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.
Wittmann - Westhofen Morstein Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2024
The oldest recorded cru of Westhofen as a Grosses Gewächs: a Riesling of rare concentration and tension.
Wittmann - Westhofen Brunnenhäuschen Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2023
A high-altitude Grosses Gewächs, creamy and racy, born on the red soils of the Brunnenhäuschen in Westhofen.
Van Volxem - Scharzhofberger Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2022
A Riesling Grosses Gewächs from the legendary Scharzhofberger, chiselled, saline and of great finesse.
Wittmann - Westhofen Kirchspiel Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2024
A Riesling Grosses Gewächs from Westhofen, fresh and chalky, farmed biodynamically on limestone marls.
Van Volxem - Bockstein Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2022
A Grosses Gewächs from the Ockfener Bockstein, broad and spicy, held taut by the lively acidity of the Saar.
Van Volxem - Wiltinger Riesling 2022
A dry Riesling from the Saar, smoky and saline, born on the volcanic slate of the Wiltingen slopes.
Van Volxem - Schonfels Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2022
A Riesling Grosses Gewächs from the Saar, juicy and concentrated, with scents of stone fruit and alpine meadows.
Birichino - Yount Mill Vineyard Sémillon 2021
An old-vine Sémillon from Napa, chiselled and saline, picked at low ripeness to keep its freshness.
Cono Sur - Bicicleta Chardonnay 2025
An unoaked Chilean Chardonnay, fresh and vibrant, between citrus, white peach and pineapple.
Sine Qua Non - Distenta IV White 2022
An opulent and singular Californian white, with honeyed pineapple, orange blossom and almond, and remarkable tension.
Bousquet - Brut Charmat
An organic high-altitude sparkling wine from Gualtallary, fresh and fruity, with fine bubbles and crisp acidity.
Bousquet - Premium Chardonnay 2025
An organic Chardonnay from the Uco Valley, unoaked, fresh and fruity, between exotic fruit and green apple.
Santa Rita - Floresta Chardonnay 2022
A Chardonnay from Limarí on limestone soils, creamy and saline, between citrus, exotic fruit and hazelnut.
Santa Rita - Medalla Real Chardonnay 2022
A creamy, fresh Chilean Chardonnay, between citrus, ripe fruit and a buttery touch, kept taut by its acidity.
Chateau Montelena - Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022
Calistoga's emblematic Chardonnay, pure and intense, between yellow fruit, citrus and orange blossom.
DuMOL - Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
A coastal Chardonnay from Sonoma, vibrant and chiselled, with notes of citrus, sweet herbs and jasmine.
DuMOL - Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay 2023
A Chardonnay from Carneros of rare complexity, between flint, stone fruit and honey.
DuMOL - Wester Reach Chardonnay 2023
A Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley, taut and deep, between citrus, white flowers and oyster shell.
Staglin Family Vineyard - Estate Chardonnay 2021
A Chardonnay from Rutherford, powerful and chiselled, between flint, citrus blossom and spiced honey.
Sonoma-Cutrer - Les Pierres Chardonnay 2022
A single-vineyard Chardonnay grown on cobbles, chiselled by citrus and a chalk-and-slate minerality.
Sonoma-Cutrer - The Cutrer Chardonnay 2023
A single-vineyard Chardonnay, rich and velvety, between white fruit, nougat and toasted hazelnuts.
Sonoma-Cutrer - Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2024
A Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley, lively and floral, with bright fruit and a saline touch.
Sonoma-Cutrer - Russian River Ranches Chardonnay 2023
A Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast, generous and fresh, between pear, crisp apple and a touch of oak.
Kosta Browne - One Sixteen Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2022
A Chardonnay from the coolest sectors of the Russian River Valley, round, precise and with captivating acidity.
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.