What Pairings for New Wines?

New food and wine pairings: our suggestions

Fall is the season for new wines. These wines from the current vintage—freshly fermented, quickly removed from the vat, youthful, fresh, fruity, and crisp—are best enjoyed in the first few months after bottling. Right in the middle of winter, in other words. Here are a few tips for pairing food and wine.

New wines: what are they?

Regions that produce young wines

While Beaujolais Nouveau is well known, it is not the only appellation to produce its own early-release wine. In vineyards across the country, autumn brings the new vintage wines. Known as “vins nouveaux” or “vins primeurs,” they all share the distinction of being the first to leave the cellars, barely two months after the harvest.

Unfortunately, they are sometimes tainted by a poor reputation and too quickly dismissed as inferior wines. Yet it must be acknowledged that young wines come in all varieties, and some are well worth tasting, discovering, enjoying, and sharing. They even pair well with meals and complement an incredible variety of dishes—without fuss, without pretension, and with a sense of conviviality.

Visiting the area? Check out the wineries of Beaujolais.

Food and Wine Pairings: Let’s Debunk the Myths About Young Wines

White wine with fish? No red wine with cheese? Here’s some good news: you can pair new wines with a wide variety of dishes and finally break the rules.

Young wines are fruity and light, making them a delightful pairing for grilled fish and even… oysters! Similarly, red wine enthusiasts can take advantage of winter and the new vintages to enjoy a unique yet perfect pairing by serving goat cheese with that year’s red wine.

Fall dishes paired with new wines

Mother Nature works her magic, and seasonal pairings are proof of that. Young wines—crisp, tangy, and fruity—pair perfectly with hearty fall dishes: grilled sausages, lentil stew…

Lamb or veal also pairs deliciously with the spicy notes of young wines.

Everyday dishes to pair with casual wines

New wines are associated with enjoyment, sharing, and conviviality. We enjoy a light meal with young wines, pairing them with simple, everyday dishes; regional dishes generally go very well with the local producer’s new wine: cold cuts, poultry, cheeses, young wines… bringing warmth to the table this fall.

Discover our Beaujolais wines, straight from the winemaker

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.