Which wine to choose to accompany raclette?

Ah, raclette! This friendly and comforting dish, emblematic of the mountains and warm evenings with friends and family. Before guiding you in choosing the ideal wine to accompany your raclette, let's take a moment to quickly take a look at the little secrets of this dish.

Its origin dates back several centuries, when Swiss and Savoyard shepherds melted half a cheese by the fire before scraping it over potatoes and cold meats. Alongside raclette and tartiflette , raclette is a popular dish, a symbol of sharing and conviviality in many regions of Europe. The ingredients that make it up are simple and authentic, like its history: raclette cheese, potatoes and cold meats. But to fully enjoy the moment, you have to choose the perfect wine to accompany and enhance this warm dish.

3 characteristics for a good raclette wine

When we talk about raclette, we often think of moments shared with our loved ones, around a table where melting cheese, potatoes and cold meats create a symphony of flavors. And to enhance these moments even more, the choice of wine is crucial. To help you find the ideal wine, here are some characteristics to keep in mind.

Balance between acidity and fruitiness

The wine that accompanies your raclette must be able to cut through the richness of the cheese and charcuterie, while providing a touch of freshness. A wine with nice acidity and fruity aromas will bring out the best in the dish and delight your taste buds.

Tannins and texture

Wines that are too tannic can sometimes create a heavy feeling in the mouth, especially when paired with rich, fatty dishes. They also clash with the acidity of the cheese, which ensures that you become sick very quickly! So avoid reds in general and if you really don't like white, choose wines with very light tannins, which will allow you to savor each mouthful without weighing down your palate (no Bordeaux therefore!).

Intensity and vinosity

As raclette is a generous and flavorful dish, it is essential to choose a wine that can support these flavors without overpowering them. Opt for medium- to full-bodied wines, which will add a touch of elegance to your meal without overwhelming the delicate flavors of the dish.

Choosing a dry white wine

White wine is often considered the ideal companion for raclette, thanks to its acidity and freshness which contrast with the richness of the dish. In particular, we have written an article dedicated to the 7 dry white wines to taste once in your life , if you are ever looking for something unique and original. Otherwise, for something more classic, here are some suggestions for white wines that you can enjoy with your raclette, in a friendly atmosphere.

AOC Savoie wines

The region that is the birthplace of raclette is the one we all know: Savoie. And, this beautiful region is also home to a wide variety of white wines that pair perfectly with this iconic dish. Their fruity and mineral aromas, as well as their acidity, balance the flavors of the cheese and cold meats.

Apremont

This wine, produced from the Jacquère grape variety , is light and fresh with notes of white flowers, green apple and citrus. Its lively acidity and minerality make it an excellent choice to accompany your raclette.

Chignin-Bergeron

Made from the Roussanne grape variety , this wine is fuller-bodied and offers aromas of white-fleshed fruits, honey and almond. Its complexity and roundness will bring a touch of elegance to your meal.

Other suitable white wines

Apart from Savoie wines, other white wines can also enhance your raclette. Everyone has their preferences, and it is by sharing and tasting different wines that you will find the one that suits you best. This is why we have created boxes with several dry white wines, ideal for raclette.

Moulin-Pouzy

The Domaine de Moulin-Pouzy produces a seductive white Bergerac, inviting a warm experience around its flavors. Let yourself be carried away by its delicate aromas, fruits of an authentic South-West terroir and a promising 2021 vintage. This is the opportunity to share a friendly tasting with your loved ones.

Chablis Premier Cru

You can discover it alongside another dry white wine ideal for the occasion, a Chablis Premier Cru, in our La Petite Cave X Flakon box . A great way to discover several wines around a good raclette!

Musar Castle

This Viognier is an exceptional white wine from Lebanon, characterized by its aromatic richness and complexity. The floral, apricot and peach notes blend harmoniously with a beautiful acidity, making it a real discovery that conveys the authenticity of the Lebanese terroir.

If the discovery of world wines appeals to you, it is possible to discover it in a box alongside a wine straight from New Zealand which will also go wonderfully with a good raclette. This is a very interesting solution for the curious!

How to serve and enjoy wine with raclette?

To fully enjoy your raclette accompanied by a delicious wine, it is important to pay attention to a few details that will make the difference.

First of all, each type of wine has its ideal serving temperature to reveal its aromas and flavors. For white wines, serve them slightly chilled, between 10 and 12°C. Then, the choice of glasses is essential to enjoy your white wine in the best conditions. So opt for suitable glasses with a narrower rim to concentrate the aromas.

Note that if you plan to offer several wines during your raclette evening, the order of tasting is important. Start with the lightest, freshest wines, then work your way up to the fuller-bodied, more intense wines. Likewise, remember to aerate the wine well according to the wine merchant's advice to fully benefit from all the aromas. To do this, you can use a connected wine aerator . By taking care of these details, you will offer your loved ones a tasteful and friendly experience around raclette, which will remain engraved in the memories.

Don't forget: the most important thing is to share and savor these moments in all simplicity, with joy and good humor! Whether to accompany a beef bourguignon or a good foie gras , wine is the ally of moments together that create beautiful memories. Let's take the time to choose it carefully!