Duckling

Red · Medium · Dry

Pinot Noir (red) or Chardonnay (white) from the world's most expensive dirt. Translucent, perfumed, ethereal at the top of the hierarchy; honest and pleasant lower down. Drink slowly, with reverence.

Works with Duckling · Duckling Orange · Duckling L'orange

Red · Medium · Dry

The blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre that fills every wine list in France for a reason — friendly, peppery, slightly rustic, made to wash down anything from grilled vegetables to lamb stew.

Works with Duckling · Duckling Orange · Duckling L'orange

Red · Light · Dry

Burgundy's most temperamental grape, but the rewards are real — translucent ruby with a perfumed lift of red cherry, forest floor, and clove. Silken tannins and bright acid make it the most versatile red on the table; serve cool, around 58°F.

Works with Duckling · Duckling Orange · Duckling L'orange

Sparkling · Light · Sweet

Asti's more refined sibling — gently frizzante, only 5-6% alcohol, all peach and orange blossom. The perfect summer dessert wine.

Works with Duckling Orange · Duckling L'orange

White · Light · Off-dry

Aromatic, racy, and shapeshifting — bone-dry in Alsace, off-dry on the Mosel, syrupy and ageless when late-harvested. The single most versatile wine for spicy food on earth.

Works with Duckling Orange · Duckling L'orange

Languedoc's Hérault-region table wine — Mediterranean reds, whites, and rosés at honest, everyday prices. The bistro wine of southern France.

Works with Young Female Duckling With Figs · Roasted Young Female Duckling With Figs

Roussillon's fortified dessert red — Grenache-based, port-like, with notes of cocoa, walnut, and dried fig. The classic chocolate-dessert pairing.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Méthode champenoise from the most chalk-rich corner of France — fine bubbles, brioche, lemon zest, and a finish that goes on for half a minute. The wine for anything fried, salty, or special.

Languedoc's most distinctive red — schist-soil Syrah and Grenache, lean and mineral compared to the broader Languedoc. The thinking person's southern French red.

Roussillon's quieter sweet Grenache fortified — like Banyuls but often a touch lighter. The bistro pairing for chocolate desserts.

Languedoc red blend country — Grenache, Syrah, Carignan from a windswept plateau. Bold, herbaceous, generous; built for roasted meat and aged hard cheese.