Clairette de Die “Cuvee Imperiale” La Cave de Die Jaillance

May 24, 2010

90% Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains, 10% White Clairette
AOC Clairette de Die
Baron Francois

If you have ever wondered what kind of wine to serve with fresh spring and summer fruits, then look no further than the Cuvee Imperiale from La Cave de Die Jaillance. This wine, which comes from the Clairette de Die AOC in the Rhone Valley is a blend of muscat blanc à petits grains and a small amount of white clairette.

The Clairette de Die is made by a process that is a bit different from how they make other sparkling wines, such as Champagne. The juice is fermented at very low temperatures to preserve freshness and then bottled with residual sugar. The wine is then allowed to re-ferment which raises the alcohol level to between 7% and 8%. After aging a few months on the lees, the wine is decanted and re-bottled. The resulting sparkling wine is still naturally sweet with a soft mousse. I think you will find this to be an excellent match for pairing with strawberry shortcake, fruit tarts, fruit salad or sorbet.

For more information on this wine, please check out its page in our Buying Guide.