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.
Noelia Bebelia - Soberbioso 2023
A broad, taut Albariño from Soutomaior, shaped by the Atlantic and oak.
Noelia Bebelia - Albariño 2025
A precise, luminous Atlantic Albariño. The freshness of the Verdugo in the glass.
Notas Frutales - Finca Garabelos
A terroir Albariño, broad and precise. Galician freshness with lovely depth.
Notas Frutales - La Trucha Barrica
An Albariño with character, where Atlantic freshness meets the finesse of oak.
Notas Frutales - La Trucha
A fresh, saline Galician Albariño, carried by vibrant fruit. A natural partner for flavours of the sea.
Vinyes d’Olivardots - Vd'O 6 Cariñena Blanca 2023
A great white from Empordà, rare and deeply mineral. Cariñena Blanca in a pure, finely chiselled reading.
Vinyes d’Olivardots - Blanc de Gresa 2022
A broad, saline white from Empordà, where old vines meet Mediterranean brightness.
Vinyes d’Olivardots - Groc d’Amfora 2025
A white from Empordà with saline freshness, shaped by the amphora. A singular expression of Catalan grape varieties.
Arizcuren - Monte Gatún blanc 2024
A broad, fresh mountain Viura, carried by precise ageing.
Cuentaviñas - Arriscado 2022
A terroir-driven white Rioja, taut and deeply mineral.
Jose Gil - El Calado del Espino
An old-vine Viura, deep and finely chiselled. White Rioja in a mineral, gastronomic expression.
Silice Viticultores - Xabrega
A granite white, at once broad, saline and deeply Galician.
Silice Viticultores - Silice 2023
A Galician white with depth, between saline freshness and smoky richness.
Axel Pauly - Lieserer Niederburg-Helden Riesling Auslese 375ml 2021
A Mosel Auslese where the sweetness of the fruit meets crystalline freshness.
Axel Pauly - Lieserer Niederburg-Helden Riesling Kabinett 2022
An airy, fruity and chiselled Mosel Kabinett. Fine sweetness meets the energy of slate.
Storm - Vrede Chardonnay 2024
A terroir Chardonnay, at once broad, lemony and deeply mineral.
Simcic Marjan - Opoka Cru Ribolla 2019
A cru Ribolla, deep and saline. Macerated texture meets a very clear-cut mineral freshness.
Benanti - Etna Bianco 2025
A precise, saline volcanic white. All the freshness of Carricante on Etna.
Nanclares y Prieto - Nanclares 2022
An Albariño with character, made taut by the Atlantic. Saline, textured and luminous.
Emmerich Knoll - Vinothekfüllung Riesling 2024
A great Wachau Riesling, powerful and chiselled. Ripe fruit meets persistent saline minerality.
Emmerich Knoll - Ried Loibenberg Riesling 2024
A great terroir Riesling, broad and chiselled. The warmth of the Loibenberg meets deep minerality.
Bodegas Menade - Nosso 2021
A natural Verdejo, generous and lively, off the beaten track of Rueda.
David & Nadia - Chenin blanc 2022
A Swartland Chenin that is at once generous, taut and mineral. The precision of old vines in the glass.
David & Nadia - Aristargos 2022
A great white from the Swartland, textured and deeply saline. Rich fruit meets remarkable tension.
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.