White wine
753 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.
Dreissigacker - Westhofener Aulerde Riesling Auslese 375ml 2015
An Auslese Riesling from Westhofen combining liqueur intensity and crystalline freshness, emblematic of the Aulerde terroir.
Valdrinal - Verdejo Santa Maria 2023
A lively, fragrant Verdejo, pear, white flowers and a hint of fresh herbs.
Gonzalo Guzmán - Alba de Los Andes Albariño 2022
A finely crafted Albarino, with lemony, vegetal and mineral flavors.
Tabalí - Talinay Caliza Chardonnay 2022
A Chardonnay with refreshing acidity and persistent minerality
Glenelly Estate - Glass Collection Unoaked Chardonnay 2022
A Chardonnay embodies the freshness and sunshine of the South African terroir
Aneto - Aneto S Colheita Tardia 2014
A great liqueur that combines complexity, elegance and freshness.
Atamisque - Vicomte de Rochebouet Extra Brut
An Argentinian traditional-method sparkling wine, fresh brioche and white flowers.
Donald Ziraldo - Vin de Glace Vidal 2022
Mango, apricot and honey, an ice wine whose acidity keeps the sweetness from weighing it down.
Francis Ford Coppola - Diamond Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Lime and passion fruit, a Californian Sauvignon that really snaps.
Domaine la Renarde - Crémant de Bourgogne Brut
Green apple, almond and brioche: fine Burgundy bubbles ready for the aperitif.
Domaine de la Roche Aiguë - Meursault Les Clous Blanc 2024
A classic Meursault, white peach, toasted hazelnut and chalk.
Domaine Bonnardot - Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits Blanc "Les Frangines" 2024
A high-altitude Chardonnay, lively in fruit, only lightly touched by oak.
Domaine Bonnardot - Bourgogne Aligoté Blanc 2024
Taut Aligoté, lemon and flint, without an ounce of fat.
Torres - Pazo Das Bruxas Torre Penelas 2022
Albariño from Rías Baixas, with peach and nectarine on a lively, mineral palate.
La Scolca - Gavi dei Gavi Etichetta Nera 2024
La Scolca's black label, a deeper Cortese that benefits from ageing.
Domaine du Mont d’Or - Johannisberg Mont d’Or 2020
Valais Sylvaner in silky attire, pear and white flowers on a chalky background.
Domaine Cachat-Ocquidant - Beaune Mosnières Blanc 2024
Peach and honeysuckle on a round palate: white Beaune just as we like it.
Sine Qua Non - Distenta III White 2021
An exceptional white wine that unfolds an aromatic richness, combining intensity, silky texture and an elegance of rare precision
El Porvenir - Amauta Torrontés 2024
A round and balanced wine, expressing the typicality of Tannat
Grace Wine - Cuvée Misawa Akeno 2021
Domaine Virolys - Viré Clessé Blanc 2024
A Viré-Clessé Chardonnay aged on the lees: pear and peach in a creamy texture.
Gianni Gagliardo - Roero Arneis 2022
Roero Arneis in its straight-lined style: pear, almond and a clean finish.
Cave Saint-Pierre - Fendant Du Valais 2022
A straight, saline Chasselas, green apple, almond: Alpine freshness served without fuss.
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.