Quick Answer: Best Wine Pairing with Duck a L’orange
Duck a L’orange is made to equally complement white as well as red wines. It tastes its best when paired with wines like Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Primitivo, Beaujolais, Riesling, Chardonnay, Champagne, Pinot Blanc. Pair any of these wines with duck a l’orange for a delectable dining experience.
This is a comprehensive guide that you’ll ever need to find the best wine to compliment duck a l’orange and satisfy your taste receptors.
I’ve curated this article by putting in hours of research supported by my personal experiences.
Let’s get started.
But first, let’s get to know a bit more about duck a l’orange before we get to know the details about the best wines to pair it with.
About Duck a L’orange
Duck a L’orange contains a blend of vinegar, red wine, sugar, and orange juice giving it a rich, slightly sweet, and savory flavor.
Just like we add gravy to a roasted beef chunk, similarly, we pour orange sauce on the crispy duck meat.
This dish was quite popular between the 1970s to 1980s.
So, dreaming of duck a l’orange already? But before that let’s find the perfect wine match for them.
Best Duck a l’orange and Wine Pairing
These are my top picks for wines that go well with duck a l’orange –
1. Gewurztraminer
| Name | Gewurztraminer |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany |
| Taste | Off-Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Lychee, rose, grapefruit |
| Acidity | Low |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3-7 degrees C |
| Glass Type | White |
| Storage (years) | 3-5 years |
| Wine Body | Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5-15 % |
Gewurztraminer is a white wine with a floral and lychee-like aroma. It comes with sweet fruity flavors topped with spicy notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and ginger.
It has nominal levels of tannins. The Gewurztraminer grapes are a mutated version of Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
Gewurztraminer is a classic pairing option with duck a l’orange as it complements the savory orange sauce due to its slightly sweet taste.
Learn the basics of Gewurztraminer through this video:
2. Pinot Gris
| Name | Pinot Gris |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Fresh and spicy |
| Primary Flavors | Tropical fruit, stone fruit, citrus |
| Acidity | Relatively low acidity |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 45-50 degrees |
| Glass Type | Chardonnay white wine glass |
| Storage (years) | 1-4 years |
| Wine Body | Medium to light |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5 to 14% |
Pinot Gris is a white wine with fruity flavors and strong aromas of honey, almond, ginger, spice, and clove.
It comes in three different variants based on its sugar content namely, dry, semi-dry, and sweet. It’s a light wine that generates a tingling sensation the moment you sip it.
Pinot Gris is a zesty wine with a refreshing acidity level, making it suitable for dishes made from duck, like duck a l’orange.
Dive deeper into the world of Pinot Gris through this video:
3. Pinot Noir
| Name | Pinot noir |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry and sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Cherry and raspberry |
| Acidity | Bright acidity |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 55-60 degrees |
| Glass Type | Burgundy |
| Storage (years) | 5 years |
| Wine Body | Light - Medium |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12-15% |
Pinot Noir comes with a rich fruity flavor along with a velvety and vibrant ruby shade. It comes with a fusion of distinct flavors each maintaining its individuality.
With a dry taste and full-bodied texture, Pinot Noir comes in distinct flavors like smokey, fruity, and earthy notes.
Pinot Noir comes with few tannins and less acidity making it a perfect pair for duck a l’orange, as it doesn’t overpower its meaty taste.
Check out this video to better understand Pinot Noir:
4. Merlot
| Name | Merlot |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dark and fruity |
| Primary Flavors | Black cherry, blackberry, plum, raspberry, vanilla and mocha |
| Acidity | Moderate acidity |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 60-65 degrees |
| Glass Type | Bordeaux |
| Storage (years) | 3-5 years |
| Wine Body | Medium to full |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13-14% |
Merlot has a soft sensual texture that makes it a versatile beverage to go for. It comes with low tannins, while its flavors range from plums to black cherries with notes of vanilla, clove, and cedar.
You can either go for a full-bodied or light-bodied Merlot to relish along with your duck a l’orange dish as two the options work for meaty meals.
To better understand the nuances of Merlot, check out this quick video:
5. Primitivo (Zinfandel)
| Name | Primitivo (Zinfandel) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Croatia |
| Taste | Dry and Sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Raspberry, Cherry, Plum, and Blackberry |
| Acidity | Moderately Acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 17 - 20 degrees |
| Glass Type | Zinfandel Wine Glass |
| Storage (years) | 5 - 8 years |
| Wine Body | Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13 - 15% |
Primitivo is a red wine that comes along with black and red fruit flavors coupled with spicy pepper notes for that much-needed zing. It comes with low tannin levels making it an easy-to-go option for savory dishes.
Its moderate acidity and medium-bodied texture make it an excellent pair with duck a l’orange as its savory taste gets perfectly balanced.
Get insights regarding Primitivo through this video:
6. Beaujolais
| Name | Beaujolais |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Red Cherry, Raspberry, Currant, Cranberry, and Strawberry |
| Acidity | Medium - Highly Acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 11 - 14 degrees |
| Glass Type | Burgundy Wine Glass |
| Storage (years) | 2 - 3 years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12.5 - 13.5% |
Beaujolais is known for its light-bodied texture, moderate acidity, and low tannin levels. It’s a red wine produced from Gamay grapes with a low percentage of Pinot Noir grapes in it.
