Vegetable Quiche

White · Light · Dry

Citrus, cut grass, and a wire of acid. Marlborough makes it loudest; Sancerre makes it most refined. Either way, it cuts cleanly through goat cheese, herbs, and anything with shellfish.

Works with Vegetable Quiche · Crustless Vegetable Quiche

Loire wines from around the city of Angers — Chenin Blanc whites (dry to sweet) and Cabernet Franc rosés. The whites are tremendous values.

Red · Medium · Dry

Beaujolais's grape and a thinking-person's Pinot. Bright cherry, banana, granite, low tannins, high drinkability. Chill it slightly; pair with picnic charcuterie or roast chicken.

A step up from generic Anjou — Cabernet Franc-led reds from designated villages, with more concentration and ageability. The serious Loire red.

A step up from generic Anjou — Cabernet Franc-led reds from designated villages, with more concentration and ageability. The serious Loire red.

Red · Medium · Dry

A step above generic Beaujolais — Gamay from 38 designated villages, with more weight and a longer finish. The everyday Burgundy at half the price.

Red · Full · Dry

The classical red blend — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and friends — from southwest France. Black currant, cedar, tobacco; serious structure; rewards patience and decanting.

Loire Cabernet Franc — bigger and more structured than neighboring Chinon, with darker fruit and earthier character. The Cabernet Franc to age.

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.

White · Medium · Dry

The most-planted white grape and the most chameleon-like. Crisp and steely from Chablis; rich, oaky, and tropical from California. Read the label, then match the style to the dish.

A small Loire appellation — Sauvignon-Chardonnay whites and Pinot Noir-Gamay reds. Inexpensive, food-friendly, the picnic wine.

Loire Cabernet Franc at its most refined — pencil-shavings, raspberry, and a flint-stone finish. The bistro red of choice; equally good chilled in summer.