What to Drink with Blanquette? - Food & Wine Pairings

If you are pressed for time

Burgundy whites, such as Saint-Romain, Rully, or Pernand-Vergelesses
A Blanc de Saint-Amour (Beaujolais)
A Burgundy red (
A Saumur-Champigny (Loire)

What wine to pair with veal blanquette: a tricky question that divides opinion

Opinions vary; some people limit the wine selection for veal blanquette to white wine, as they believe the wine should pair with the sauce (which, as we know, is creamy) rather than with the meat. The cream would therefore automatically rule out red wine.

Veal blanquette, despite being slow-cooked, remains a fairly rich dish, so the white wine should add a touch of acidity to balance out and enhance the creaminess of the sauce. The flavors of veal blanquette are subtle and delicate; they should not be overwhelmed by wines that are too powerful. Subtle grape varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Marsanne are preferable. Red wine, contrary to what some might say, can pair well with veal blanquette. Of course, not all reds are suitable, and wines that are too tannic or too high in alcohol are not good companions for your veal, your sauce, your rice, or even your vegetables. Fortunately for us, there are sweet and delicate red wines! All those made with Pinot Noir, for example, are perfect for pairing with veal prepared this way. Their youthfulness will be an added bonus.

Red wine, white wine, and Blanquette: the perfect pairings

Burgundy wines are a good match for both white and red: Saint-Romain, Rully, and Pernand-Vergelesses are excellent choices for white, while for red, opt for Santenay or Marsannay. Beaujolais white wines, such as Saint-Amour, pair very well with veal blanquette. You can also look in your cellar for Loire wines like Sancerre and Saumur-Champigny for reds.

Veal blanquette, a French favorite

Blanquette pulls off the feat of transforming less-prized cuts of veal to bring out their flavor, and—without adding any particularly luxurious ingredients—creates a subtle harmony of delicate aromas. It’s one of the French people’s favorite dishes, and it’s widely enjoyed from the first signs of cold weather until late spring. At Les Grappes, we love it so much that we even make it in the summer sometimes… And yet the French still wonder just as much about what to drink with blanquette! The debate rages on: white? red? white or red?

Why trust us?

Since 2014, Les Grappes has been dedicated to meeting passionate winemakers across France to unearth authentic, vibrant wines with rich histories. By collaborating directly with over 500 vintners, we meticulously select cuvées that we genuinely appreciate and are eager to share with you.

This blog serves as an extension of that journey. Here, we share our discoveries, expert advice, favorite selections, optimal food and wine pairings, tasting recommendations, and everything that inspires us daily in the world of wine.

The objective is straightforward: to assist you in selecting bottles that align with your preferences and to enhance your enjoyment in tasting them.