale-hued rosés beautifully complements the dish’s orange notes, and simultaneously plays off of the slight grassiness found in dill.
Pâté en Croûte - Châteaumeillant
Pâté en Croûte is one of France’s most quintessential dishes, and is a popular choice for holidays, festive gatherings, and home apéros alike. Featuring a variety of meats, marjoram, and pungent garlic, this visually elegant dish’s flavors are beautifully complemented by the savory freshness found in the Pinot Noir and Gamay-based reds of Châteaumeillant—the latter of which are reminiscent of the bright, fruit-forward expressions from Beaujolais, where Gamay and Paté en Croûte reigns king. Referred to locally as vin gris, these refreshing wines offer a striking balance between earth, fruit, and flinty flavors, and their bright acidity promises to keep the palate quenched between bites of the pâté’s juicy meat.
Grilled Cheese Croque-Monsieur - Menetou-Salon Rouge
For the best of all worlds—that is, a take on the classic jambon beurre sandwich meets the gooey goodness of grilled cheese—check out this Grilled Cheese Croque Monsieur hybrid, a Taste France Magazine original! This unique blended sandwich meshes rich ham with gobs of gooey Emmental de Savoie PGI, all drenched together in a creamy béchamel sauce on rustic bread. While whites and reds could both do well here, we personally love the savory twist that a Pinot Noir-based Menetou-Salon Rouge brings to the pairing, as the wines are known for their innate earthiness and signature peppery undertones.
Black Truffle and Comté Mac and Cheese - Sancerre Rouge
Forget the boxed mac and cheese of your student years—this luxurious take on the classic American dish is certain to capture the hearts of cheese lovers everywhere (and best of all, you only need one pot to prepare it!) Composed of macaroni pasta, Comté cheese, and Périgord Black Truffle, this decadently creamy dish still manages to feel light and satiny on the palate, especially when enjoyed with a glass of peppery Sancerre Rouge. Produced entirely from Pinot Noir, the red expressions from this famed Centre-Loire appellation are earthy and bright, and their prominent acidity and firm tannins amplify the mushroomy flavors found in the Périgord black truffles.
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