Sancerre pairs best with Goat Cheese, Shrimp Scampi, Roast Turkey, Asparagus, Ceviche, Cioppino and Crab Cakes. Light meats, seafood, and green vegetables are all delicious with a crisp and cold glass of Sancerre.
Sancerre is a French white wine made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. Rarely exposed to oak and grown in the chalky soil of the cool climate of Sancerre, the grapes never get overly ripe, making for a crisp and acidic white wine. Sancerre is also beloved for its stony and smoky edge that enthusiasts describe as gunsmoke.
Sancerre is an herbaceous and chalky white wine with notes of lime peel, lemon, gooseberry, green apple, flint and pink grapefruit. Sancerre comes across as refreshing and crisp, featuring more fruit than green herbal flavours.
Best Food with Sancerre
Goat Cheese & Sancerre Pairing
Sancerre is a delightful accompaniment to creamy, tangy goat cheese. Its acidity and citrus notes provide a perfect balance to the earthy, savoury flavours of the Cheese. The natural minerality in Sancerre brings out the complexity of goat cheese, while its bright fruitiness keeps the flavour profile light and refreshing. Whether on a charcuterie board or with a salad, the combination of Sancerre and goat cheese is an absolute classic.
Goat Cheese and Sancerre are considered a perfect pairing as the wine improves the Cheese, and the Cheese improves the wine. The high acidity of Sancerre brings out the subtle earthy flavours of goat cheese while complementing the Cheese’s tartness. Meanwhile, the Goat Cheese absorbs all the flinty, smoky, herbal and citrus flavours of Sancerre and spreads the flavours wide, giving them no place to hide. Because the Cheese carries the Sancerre flavours wide and far, you are able to enjoy all the unique flavours of Sancerre.
Aside from Goat Cheese, Sancerre pairs exceptionally well with the following cheeses: Brie, Camembert, Cream Cheese, Gruyere, Mascarpone, Monterey Jack, and Swiss Cheese. View my Cheese & Wine Pairing blog for even more recommendations.
Crab Cakes & Sancerre Pairing
One of the most delicious pairings with Sancerre is Crab Cakes. The wine’s bright acidity complements the crab cakes’ richness and helps cut through the buttery texture, while its fruit-forward flavour counteracts the slight saltiness. The subtle herbal notes of Sancerre bring out the delicate sweetness in the crab meat, while its underlying minerality adds complexity and structure.
As Sancerre is acidic and full of citrus flavours, one sip of the wine is similar to squeezing a bit of lemon on the crab meat. The lemony acidity cuts through the breaded crab cake crust and accentuates the subtle and slightly sweet crab flavours. Meanwhile, the gunsmoke and chalky flavours of Sancerre complement the sea-kissed flavours of the Crab Cakes.
Sancerre just isn’t great with Crab Cakes; it’s also wonderful with Crab Legs, Sea Bass, Blackened Catfish, Eel, Lobster, Mackerel, Oysters, Grilled Trout, Salmon, and Dover Sole.
Asparagus and Sancerre Pairing
Sancerre is a delightful pairing with Asparagus, bringing out the best in both. The wine’s crisp acidity and herbal elements highlight the slightly bitter and grassy flavour of Asparagus, amplifying the flavours you love. Meanwhile, Sancerre’s bright grapefruit, lemon and lime notes balance the vegetable’s earthy flavours. Whether roasted or grilled, Sancerre is a great match for Asparagus and makes for a delicious side to any meal.
Asparagus is one of those Vegetables that are nearly impossible to pair wine with as the vegetable does not react well to tannin. Any white wine that has seen oak or any red wine paired with Asparagus will end up tasting bitter and awful. Sancerre rarely sees any oak and has no tannin, thus, it is one of the few rare white wines that pairs with Asparagus.
Other difficult vegetables Sancerre pairs well with include Artichoke, Arugula, Baby Greens, Green Beans, Green Bell Peppers, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Cucumber, and Onion
Sancerre & Pork Chops Pairing
Sancerre is an ideal pairing for succulent Pork Chops cooked plain and served with a bit of salt and pepper. Sancerre’s bright acidity and green apple, pear and citrus notes pair perfectly with the tender, juicy meat of Pork. The herbal character of the wine works to bring out the flavours of the Pork, while its subtle minerality adds complexity to the smoky and earthy flavours of Pork. With a hint of sweetness, Sancerre rounds out its savoury counterpart, making it a delicious complement to any pork chop meal.
Holiday Turkey & Sancerre Pairing
Roasted Turkey is an excellent match for Sancerre. The crisp and herbal notes of the wine contrast the juicy, succulent quality of the turkey. Meanwhile, Sancerre’s bright acidity helps to cut through any delicious Turkey gravy smothering any white or dark Turkey meat. Furthermore, Sancerre’s subtle minerality adds complexity and structure to the whole shebang, making for an incredible holiday feast.
Sancerre will go with all those Holiday fixings you’ve come to expect with Turkey. For example, Sancerre’s smoky and flinty minerality is amazing with the earthy flavours of mashed potatoes covered in Turkey gravy. Finally, the herbal notes of the wine will complement any herbs in the stuffing.