White wine
481 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.
Torres - Pazo Das Bruxas Torre Penelas 2022
Albariño des Rías Baixas, pêche et nectarine sur une bouche vive et minérale.
Gianni Gagliardo - Roero Arneis 2022
L'arneis du Roero dans sa version droite, poire, amande et finale nette.
Mont d'Or Estate - Johannisberg Mont d'Or 2020
Le sylvaner valaisan en habit soyeux, poire et fleurs blanches sur fond de craie.
Sylvain Langoureau - Saint Aubin 1er Cru Le Champlot White 2024
Le Champlot en premier cru, minéralité crayeuse, amande et pêche mûre.
Hospice de Beaune - Meursault-Charmes 1er Cru Albert Grivault 2013
Meursault-Charmes en premier cru, la pêche et la noisette dans une bouche onctueuse.
Sine Qua Non - Distenta I 2019
An exquisite wine that captivates the senses with its unique taste profile
Gritsch - Grüner Veltliner cru Setzberg 2017
An elegant white with a perfect balance between tension and minerality
Karl Steininger - Grüner Veltiner “Grand Grü” Reserve 2018
A round, fine and complex white with intense flavors of yellow fruits
Emiliana - Ecobalance Viognier 2019
A biodynamic Viognier, made with pure respect for the environment
Colterenzio - Classic Pinot Grigio 2018
A Pinot Gris from the far north of Italy, round, fresh and elegant!
Matias Riccitelli - The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree - Torrontes 2022
A Torrontes full of minerality and complex on citrus fruits.
Te Mata Estate - Estate Vineyards Chardonnay 2021
Un chardonnay de Hawke's Bay qui joue la richesse crémeuse sans perdre sa tension citronnée.
Simcic Marjan - Classic Ribolla 2022
A Slovenian white wine from organic farming of great finesse!
Dona Paula - Los Cardos Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Agrumes et notes herbacées, un blanc argentin vif à servir bien frais.
Kistler - Les Noisetiers Chardonnay 2022
Un blanc taillé comme les grands Meursault, nez vivifiant, bouche vanillée, texture ample.
Dolce - Late Harvest 2014
Un liquoreux de Napa né sur pourriture noble, abricot confit, miel et caramel.
Calera - Chardonnay 2020
Chardonnay de haute altitude, pomme verte et amande, porté par une minéralité volcanique.
Vite Colte - Moscato Passito "La Bella Estate"
A late harvest Muscat from the famous Asti region
Vesevo - Beneventano Falanghina 2021
A cuvée made from Falanghina, an indigenous grape variety from Campania
Fenech - Maddalena 2020
A unique wine made from Malvasia from the island of Salina
Alheit Vineyards - Fire by Night 2023
A high-class Chenin blanc from old Swartland vines
Matetic & Guillaume Letang - Sierra Grande Sauvignon Blanc 2021
A Sauvignon Blanc expressing the vibrant fruit of Chile's Central Valley combined with the elegance of its mountain terroir.
Barco Del Corneta - Barco Del Corneta Verdejo 2021
A wine full of talent filtered by minimalism and the pure expression of the terroir.
Yarra Yering - Chardonnay 2020
Un Chardonnay australien d’une grande précision, où fraîcheur, tension minérale et élégance s’unissent pour révéler toute la finesse des terroirs frais de la Yarra Valley.
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.