Food - Drink
Marchand De Vin: The Classic French Wine Sauce You Should Know
By MOLLY HARRIS
What Is It?
Marchand de vin is a classic French sauce made from a combination of red wine, shallots, spices like peppercorns, salt, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves, with some butter to finish it off. The sauce is savory and rich, with a slight piquant flavor making it perfect to enhance the taste and texture of a range of dishes.
History
Marchand de vin, meaning “wine merchant,” originated in the 17th century as a way to add depth and richness to meat dishes while using available resources, like the abundant supply of red wine. Although the sauce has evolved over the years, it still pairs best with meat dishes like steak and roasted chicken.
How to Make It
To make marchand de vin first finely chop your shallots and place them in a saucepan with butter over low heat before adding your thyme, bay leaves, and spices, and cooking until the shallots are softened. Then add your high-quality red wine and demi-glace, simmer until reduced by half, and strain to remove any solids.
Pairings
Marchand de vin is incredibly versatile and can be used to add depth to many dishes, but steak, roasted chicken, and game meats are the sauce’s most popular pairings. Marchand de vin can also be used as a base for other sauces, or it can be used to add flavor and complexity to stews, soups, and casseroles.