10 Food & Wine Pairings That Will Transport You to France
From savory dishes to sweet delights.
In Partnership with
We've teamed up with La Vieille Ferme to curate a lineup of French-inspired food and wine pairings, featuring five of their sippable selections made in the Rhône Valley. From light, crispy Blanc to fruity Sparkling Rosé, their award-winning wines pair perfectly with regional dishes.
It's hard to think of anywhere more idyllic than the Rhône Valley. Its rolling hills are dotted with lavender fields, olive trees, and of course, so many vineyards. One of the largest and most historic winemaking regions in France, this is where the Perrin family—owners of the famous Château de Beaucastel—has made their home for generations. For the past 50 years, generation after generation, the family has searched for the most suitable terroirs to produce the fresh, unpretentious wines of La Vieille Ferme.
Grapes grown in the Ventoux add structure and depth to reds, while those grown in Luberon are imbued with fresh, delicate qualities. There are a number of grape varietals to know when it comes to the Rhône Valley: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Bourboulenc, Vermentino—the list goes on. When combined by expert vintners, these grapes are transformed into the bottles of rosé, blanc, and rouge we know and love.
Of course, this region (and all of France, really) is also renowned for its food, which in turn creates opportunities to gather around the table. We've selected 10 of our favorite French-inspired dishes and paired them with five flawless wines from La Vieille Ferme, namely their Blanc, Rouge, Rosé, Sparkling Brut, and Sparkling Rosé.
1. Asparagus Pasta with Pistachio Aillade + La Vieille Ferme Blanc
Aillade is a simple sauce that hails from southern France, traditionally made by using nuts and garlic similar to a pesto. Used here to dress pasta, this garlicky sauce pairs well with the fresh, juicy green apple notes and balanced salinity of La Vieille Ferme Blanc.
2. Low-Key Niçoise Salad + La Vieille Ferme Rosé
For a wine as bright and refreshing as La Vieille Ferme Rosé, a twist on salad niçoise is the only logical choice. The wine's subtle savoriness complements the briny olives and fresh dill used in this dish.
3. Beef Short Rib Bourguignon With Garlicky Panko Gremolata + La Vieille Ferme Rouge
Eric Kim's take on a quintessential French dish is hearty, tender, and demanding of a red wine that can match its bold flavor. Enter: La Vieille Ferme Rouge, an incredibly drinkable, effortlessly balanced, and black-currant-forward wine that can stand up to even the heartiest of dishes.
4. Sheet Pan Coq Au Vin + La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Brut
Another familiar face in the world of French cooking, this version of coq au vin comes together a bit more quickly than the original thanks to a clever sheet-pan method and white wine instead of the typical red (hint: La Vieille Ferme Blanc is perfect here). To pair, we recommend a glass of bubbly, white-stone-fruit-forward La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Brut. The wine gets its fresh taste from Chardonnay grapes, plus a delicate limestone finish from the soil the grapes are grown in.
5. Quiche Lorraine With a Buckwheat Crust + La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Rosé
Nothing cuts through rich, dairy-laden quiche quite like an effervescent sip, which is why we've paired this one with La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Rosé. This wine is perfect for any occasion, really, but the red fruit notes and fine bubbles taste especially lovely with the bacon, shallots, and buckwheat crust featured in this dish.
6. Raspberry-Lime Macarons + La Vieille Ferme Rosé
This is a case of pairing like with like to tease out similar flavors in both the wine and the food. La Vieille Ferme Rosé is fresh and summer fruit-forward (think: nectarines and peaches), making it a natural match for these equally fruity macarons that feature raspberries and freshly grated lime zest. Plus, what's more French than a macaron?
7. Pistachio and Honey Crème Brûlée + La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Brut
With a dessert as creamy and dreamy as crème brûlée, bubbles are a must to cut through all that dairy. La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Brut has a relatively gentle palate with subtle notes of brioche, which pairs exceptionally well with the honey and pistachio flavors of the dessert.
8. Chocolate-Porcini Truffles + La Vieille Ferme Rouge
Red wine and chocolate is a pairing for the ages. Here, the chocolate in question is homemade truffles that use porcini powder for added earthiness, which is an ideal foil to peppery, elderberry-forward La Vieille Ferme Rouge.
9. Plum Galette With Whole-Wheat Crust + La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Rosé
La Vieille Ferme Sparkling Rosé strikes a balance between freshness, acidity, and roundness, meaning it tastes great with this no-fuss galette. featuring ripe plums, cinnamon, and vanilla.
10. Pistachio Cream Puffs + La Vieille Ferme Blanc
Nutty and light, these cream puffs are a fancy (and French!) way to end any meal. Enjoy them with a glass of La Vieille Ferme Blanc—its wild floral and pear notes will lend brightness and elegance to this pairing.
Our friends at La Vieille Ferme have been producing fine French wines in the Rhône Valley for decades. The Perrin family, owners of the Château de Beaucastel, takes great care in crafting luscious Rouge, delightfully effervescent Sparkling Brut, fresh, fruity Rosé, and other quality crus. Learn more about their wines and where to find them here.
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