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.
House of Arras - Grand Vintage 2013
A great sparkling wine from Tasmania, combining maritime freshness, complexity and depth.
House of Arras - A by Arras Premium Cuvée
A precise and elegant Tasmanian sparkling wine, combining maritime freshness and the complexity of a great vintage.
Henschke - Julius Riesling 2024
A Riesling from Eden Valley of great purity, taut and crystalline, marked by freshness and aromatic precision.
Henschke - Peggy's Hill Riesling 2024
A chiseled and vibrant Riesling from Eden Valley, combining aromatic purity and refreshing tension.
Gomez Cruzado - Montes Obarenes 2021
A great white Rioja combining Atlantic freshness, mineral depth and precision in aging.
Gomez Cruzado - Rioja Blanco 2022
A precise and elegant white Rioja, where the freshness of the fruit meets the depth of the high-altitude terroirs.
Dreissigacker - Organic Riesling 2022
An organic Riesling from Rheinhessen, pure and crystalline, where freshness combines with remarkable mineral precision.
Axel Pauly - Purist Riesling 2024
A crystalline, straightforward and saline Moselle Riesling, which expresses the purity of the schist and the freshness of the Moselle.
Axel Pauly - Helden Riesling 2022
A precise and taut Moselle Riesling, where the minerality of the schist meets the purity of the fruit.
Axel Pauly - Generations Riesling 2022
A precise and crystalline Moselle Riesling, where freshness combines with a beautiful mineral intensity.
Axel Pauly - Lieserer Niederburg-Helden Riesling Auslese 2021
An Auslese from Moselle combining intense indulgence, fruit purity and crystalline freshness.
Axel Pauly - Pinot Blanc 2021
A precise and vibrant Pinot Blanc from Mosel, where the freshness of the fruit meets a chiseled minerality.
Axel Pauly - Lieserer Niederburg-Helden Riesling Kabinett 2022
A precise and crystalline Kabinett de Mosel, where the freshness of Riesling meets the indulgence of a gentle lightness.
Arcana - Arcana Semillon 2021
A precise and luminous Chilean Sémillon, where freshness meets a beautiful aromatic depth.
Paul Cluver - Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2021
A precise and vibrant South African sweet wine, where the richness of botrytis is balanced by a crystalline acidity.
Winery of Good Hope - Unoaked Chardonnay 2023
A pure, unoaked South African Chardonnay, combining coastal freshness, vibrant fruit and crystalline precision.
Jordan Estate - Chardonnay Nine Yards 2023
A precise, ample and chiseled South African Chardonnay that finely expresses the best granite slopes of Stellenbosch.
Jordan Estate - Chenin Blanc Chameleon 2023
A precise and vibrant South African Chenin, which combines coastal freshness and aromatic intensity.
Scions of Sinai - Chenin Blanc Granietsen 2023
A chiseled South African Chenin, carried by the maritime freshness and granite purity of Stellenbosch.
Gonzalo Guzman - Alba de Los Andes Albariño 2022
A finely crafted Albarino, with lemony, vegetal and mineral flavors.
Garcés Silva - Bo-Ya Sauvignon Blanc 2023
A taut Sauvignon Blanc, with aromas of citrus and sea spray.
Caelum - Eclat Extra Brut 2017
A refined high-altitude sparkling wine, combining freshness, complexity and elegance in an ethereal harmony
Malma - Rara Review Pinot Noir 2021
The high-end Chardonnay, from ungrafted vines, offering all the complexity of the Patagonian terroir
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.