Met-wines agreement

Riesling and Alsatian style snails

Allow at least six large land snails per person. Make up a "butter for snails": butter, salt, fresh chopped parsley, garlic, a hint of pepper, strong chicken stock (from the cooking juices), and mix all together.

Place the bread (the crumb, not the crust) right into each shell (or each hollow if you’re using ‘caquelon’ individual serving dishes), of the snail, and cover generously with the butter.
Place in the oven at 180°c for 10 to 15 minutes.

A Riesling with real personality will be the ideal accompaniment for your snails. Advice supplied by Emmanuelle Rudinger - Association des Viticulteurs d'Alsace (Association of Alsace Wine-growers)

The Aperitif and Alsatian wines

One of the great Alsatian traditions (and when it comes to cuisine, there are plenty of them) is to start enjoying oneself right from the aperitif.

The best known of our cakes to be served at the aperitif course is of course the "Kougelhopf" (pronounced Kouglopf). This is a superb dish with a generously proportioned, fluted shape topped with almonds, smooth twice-raised dough scattered with raisins and wonderfully subtle aromas of butter and baker’s yeast.
For celebrations, why not break open a well-chilled sparkling Crémant d'Alsace blanc, or for fans of exotic fragrances, propose a Gewurztraminer.

Let the celebrations begin! Advice supplied by Emmanuelle Rudinger - Association des Viticulteurs d'Alsace (Association of Alsace Wine-growers)

Wines of Alsace and Cheese

"Sheep and Goat’s cheeses"

French tradition normally expects red wine to be offered with cheese. Surprise your guests by offering a Riesling instead. (Alsatian white wine) – it’s bound to be a success. Thanks to its acid structure, Riesling responds well to the fresh attack of Goats’ cheeses.
With a younger goat’s cheese, go for a more recent vintage; if you like your goat’s cheese stronger, longer aged, take a more evolved Riesling from the cellar, as over time, it will have reinforced its complexity and expression.

Advice supplied by Emmanuelle Rudinger - Association des Viticulteurs d'Alsace (Association of Alsace Wine-growers)

Alcohol can damage your health, consume with moderation.