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.
Chappaz - White Blend 2022
A Valais white wine with a strong terroir, combining alpine freshness, mineral precision and aromatic indulgence.
Chappaz - Grain Cinq 2023
A Valais white wine of terroir, taut and precise, where alpine freshness meets the depth of the Fully hillsides.
Chappaz - Grain Arvine de Fully 2023
A crystalline and saline Arvine from Fully, where alpine freshness meets remarkable aromatic depth.
Chappaz - Fendant Coteaux de Plamont 2023
A precise and saline Fendant from the hillside, which finely expresses the minerality of the Plamont terraces.
Chappaz - Fendant La Liaudisaz 2024
A Fendant of the terroir, precise and saline, which finely expresses the freshness of the hillsides of Fully.
Felton Road - Block 2 Chardonnay 2023
A Chardonnay with a precise and saline terroir, where the purity of the fruit meets the depth of Bannockburn.
Felton Road - Bannockburn Chardonnay 2023
A precise and vibrant Chardonnay from Bannockburn, where the purity of the fruit meets a chiseled minerality.
Felton Road - Bannockburn Riesling 2024
A precise and crystalline Bannockburn Riesling, where sharp freshness meets the purity of the Central Otago terroir.
Cullen - Kevin John Chardonnay 2023
A precise and saline biodynamic Chardonnay from Margaret River, where the purity of the fruit meets an elegant woody complexity.
Grosset - Springvale Riesling 2023
A chiseled and vibrant Clare Valley Riesling, where the purity of the fruit meets a precise minerality.
Vino pH - Palomino Piekenierskloof 2022
A high-altitude South African palomino, saline and precise, which subtly reveals the unique character of Piekenierskloof.
Damascene - Semillon 2022
A precise and saline South African Semillon, where freshness meets the depth of the coastal terroir.
Damascene - Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch 2022
A precise and vibrant Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch, where the richness of the fruit meets a saline freshness and a beautiful depth of terroir.
Damascene - Chenin Blanc Swartland 2022
A precise and saline Chenin Blanc from old vines in Swartland, where freshness meets remarkable depth.
Simcic Marjan - Opoka Cru Sauvignon Vert 2019
A Sauvignon Vert of the terroir, ample and saline, which precisely expresses the minerality of the opoka of Goriška Brda.
Antonio Madeira - Old Vines White 2023
A white wine from old vines in the Dão, chiseled and saline, which precisely expresses the granitic freshness of the Serra da Estrela.
Dario di Vaira - Le Pinete 2023
A refreshing, marine Tuscan white wine, driven by the purity of the fruit and a beautiful saline tension.
Gini - Contrada Salvarenza Soave 2021
A great Soave from old vines, combining mineral intensity, aromatic precision and saline length.
Gini - La Frosca Soave 2023
A Soave Classico from volcanic terroir, precise, saline and intensely expressive.
Gini - Garganega Soave 2024
A precise and crystalline Soave, carried by the purity of the Garganega and the energy of the volcanic soils.
Zoltan Demeter - Veres Furmint 2021
A dry Furmint from Tokaj, precise and mineral, which expresses with tension and elegance the depth of the volcanic soils of Mád.
Zoltan Demeter - Szerelmi Tokaji 2017
A precise and vibrant Tokaji of the terroir, where rich liqueur-like texture is combined with crystalline freshness.
Petrakopoulos - Old Vineyards 2023
A precise and saline white from Cephalonia, where Robola brilliantly expresses the freshness and minerality of the Ionian terroir.
Petrakopoulos - Lefko 2023
A taut and saline Ionian white, which precisely expresses the maritime freshness and purity of the terroirs of Cephalonia.
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.