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.
Weingut Bründlmayer - G. V. Kamptal Terrassen 2024
A terrace-grown Grüner Veltliner, lively and peppery, where fruit meets fine mineral tension.
Villa Oliveira - Encruzado 2019
A deep, chiselled Encruzado from the Dão, between rich texture and granite freshness.
Villa Oliveira - 2e Edição NV
A deep, taut white from the Dão, carried by the granite freshness of the Serra da Estrela.
Schloss Johannisberg - Silberlack Trocken GG 2023
A great dry Riesling from the Rheingau: deep, saline and intensely chiselled.
Schloss Johannisberg - Rosalack Auslese 2021
A smooth, chiselled Riesling Auslese, where rich fruit meets the freshness of the Rheingau.
Schloss Johannisberg - Purpurlack BA (37.5cl) 2023
A sumptuous Riesling Beerenauslese, where the richness of candied fruit meets chiselled freshness.
Schloss Johannisberg - Grünlack Spätlese 2022
A medium-sweet, vibrant Riesling, where the sweetness of the fruit meets the mineral brilliance of the Rheingau.
Schloss Johannisberg - Goldlack Trocken 2020
A broad, taut Rheingau Riesling, where ripe fruit meets a saline finish.
Schloss Johannisberg - Gelblack Trocken 2024
A dry Rheingau Riesling, vibrant and mineral, with a freshness made for the table.
Schloss Johannisberg - Bronzelack Trocken 2021
A dry Riesling from the Rheingau, taut and luminous, where fruit meets saline minerality.
Schloss Johannisberg - Blaulack TBA (37.5cl) 2020
A sweet, concentrated Riesling, carried by remarkable mineral freshness.
Quinta da Carolina - Xis Branco 2021
A fresh, mineral white from the Douro, carried by luminous fruit.
Portal del Priorat - Trossos Sants 2019
An ample, saline white from Priorat, where ripe fruit meets the minerality of schist.
Planeta - Etna Bianco - Contrada Taccione 2023
A volcanic Carricante, chiselled and saline, born on the northern slopes of Etna.
Planeta - Eruzione 1614 Carricante 2022
A precise, saline volcanic Carricante, carried by the freshness of Etna.
Planeta - Chardonnay 2023
A great Sicilian Chardonnay, sun-drenched and precise, between creamy richness and maritime freshness.
Oremus - Late Harvest 2023
Luminous Tokaj sweetness, balanced by vibrant freshness.
Oremus - Eszencia 2013
A Tokaj essence of rare concentration, carried by luminous freshness.
Oremus - Dry Petracs 2021
A dry Furmint from Tokaj, chiselled and saline, where freshness meets volcanic depth.
Oremus - Aszu 5 puttonyos 2018
A luminous Tokaji Aszú, where the richness of candied fruit meets finely chiselled freshness.
Oremus - Aszu 3 puttonyos 2018
A luminous Tokaji Aszú, where the sweetness of candied fruit meets vibrant freshness.
Moss Wood - Chardonnay 2022
A great Margaret River Chardonnay, at once sunny, taut and deeply elegant.
Mac Forbes - GI Spring Riesling 2021
A lively, delicate high-altitude Riesling, between fruity brightness, floral finesse and mineral tension.
Torres - Clos Ancestral Blanco 2022
A white made from old Spanish varieties, pear and flowers on a clean 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.