Oysters and Wine
Posted in: Amuse-Bouche
How do you pair oysters and wine?
According to World Oyster Opening Champion, Patrick McMurry of Starfish Oyster Bed and Grill, “it all depends on your personal preference”. There are so many different varieties of oysters, and different types within those varietals, that to try to pinpoint one wine that goes well with each and every oyster would be in vain. Moreover, “wine changes by the year; oysters change by the week. Depending on that week’s weather—whether there was a lot of rain or not—the salinity in the water changes.” Therefore, McMurry suggests any of the “classic, traditional white wines like Chablis, un-oaked Chardonnay, Muscadet, Sancerre, or Sauvignon Blanc. Something with a little bit of citrus to the end of it will accentuate the citrus notes—if you’re squeezing lemon on your oyster—help cut the salinity, and really make the flavours dance across the palate quite nicely.”
