White wine
666 wines in cellarA white wine is chosen based on two axes: tension (acidity, which refreshes) and texture (richness, which fills the mouth). A simple, iodized dish calls for a crisp, saline white; a dish in sauce calls for a full-bodied white, sometimes aged in barrel.
Filter by profile, by grape variety, or by the dish you are serving. The FAQ answers our most frequently asked questions.
Elephant Hill - Reserve Chardonnay 2016
A Chardonnay from Hawke's Bay combining precision, maritime freshness and elegant woody richness.
Colmant Cap Classique - Blanc de Blanc
A classic pure Chardonnay from Cap, combining maritime freshness, fine bubbles and elegant brioche complexity.
Colmant Cap Classique - Brut Reserve
A precise and elegant Cap Classique from Franschhoek, combining freshness, fine bubbles and aromatic complexity.
Chamisal - SLO Chardonnay 2021
A coastal Chardonnay from San Luis Obispo, combining maritime freshness, vibrant fruit and subtle oak.
Bouchard Finlayson - Crocodile's Lair Chardonnay 2023
A South African chardonnay from a cool climate, precise and elegant, where the purity of the fruit meets the finesse of the wood.
Bouchard Finlayson - Blanc de Mer 2024
A maritime and chiseled white wine, where oceanic freshness meets a generous and precise aromatic profile.
Bouchard Finlayson - Missionvale Chardonnay 2022
A precise and elegant South African coastal Chardonnay, where maritime freshness meets the richness of controlled aging.
Beaumont Family Wines - New Baby 2023
A precise and saline South African coastal white wine, where maritime freshness meets a lovely fruitiness.
Beaumont Family Wines - Hope Marguerite Chenin Blanc 2023
A precise and saline South African Chenin Blanc, where maritime freshness meets the depth of the old vineyard.
Archery Summit - Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2021
A Chardonnay from Dundee Hills that combines freshness, precision and elegance, carried by the finesse of Oregon's volcanic soils.
Viu Manent - Estate Reserva Chardonnay 2024
A precise and fresh Chilean Chardonnay, which highlights the luminous character of the Colchagua Valley.
Vasse Felix - Premier Chardonnay 2022
A precise and elegant Australian maritime Chardonnay, where freshness, finesse and complexity are harmoniously balanced.
Vasse Felix - Filius Chardonnay 2021
A precise and energetic Australian Chardonnay, where freshness meets a subtle touch of oak.
The Wine People - Miopasso Pinot Grigio 2024
A fresh and precise Italian Pinot Grigio, which highlights the purity of the fruit and drinkability.
The Wine People - Pemo Pecorino 2024
A precise and refreshing Pecorino d'Abruzzo, which combines aromatic intensity and saline tension.
Ten Minutes by Tractor - 10X Chardonnay 2022
An Australian Chardonnay from a cool climate, precise and saline, where the finesse of the fruit meets a beautiful depth of texture.
Pewsey Vale Vineyard - The Contours 10 Year Museum Release Riesling 2012
A precise and mineral Australian high-altitude Riesling, patiently aged to reveal the complexity of its cool Eden Valley terroir.
Mount Horrocks - Watervale Riesling 2022
A precise and crystalline Riesling from Watervale, where the freshness of citrus fruits meets a marked minerality.
Michelini i Mufatto - MA Godello 2022
A high-altitude Godello, precise and saline, which energetically expresses the mineral freshness of the Bierzo.
Innocent Bystander - Chardonnay 2021
An Australian Chardonnay from a cool climate, combining precise fruit, vibrant freshness and measured elegance.
Huber - Obere Steigen Grüner Veltliner 2024
A precise and vibrant Grüner Veltliner, marked by the freshness of the Traisental and the minerality of its limestone slopes.
Huber - Zwirch Erste Lage Grüner Veltliner 2023
A precise and saline Grüner Veltliner of the terroir, which reveals all the finesse of the Zwirch en Erste Lage cru.
Huber - Alte Setzen Erste Lage Grüner Veltliner 2023
A terroir-driven Grüner Veltliner, precise and saline, which expresses all the limestone finesse of the Traisental.
Huber - Terrassen Riesling 2019
A precise and crystalline Austrian Riesling, where freshness combines with a chiseled minerality.
Which white wine for which taste?
The profile is more useful for purchase than the region: it describes what the wine does in the mouth, and therefore what it will pair with.
Bright white & mineral
Frank acidity, notes of citrus and flint, saline finish. Sauvignon, Riesling, Assyrtiko.
Oysters and seafoodFruity and round white
Ripe white fruits, roundness, mellow acidity. The consensual profile around a table.
Fish and poultryAromatic white
Expressive nose of flowers, lychee or spices. Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Muscat.
Spicy food and cheesesFull-bodied & woody white
Oak aging: vanilla, hazelnut, creamy texture. Age-worthy Chardonnay.
