Disco Scallops!

I love scallops!
However, more than 95% of scallops in the UK are gathered by dredging the seabed. This damages the marine habitat, isn’t sustainable and generates unwanted bycatch. On a recent trip to Cornwall, I was thrilled to discover ‘Disco Scallops’ a sustainable scallop option!

What is a ‘disco’ scallop?  A) A scallop wearing 70’s flares? B) One that enjoys disco dancing? or C) A sustainable way of catching scallops? The answer of course is C! 

But what does a disco have to do with scallops and how on earth do I pair a disco scallop and wine?

The answer is quite fascinating and clever. Scallops are attracted to LED lights! By adding LED ‘disco lights’ to lobster and crab pots, scallops actively swim inside the pots! This prevents damage to the seafloor, ensures high quality catch and supports smaller businesses working in the lobster and crab industry.

A disco scallop is excellent quality. I dined in a beautiful restaurant called Flora in Trelowarren, Cornwall. The scallops were exquisite! Locally sourced and carefully prepared. They were delicious. The texture was rich and buttery and the flavour was sweet. So, what to pair with disco scallops?

White wine with structure and elegance was required to support the flavour. A young, unoaked Chablis was the perfect choice. The Chablis region was once an ancient seabed, predominantly a mix of clay, chalk and fossilised oyster shells. As vines push roots through the soil, mineral character is picked up and reflected in the character of the wine. A great disco partner!