White Burgundy to Please a Crowd

2015 Georges DuBoeuf Mâcon-Villages, Mâconnais, Burgundy, France

Wine of the Week with Annette Tomei

Holiday gatherings often bring near-strangers together at the table (buffet or otherwise). Entertaining on a large scale calls for wine that will please many, including you – no need to call in the critters. Yes, you can have a Chardonnay (sans sugar and sawdust) that won’t break the bank and may even earn you a few new friends (or clients, as the case may be). It’s even French – from Burgundy. That’s always important to a few in that crowd.

As my current holiday adventure finds me in a place where thousands of diverse palates must be satisfied, my crowd-pleasing Chardonnay of choice comes from one of the most recognizable names in Burgundy – Georges DuBoeuf.

Les Vins Georges DuBoeuf is a négociant. That is, a company that purchases grapes, juice, or wines from many growers/producers, bottling and selling the wine under their own label. This is a common practice, especially in Burgundy. At its best, this system yields wines that are consistent in quality, and provide secure income to small growers. They are often, also, reasonably priced.

DuBoeuf may be best known for Beaujolais. However, this White Burgundy to please a crowd comes from grapes grown in the Mâconnais in southern Burgundy. The appellation Mâcon-Villages designates white wines made from the Chardonnay grape that come from select communes around the Mâconnais. The appellation is known for light, fruity wines.

About this Wine

True to the style of Mâcon-Villages, this is a simple, light bodied, easy drinking wine. Pale golden in color, it has aromas of lemon curd, apple, and delicate floral notes. On the palate, citrus dominates with lemon and a touch of lime zest – tart, but not overly so. The finish is smooth with a pleasant note of toasted almond.

This light and refreshing wine is a good choice for cocktail parties or to serve at the beginning of the evening with hors d’oeuvres. (In other words, it is a great White Burgundy to please a crowd.) It pairs well with all types of seafood preparations from raw bars and sushi to tempura and fried preparations (also great with the vegetable versions of the same). It will also carry over into the main meal, pairing with classic chicken, turkey, and light bodied vegetarian dishes.

The Verdict

For under $20/bottle (often closer to $15) you get consistently good wine that will appeal to many. It is great with food or without; it is recognizable to the label-conscious, and great value.

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Annette Tomei

Chef, Wine Educator & Culinary Consultant at Wander, Eat and Tell

Annette Tomei is a chef, educator, writer, and cultural tourism consultant. She has a Master’s of Arts in Gastronomy and extensive education in wine and spirits including Italian Wine Scholar with Highest Honors. She is a classically trained chef and former restaurant owner. As a sought-after cooking instructor, she has created popular Port to Table cooking classes for Holland America and has contributed to several food books including Culinary Careers for Dummies. She currently works as a food, wine and spirits educator and consultant though her company, Wander, Eat and Tell.

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