White wine
482 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.
Nik Weis - Urban Riesling 2019
A pure and crisp Riesling from the Moselle Valley
Catena - Alta Chardonnay 2020
A generous and complex Chardonnay, from high vineyards in Argentina
Château Sainte Michelle - Dry Riesling 2020
A Riesling with intense flavors from Washington State
Moric Project Villa Tolnay - Hidden Treasures No. 3 2020
A high-end partnership between a Hungarian estate and a talented Austrian winemaker.
Dorrance - Kama 2024
A Chenin full of elegance with seductive mineral notes
Fuerza Natural - Sémillon 2021
A fresh and vibrant Sémillon from southern Chile, aged in century-old amphorae
Balassa - Tokaji Furmint Betsek 2023
A wine with a volcanic character from Betsek, bringing tension, complexity and finesse
Thistle & Weed - Khakibos 2021
A unique blend of 5 white grape varieties, found in the four corners of Cape Town
Magpie Estate - The Last Stand Chardonnay 2023
A lively and lively Chardonnay from South Australia!
Alheit Vineyards - Hemelrand Vine Garden 2023
An extraordinary white wine, made using the most natural extraction of the fruit.
Domaine des Tourelles - White 2021
Incredible freshness, a creamy juice with rich floral and exotic scents.
Paulus Wine Co - Bosberaad Chenin Blanc 2022
An extraordinary white wine, made using the most natural extraction of the fruit.
Groot Constantia - Gouverneurs Reserve White 2024
The great white vintage from the Groot Constantia estate!
Kabola - Malvasia 2021
An organic Croatian white wine made with finesse and lightness.
Etchart - Torrontes 2024
High altitude grape variety that grows only in Argentina, exuberant with fruit and freshness!
Tarapaca - Late Harvest 2022
A very nice late harvest from a blend of 5 white grape varieties!
Raphael Palacios - Louro 2018
A wonderfully crafted expression of the Godello grape: ripe, elegant, balanced and refreshing.
MMAD - Chenin Blanc 2023
A Chenin Blanc from an old vineyard from 1939
Matias Riccitelli - On Calcareous Soils Chardonnay 2023
A high altitude Argentinian Chardonnay combining purity, freshness and complexity.
Revancha - Chenin First Rematch 2020
Intense and expressive of its terroir, this Chenin blanc from Argentina will surprise you!
Lantides - Little Ark White 2019
A fine and refreshing wine from southern Greece, with exotic and mineral notes
Bodegas Tobia - Daimon White Selection 2018
A complex, round and delicious Rioja white that offers you a journey full of flavors.
Vassilis Vaîmakis - Mater Natura Muscat of Alexandria 2021
A white wine from the volcanic island of Limnos with a saline and mineral character
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.
62 bouteillesFruity and round white
Ripe white fruits, roundness, mellow acidity. The consensual profile around a table.
154 bouteillesAromatic white
Expressive nose of flowers, lychee or spices. Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Muscat.
45 bouteillesFull-bodied & woody white
Oak aging: vanilla, hazelnut, creamy texture. Age-worthy Chardonnay.
39 bouteillesSweet and dessert wine
Residual sugars, aromatic richness. Loire Chenin, Jurançon, Sauternes.
33 bouteillesOrganic & sulfite-free
Organic or biodynamic farming, no or minimal added sulfites.
186 bouteilles
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 | Standard agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.