Wine and food pairing: butternut squash

Butternut is soft and slightly sweet, with a melting texture when cooked. It's often seasoned with herbs, mild spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, or spiced up with ingredients like cheese or nuts. These characteristics mean it pairs well with light to medium-bodied white wines, or even light red wines to accompany the sweetness of the squash.

A Organic Chardonnay from Burgundy, such as a Pouilly-Fuissé or a Mâcon-Villages, is an excellent choice to accompany butternut. These white wines have a lovely roundness and aromas of white-fleshed fruit and hazelnut, reminiscent of the sweetness and slightly nutty side of squash. Their subtle acidity also helps balance the butternut's creamy texture, while adding a touch of freshness.

A Viognier from the Rhône Valley, such as the Contours de Deponcins from domaine François Villard, with its apricot, peach and floral aromas, can be a great match for butternut squash. This rich, aromatic white wine pairs perfectly with butternut dishes cooked with mild spices, as it intensifies flavors while adding aromatic complexity. Its slightly oily texture harmonizes well with the sweetness of the squash without overpowering it.

A Chenin Blanc demi-sec from Vouvray, such as the Vouvray tendre from Domaine Vincent Careme, in the Loire Valley, is also a harmonious option with butternut squash. With its notes of apple, honey and white flowers, and its balance between acidity and sweetness, Chenin Blanc underlines the natural flavors of squash. This wine can also provide a nice liveliness that balances the richness of the dish, especially if the butternut is roasted or cooked with honey or mild spices.

Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc
A Côtes-du-Rhône blanc like the cuvée les Arbousiers du domaine de la Remejeanne offers a lovely roundness and aromas of ripe fruit, white flowers and light spices, making it a good choice to accompany butternut squash. This wine, with its unctuous texture and long finish, goes particularly well with butternut recipes in the oven, with cheese, or even au gratin.