Muscadet Sur Lie - Nantes -

Muscadet wines are fresh, dry and vigorous wines with subtle aromas, flowery and fruity with definite overtones of green apple and lemon. But when they are "sur lie" wines, their vivacity teams up with their inimitable pearliness.

Although it is certain that there have been vineyards in the Nantes region since roman times, it was not until the 15th century that the "folle blanche" variety made its appearance (the ancestor of today's "Gros Plant"). Three centuries later, the winegrowers planted a variety called "melon" from Burgundy and made the first muscadet wines from this plant. These white, dry wines, with the AOC mark since 1936, can be classifed according to four appellations. " Coteaux de la Loire " to the east, " Sèvre et Maine " south of Nantes " Grand-Lieu " near the lake withthe same name, and the Muscadets not included in these three appellations. Almost 40% of the production from the 15,000 hectares of vineyard is exported today. They say that at the beginning of the century, winemakers got into the habit of keeping a barrell of their best wine to celebrate important family occasions. Because the " nuptial barrel" was stored without being bottled, it had a different character than the rest of the production. Yet no one was really sure why, when in fact, Muscadet Sur Lie had just been created. Today, the secret is out and the process is under strict scientific control. This typically Nantais method of winemaking consists in leaving the wines an entire winter in the barrel or the vinification vat. Over the months, the wines feed off the fine lees in the vats or barrels. In the spring, the surplus of carbon dioxide, gives the wine a slightly pearly nature which increases its freshness and vivacity. This wine is wonderful with sea food, shell fish and fish. Why not try it for the first time with "sandre (pikeperch) au beurre blanc", another specialty of Nantes. Both Muscadet and Gros Plant wines can be made according to the Sur Lie method.

Texte Pirmil - photos Routier