Whether you are looking ahead to summer and its terraces or to the end-of-year holidays, choosing the right wine to go with oysters matters. One big question comes up: which wine should you drink with oysters? On top of that, there are different types of oysters that will pair with different wines. Oysters are generally served with a white wine or a champagne. So with this article, you will discover the best wines to drink with oysters.
The different types of oysters
France produces roughly 130,000 tonnes of oysters a year, which then end up on our plates. What is more, the vast majority of this production is made up of cupped oysters (98%) and the rest is flat oysters (2%). In Europe, France is an undisputed leader in oyster production, accounting for 90% of European output. On a global scale, on the other hand, China is the leading producer. To choose your oysters well, you need to take several things into account. First, the time of year. It is often said that you can eat oysters all year round, except in the months without an “r” (May, June, July and August). That said, this rule is less and less true thanks to the development of transport and refrigeration. The grade also tells you the weight of the oysters. Oyster grades run from 0 to 5. A grade 0 means a heavy oyster, while a grade 5 means a light one. The table below helps you understand the weight associated with each grade.
| Grade | Weight |
|---|---|
| 5 | 30g to 45g |
| 4 | 46g to 65g |
| 3 | 66g to 85 |
| 2 | 86g to 110g |
| 1 | 111g to 150g |
| 0 | More than 151g |
If you want to learn more about oyster farming, you can read this article, or head over to this book.
Sherry with oysters
Sherry is a very particular wine, but one that pairs wonderfully with oysters. First of all, sherry is made from vines growing on a completely white soil. The terroir of this region produces dry wines. Sherry is also especially remarkable for its saline notes and offers aromas of dried fruit. That said, sherry may not suit everyone. It is indeed a distinctive wine that can, to a certain extent, call to mind vin jaune.
White wine with oysters
The simplest pairing of a wine with oysters is well known: a crisp white wine. A white wine with lovely freshness and slightly tangy, iodised notes will be perfect to accompany your oyster platter. So an Alsatian Riesling will have its place on your table when it is time to enjoy a plate of oysters. You can also turn to a white Crozes Hermitage or a Chablis. Elsewhere, abroad, some wines from Argentina will let you show off oysters particularly well (in particular Torrontés). Likewise, a Riesling Kabinett from Germany will give you a perfect pairing between oysters and wine. To pair wine with oysters, you can also turn to the white wines of Bordeaux. By the way, if you go for these, remember to favour Entre-deux-Mers. Finally, to choose your wine with oysters, you can opt for a Muscadet. Their freshness and the slightly saline aspects of these wines will be perfect and will come through on contact with the oyster.
Champagne and oysters
Champagne, too, will go particularly well with oysters. When they are served as a starter, you will be a huge hit pairing them with champagne. The acidity of the sparkling wine is a perfect companion for bringing out the oyster. There you have an excellent food and wine pairing.
In summary: which wine with oysters?
In summary, here are the wines to pair with oysters:
- Sherry;
- Alsatian Riesling;
- Young Chablis;
- White Crozes Hermitage;
- White wines of Bordeaux (Entre-deux-Mers);
- Muscadet;
- Champagne.
So now you know everything about the food and wine pairing to put together with oysters.
