White wine
511 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.
Juan Carlos Sancha - Ad Libitum Maturana Blanca 2023
A rare and precise Rioja white, which reveals with purity the singular character of the Maturana Blanca.
Juan Carlos Sancha - Ad Libitum Blanco 2024
A precise and vibrant Rioja white wine from high altitude, which purely reveals the character of the rare Maturana Blanca grape variety.
Gorka Izagirre - G22 2023
A great Basque white wine of Atlantic precision, combining vibrant freshness and mineral depth.
Gorka Izagirre - Hondarrabi Zuri & Zerratia 2024
A precise and saline Basque txakoli, where oceanic freshness meets the aromatic elegance of native grape varieties.
Nanclares y Prieto - Porta Franca 2020
A precise and vibrant Spanish white wine, where the freshness highlights the purity of the Rioja Alavesa terroir.
Nanclares y Prieto - Fogor do Castriño 2020
A precise and saline Atlantic Albariño, where freshness meets a beautiful depth of flavors.
Nanclares y Prieto - La Tinaja de Aranzazu 2021
An Albariño from a jar combining Atlantic tension, ample texture and precise salinity.
Nanclares y Prieto - Paraje Mina 2024
An Albariño from granite terroir, taut and saline, which precisely expresses the Galician Atlantic.
Nanclares and Prieto - Soverribas 2021
A terroir-driven Albariño, taut and saline, where the depth of granite meets Atlantic freshness.
Nanclares y Prieto - O Bocoi Vello 2021
A full-bodied and saline Albariño de Bocoi, where Atlantic freshness meets the depth of great aging on lees.
Nanclares y Prieto - Tempus Vivendi 2024
A precise and saline Atlantic Albariño, where coastal freshness meets the granitic finesse of Rías Baixas.
Nanclares y Prieto - Dandelion 2024
A precise and saline Atlantic Albariño, combining crisp freshness and gourmet depth.
Tomic - Beleca 2022
A bright Dalmatian white wine, combining saline freshness and luscious fruitiness, ideal for enhancing Mediterranean cuisine.
Ott Estate - Ried Rosenberg Feuersbrunn 2021
A terroir-driven Grüner Veltliner, precise and saline, which intensely expresses the loess depth of Wagram.
Ott Estate - Ried Stein Engabrunn 2021
A terroir-driven Grüner Veltliner, precise and saline, which brilliantly expresses the stone and freshness of Engabrunn.
Ott Estate - The Ott 2023
A precise and saline Austrian white, which elegantly expresses the freshness and depth of Wagram.
Emmerich Knoll - Loibner Riesling 2024
A precise and crystalline Wachau Riesling, where the purity of the fruit meets a chiseled minerality.
Emmerich Knoll - Vinothek Filling 2024
A great Riesling from Wachau, precise and mineral, made for aging and gastronomy.
Emmerich Knoll - Ried Schütt 2022
A terroir-driven Grüner Veltliner, precise and profound, where the Wachau expresses itself with intensity and minerality.
Emmerich Knoll - Ried Loibenberg 2024
A terroir-driven Riesling, precise and mineral, which intensely expresses the luminous power of the Ried Loibenberg.
E's Vino - Histeria Sauvignon Blanc from Ánfora 2021
An Argentinian high-altitude Sauvignon Blanc, aged in amphorae, combining aromatic intensity, freshness and depth
Quinta da Romaneira - Reserva White 2022
A great white wine from the Douro, combining mineral freshness, aromatic depth and gastronomic elegance.
Yarra Yering - Warramate Chardonnay 2020
A precise and elegant Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley, where freshness, fruit finesse and controlled oak are harmoniously balanced.
Tyrrell's - Winemakers Selection Vat 47 Chardonnay 2021
An iconic Chardonnay from the Hunter Valley, combining precision, freshness and aromatic 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.