The champagne-with-strawberries-myth: how to master organic champagne food pairing
"Try a strawberry"
“Why?”
“It brings out the flavor in the champagne."
In Pretty Woman, Richard Gere has just paid Julia Roberts to spend the night, and as Julia takes the first sip of her Moët et Chandon, he tells her to have a strawberry. It's something we see often. Champagne should be paired with sweetness, oysters and caviar. But does this also work for organic and biodynamic champagne? The oysters and caviar: often, yes. The strawberries: not so much. In this article, let's find out how to get organic champagne food pairing right!
The champagne-with-strawberries myth
Your everyday champagne (or New Year’s champagne, if you will) contains a lot of sugar. And when something is high in sugar, you should pair it with something else with strong flavours. This explains the strawberries in Pretty Woman, which are sweet enough to withstand the power of the equally sweet champagne. Organic and biodynamic champagne, on the other hand, have lower sugar levels and a much more refined pallet, causing the sugar in strawberries to completely overshadow what's in your glass. This is what I like to call the champagne-with-strawberries-myth.
Pairing organic champagne with food
Then for the great news: organic champagne is much more versatile than many people think. It can actually be enjoyed in combination with many different dishes and, yes, meat! The only thing you have to do here, is make sure the champagne you choose is strong enough to not be overpowered by the dish on your plate. This is why grape choice matters. Below, I talk you through your champagne pairing options for all single grape champagnes and blends.
Pinot Noir
In champagne, Pinot Noir is like the backbone, adding structure and power. This is why a funky Pinot Noir from the Aube can be the excellent companion for a creamy or meaty dish (or meaty fish, for that matter), whereas chances are high that a more refined and elegant Chardonnay will lose that fight.
Chardonnay
When the dish itself is more refined, Chardonnay enters the stage. Think fish, think poultry, think veggies. As Chardonnay often comes from vines with high mineral soil, they’re the perfect choice for everything that swims or crawls in the ocean, including oysters and caviar.
Pinot Meunier
The Pinot Meunier grape lies somewhere in between of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, making it an even more versatile grape variety. Thanks to its friendly and fruity tones, you can serve it with a salad, but it can also completely transform a pork dish.
Blends
More often than not, you’ll have champagne made from two or three grape varieties. These make the most versatile dish companions and are a safer bet than single grape cuvées, but as every champagne has its own character, this is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Per dish and per champagne, you’ll have to evaluate, and yes, there will be times that you’re wrong. If you’re not sure about a wine and food combination, simply ask your sommelier to advise you. Or don’t, fail, and learn!
A note on desert
When the last course is being served, you have to be extra careful as the sugar in deserts overpowers most organic champagnes, especially when you chose a bottle with little to zero dosage. Desert is usually where I stop drinking champagne anyway, as I prefer pairing sweetness with coffee. If you do want to drink champagne with your desert, ask your waiter or sommelier to make a recommendation. He or she will have to pour you something very powerful, though, as sugar kills good champagne almost every time.
I hope this helps you when you’re trying to figure out what to drink when you’re out for dinner! To wrap up, here are some smart things you can say about organic champagne pairing:
Did you know it’s a myth that champagne pairs well with strawberries? When the champagne has a low dosage, the sugar will overpower all flavours.
Are we having pork? Lovely. Which Pinot Meunier champagne would you recommend?
Yes we’d love some oysters to start with. Could you swap our Pinot Noir champagne for a nice Chardonnay please?
No thanks, I’ll have my desert with coffee.