White wine
515 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.
Joh Jos Prüm - Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2022
A great Mosel Riesling, pure and crystalline, where the finesse of the sugar is balanced by a vibrant minerality.
Joh Jos Prüm - Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese 2022
A magnificent Mosel Riesling, combining refined sweetness, crystalline tension, and profound minerality.
Joh Jos Prüm - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese 2022
A superb Mosel Riesling, pure and crystalline, where controlled sweetness meets vibrant freshness.
Joh Jos Prüm - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett 2022
A great Mosel Riesling, pure and crystalline, where the finesse of the sugar combines with vibrant mineral tension.
Joh Jos Prüm - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Gold Capsule 2018
A Mosel Auslese combining aromatic intensity, controlled sweetness and crystalline freshness.
Joh Jos Prüm - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 2023
A great Moselle Riesling, combining refined sweetness, vibrant freshness, and mineral purity.
Joh Jos Prüm - Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese 2022
A precise and crystalline Moselle Riesling, where controlled sweetness meets vibrant mineral freshness.
Joh Jos Prüm - Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 2023
A Mosel Riesling of great purity, combining crystalline freshness, controlled sweetness, and mineral depth.
Joh Jos Prüm - Graacher Himmelreich Auslese 2022
A great Moselle Riesling, combining crystalline purity, controlled sweetness, and remarkable mineral tension.
Joh Jos Prüm - G. Himmelreich A. Goldkap 2022
A magnificent Moselle Riesling, pure and crystalline, where the finesse of the slate meets perfectly balanced sweetness.
Joh Jos Prüm - Bernkasteler Badstube Kabinett 2023
A precise and crystalline Moselle Riesling, where the finesse of the Bernkasteler Badstube terroir shines through.
Dr. Loosen - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Dry GG AR 2022
A great dry Mosel Riesling, precise, crystalline, and deeply mineral, from the mythical Wehlener Sonnenuhr hillside.
Dr Loosen - Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2023
A magnificent Moselle Riesling, combining crystalline purity, controlled sweetness, and vibrant mineral energy.
Dr Loosen - Urziger Wurzgarten Dry GG AR 2022
A great dry Mosel Riesling, precise, spicy, and deeply mineral, from the spectacular Urziger Würzgarten hillside.
Dr. Loosen - Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett 2024
An airy and precise Moselle Riesling, where the gourmet fruit meets vibrant minerality.
Dr Loosen - Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese 2023
A Moselle Riesling that is both intense and ethereal, where sweetness marries a vibrant freshness.
Dr Loosen - Kinheimer Rosenberg Trocken GG 2023
A dry Mosel Riesling with precise minerality, combining aromatic purity and a mouth-watering finish.
Dr Loosen - Graacher Domprobst Dry GG 2023
A dry Moselle terroir Riesling, precise and mineral, combining aromatic intensity and great finesse on the palate.
Dr Loosen - Erdener Treppchen Kabinett 2024
A precise and ethereal Mosel Riesling, where delicate sweetness meets crystalline freshness.
Dr Loosen - Erdener Treppchen Auslese 2024
A Mosel Auslese combining refined sweetness, crystalline tension and the mineral purity of the red slate from Erdener Treppchen.
Dr Loosen - Beerenauslese 2018
A Mosel Riesling Beerenauslese of great purity, where the luscious richness is balanced by a vibrant acidity.
Haynes - Corazon 2021
A precise and vibrant Coombsville Chardonnay where freshness, aromatic purity, and textural finesse converge.
Hartenberg - Eleanor Chardonnay 2019
A precise and elegant South African Chardonnay, where the freshness of the Stellenbosch terroir meets a lovely, gourmet richness.
Escarpment - Chardonnay 2020
A precise and vibrant New Zealand Chardonnay, where cool-climate freshness meets lovely textural depth.
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.
Huîtres et fruits de merFruity and round white
Ripe white fruits, roundness, mellow acidity. The consensual profile around a table.
Poissons et volaillesAromatic white
Expressive nose of flowers, lychee or spices. Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Muscat.
Cuisine épicée et fromagesFull-bodied & woody white
Oak aging: vanilla, hazelnut, creamy texture. Age-worthy Chardonnay.
Plats en sauceSweet and dessert wine
Residual sugars, aromatic richness. Loire Chenin, Jurançon, Sauternes.
Foie gras et 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 | 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.