Beaujolais is an excellent pick for a meaty duck a l’orange dish with orange sauce due to its light wine body and fruity flavors, as it doesn’t overpower the meat’s natural flavor.
Get to learn more about Beaujolais through this quick video:
7. Riesling
| Name | Riesling |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany |
| Taste | Off-Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Lime, green apple, jasmine |
| Acidity | High |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3-7 degrees C |
| Glass Type | White |
| Storage (years) | 10+ years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | Under 10% |
Riesling is a white wine with rich fruity flavors as it’s rarely oaked and comes pure. It’s intensely aromatic and brings along with it a variety of floral notes.
It comes in several variants like dry, semi-dry, and sweet as well as sparkling white wine. It comes back with the vibrant and powerful heritage of Germany.
The fruity flavors, acidity, and wine body of Riesling endorse the feel and taste of duck a l’orange and will complement it exceptionally well.
Get more details about Riesling through this quick video:
8. Chardonnay
| Name | Chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Sweet and dry |
| Primary Flavors | Apple and lemon |
| Acidity | Moderately acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 50 degrees |
| Glass Type | Traditional white wine glass |
| Storage (years) | 3-7 years |
| Wine Body | Full |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 13.5 to 14.5% |
Chardonnay comes with a neutral flavor. It comes with subtle notes of citrus, blossom, apple, and almonds. It’s medium-bodied along with medium acidity and moderate to high alcohol levels.
Its dry taste and light golden shade make it visually enticing. With each sip, you experience a nuanced flavor every time.
Chardonnay is a good pairing option for duck a l’orange as it suits a variety of ingredients that go in the making of the dish.
Here’s a video to get a complete gest about Chardonnay:
9. Champagne
| Name | Champagne |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry |
| Primary Flavors | Citrus, yellow apple, cream |
| Acidity | High |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 3.3- 7.3 degrees C |
| Glass Type | Flute |
| Storage (years) | 5-20 years |
| Wine Body | Light-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12.20% |
Champagne is the perfect blend of grapes like Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay and is exclusively prepared in the Champagne region of France.
That’s how it gets its name. It is a sparkling white wine that generates a velvety feel in every sip.
Sparkling wines like Champagne go incredibly well with crispy duck a l’orange. This wine comes with notes of egg and bread that’ll complement the sauces added to your dish.
To better understand the nuances of Champagne, check out this quick video:
10. Pinot Blanc
| Name | Pinot blanc |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Taste | Dry and Sweet |
| Primary Flavors | Pear, Citrus, Apple, and Almond |
| Acidity | Moderate - Highly Acidic |
| Serving Temperature (C) | 7 - 10 degrees |
| Glass Type | Tulip Wine Glass |
| Storage (years) | 1 - 3 years |
| Wine Body | Medium - Full-bodied |
| Alcohol % (ABV) | 12 -14% |
Pinot Blanc has been derived from the grapes of Pinot Grigio that themselves are a variation of the grapes of Pinot Noir. It is a white wine with low tannin levels and mildly spicy and smoky notes.
It comes with low tannin levels and refreshing fruit flavors backed with earthy notes to make it a complete package of excitement.
The Pinot Blanc flavors perfectly balance the spice of duck a l’orange, making it a delectable combination of sweetness and spice.
Check out this video to better understand Pinot Blanc:
Wine Pairing Guide for Duck a L’orange
Duck a l’orange has a savory taste to it due to the orange sauce added to it.
You need to opt for a sweet wine to balance the dish’s natural taste. But also, the wine you choose shouldn’t overpower the meaty taste of the duck.
When settling for a glass of Pinot Gris, make certain you choose Alsace Pinot Gris over any other variant.
This is because Alsace Pinot Gris comes with citrus notes of mandarin and tangerine that match the savory feel of the orange sauce.
The lychee and rosy aromas of Gewurztraminer undoubtedly will poise the tanginess of duck a l’orange. Go for an off-dry variant as it will have a bit of sugar residue left in the wine bottle, making it sweet.
A glass of Chardonnay comes with a buttery and smooth mouthfeel, making it a hard to resist combination with duck a l’orange.
While a medium-bodied Primitivo is just the right option to turn to for adding a subtle smokey feel to your dish.
Recipe for Duck a L’orange
Duck a l’orange is prepared by roasting the duck first and adding condiments like coriander, cumin, salt, and pepper.
You insert a half orange into the duck’s cavity while the juice extracted from the other half is squeezed all over the duck’s surface.
The sauce is prepared by first heating sugar in a pan and then mixing vinegar, orange juice, and salt and is cooked over low heat.
FAQs
A single serving of duck a l’orange consists of 455 calories, 41g of proteins, 22.20g of total carbs, 21g of net carbs, and 23g of fats. The duck meat is particularly rich in iron, vitamin B, omega fatty acids, and selenium.
The main ingredients for preparing duck a l’orange include duck stock, chicken stock, coriander, pepper, cumin, salt, orange, onions, dry white wine, sugar, celery rib, all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, and parsley sprigs,
A fully cooked duck a l’orange can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days while a raw marinated duck a l’orange can stay preserved in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Though it may turn a bit sour due to the orange juice added to it.
Bottom Line
Now that you’ve made it to the end, I hope this article was useful enough for you to hunt down your ideal wine pair for duck a l’orange.
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