Dishes in sauceSweet and dessert wine
Residual sugars, aromatic richness. Loire Chenin, Jurançon, Sauternes.
Foie gras and dessertsOrganic & sulfite-free
Organic or biodynamic farming, no or minimal added sulfites.
In every profile
White grape varieties in the catalog
The grape variety provides the structure, the climate gives the style. This table cross-references the two.
| Grape variety | Profile | Dominant aromas | Typical pairing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chardonnay | Round with ample | Citrus, butter, hazelnut | Creamed poultry, fish in sauce |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Lively | Boxwood, citrus, passion fruit | Goat cheese, seafood |
| Riesling | Lively | Lemon, green apple, petrol notes | Asian cuisine, fish |
| Chenin Blanc | Lively to mellow | Quince, honey, chamomile | Poultry, bloomy rind, foie gras |
| Assyrtiko | Lively and saline | Lemon, flint, iodine | Grilled fish, shellfish |
| Viognier | Sufficient | Apricot, white flower | Mild curry, roast chicken |
| Albariño | Lively | White peach, saline note | Seafood, raw fish |
| Gewurztraminer | Aromatic | Lychee, rose, sweet spices | Munster, spicy cuisine |
Which white wine for which dish?
The rule: the wine's acidity must match the fat or iodine in the dish. The richer the dish, the more body the white wine should have.
| The dish | The right profile | The grape varieties | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oysters, shellfish | raw, briny seafood | Lively and saline | Muscadet, Assyrtiko, Albariño |
| Grilled Fish | lean meat, lemon | Lively | Sauvignon, Assyrtiko, Picpoul |
| Fish in sauce, risotto | fat, cream | Full-bodied, sometimes oaky | Chardonnay, Chenin, Viognier |
| Goat cheese | lactic acidity | Vibrant and botanical | Loire Sauvignon |
| Asian cuisine, spicy | sugar, chili, ginger | Aromatic, off-dry | Riesling, Gewürztraminer |
| Creamed poultry | white meat, sauce | Full-bodied and woody | Barrel-aged Chardonnay |
| Appetizer | olives, deli meats | Lively and light | Picpoul, dry Riesling, Albariño |
| Foie gras | bold, sweet-savory | Soft | Loire Chenin, Jurançon |
What we look for in a white wine
A "grand blanc" is not a powerful white wine, it's a tense white wine. Acidity is the backbone; without it, even a very aromatic wine falls flat by the second glass.
This tension is sought where it is natural: Assyrtiko on the volcanic ashes of Santorini, Mosel Riesling, Chenin from Anjou schists, Albariño facing the Atlantic. Fresh terroir wines, often under €20.
Three mistakes we see all the time
Serving too cold. At 4°C, a white wine has no aromas left. Aim for 8-10°C for a crisp white, 11-13°C for a full-bodied white: take it out of the fridge ten minutes beforehand.
Believing that white wines don't age. A Riesling, Chenin, or a terroir-driven Chardonnay can benefit from five to ten years in the bottle.
Confusing dry and acidic. A wine can be dry and round, or slightly sweet and very crisp. Sugar is not the enemy: imbalance is.
The Baroudeur team, Lyon
Everything we're asked about white wine
Which white wine should I choose when I don't know anything about it?
Start with the dish. A simple, iodized dish (oysters, grilled fish) calls for a crisp white wine: Sauvignon, Picpoul, Assyrtiko. A dish with sauce calls for a full-bodied white wine: Chardonnay, Chenin, Viognier. Between €12 and €18, the choice is already very wide.
What is the difference between a dry white and a sweet white?
The amount of sugar remaining in the wine after fermentation. A dry wine contains less than 4 g/l, an off-dry up to 12 g/l, a sweet wine up to 45 g/l, and a dessert wine beyond that. A sweet white wine is not necessarily heavy: the best ones retain a lively acidity that balances the sugar.
At what temperature should white wine be served?
Between 8 and 13°C depending on the style. A crisp, light white is served at 8-10°C, a full-bodied or oak-aged white at 11-13°C. Served too cold, a white wine loses its aromas; this is the most common mistake.
Which white wine with oysters?
A dry, lively, saline white, unoaked: Muscadet sur lie, Picpoul de Pinet, Santorini Assyrtiko, Albariño. Avoid oaked whites, whose vanilla clashes with the iodine.
Can a white wine age?
Yes, when it has acidity, body, or sugar. Riesling, Chenin, and terroir-driven Chardonnay, as well as dessert wines, improve over five to twenty years. White wines without significant acidity should be drunk within two years.
How long does an open bottle of white wine last?
Three to four days re-corked in the refrigerator. A sweet white wine keeps longer due to its sugar content. Re-cork with the original stopper or a vacuum pump, and remove the bottle from the fridge before serving.