The French Wines That Are Perfect To Pair With Duck Confit

Succulent duck confit — prepared by simmering leg meat in its own fat until it nearly falls off the bone — is a rich and flavorful treat that deserves the right wine pairing. But which one should you go for? Amy Racine, the Beverage Director and Partner at JF Restaurants, and recipient of numerous wine industry accolades, suggests reaching for a full-flavored French wine from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region to fill your glass when duck confit is on the menu. It's hard to go wrong bringing a French bottle to the table when you're serving classic French dishes like duck confit. 

Racine further elaborated on why these wines are good matches for duck meat. "Châteauneuf-du-Pape is known for its robust red wines, often blends of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, and are typically full-bodied, with intense flavors of ripe dark fruit, spice, and often a touch of earthiness," she explained. The wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape typically have a higher alcohol content, too, making them stand up well to the luxurious fattiness of the confit with its dark and meaty flavors. 

Compared to other mild-tasting poultry like chicken or turkey, duck meat has rich, deep flavor, especially so when it's slow-cooked to concentrate the flavors — and that's exactly what happens during the confit process. Water gets cooked out of the meat and skin during the long, low-temperature simmer, helping to preserve it and intensify the flavor. The meat also takes on a satiny texture from the breakdown of tough connective tissue as it gently cooks. This intensely meaty duck with its crackling brown skin needs a robust flavor pairing to level out all that richness. 

Traditionally, duck confit is paired with strongly flavored fruit chutneys and sauces that provide contrast and balance with the meltingly tender dark meat. Fruits like figs and plums, currants and dark cherries that are a classic accompaniment to duck echo the aromas of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, which is why the pairing is such a classic match. It's equally refreshing to sip a robust red wine like Châteauneuf-du-Pape with confit –- the wine benefits from being paired with the duck as much as the duck is enhanced by the flavors in your glass.