The best springtime primeur is the white asparagus. Two weeks ago, in mid-March, asparagus from Les Landes, just south of Bordeaux, arrived at our food market (in Paris). In Les Landes, the asparagus grows in sandy soil, which is supposed to make the asparagus very tender. It is thanks to this sand, say the growers, that the asparagus from Les Landes obtained its IGP in 2005 (one notch under AOP).
As soon as the top part peers over the surface, it must be harvested to retain its white colour. After just one hour in the sun, it starts to turn green. Now it’s time to enjoy this delicacy. The season will be over in early June.
White asparagus can be prepared in many different ways, but at the start of the season, we prefer to keep it simple and serve it boiled with salt and melted butter.
Here are five spring-like wine suggestions. These five grapes, assyrtiko, chenin blanc, albariño, grüner veltliner and sauvignon blanc, will accompany your white asparagus splendidly.
- Santorini Assyrtiko Santo Wines, 2019, Santorini, Greece ~20 euro
- Saumur Aliénor 2018, Saumur, Loire Valley, ~18 euro
- Bouza Albariño, 2019, Uruguay, ~20 euro
- Malat Ried Höhlgraben Grüner Veltliner, 2019, Kremstal, Austria, ~18 euro
- Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc, 2019, Martinborough, New Zealand, ~17 euro
Watch this film to see the asparagus harvest in Les Landes francetvinfo.
Travel
Les Landes is next-door to Bordeaux where you will find plenty of delicious things, for example on our wine tour to Bordeaux.
