in my GLASS
Mussels &
A plate of mussels in northern France.
M
uscadet wine has to rank as one of the world’s most misunderstood wines. Here’s what it isn’t. It’s nothing like a Moscato. If you’re expecting something like a Moscato, you’re in for a shock. Muscadet is a bone-dry, lightbodied white wine, not even a hint of sweetness. A Muscadine? Not even close. In fact, Muscadet is not a grape at all. Like almost all French wines, the 18 LimitlessMagOnline.com | July 2021
wine is named after where it’s from, not what’s in it. Muscadet is on the western end of the Loire River, close to the Atlantic Ocean. The wines are made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape—a refugee from the famous region of Burgundy. Here’s what I find interesting about the wine. Years ago, the world was a much larger place. People rarely left their region, rarely left their village. The upshot of this was that local foods and wines were all they had. Over
the years, foods and wine evolved to be compatible with each other. That’s what happened with Muscadet. Traditionally, the northwestern part of France depended on the ocean for sustenance. Fishing is still a large part of its economy. It’s home to some of the best seafood restaurants you can find. And Muscadet is a great complement to that cuisine. So, my wife Mary Ellen and I headed to Honfleur with food and wine in mind. With absolutely no scientific
