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.
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.
Garcés Silva - Bo-Ya Sauvignon Blanc 2023
A taut Sauvignon Blanc, with aromas of citrus and sea spray.
In Situ - VSE Classic Chardonnay 2023
A typical Chardonnay from Aconcagua
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
Caelum - Fiano Terroir 2024
A 100% fresh, mineral Fiano enhanced by the purity of the high altitudes of Mendoza.
Holdvölgy - Expression 2019
A 100% Hárslevelű from the historic Betsek vintage in Tokaji
Holdvölgy - Meditation 2021
A 100% Furmint from the historic Király vintage in Tokaji
Holdvölgy - Vision 2019
A wine that embodies the purity and finesse of the dry Tokaji style.
Holdvölgy - Hold and Hollo Sweet 2019
A wine that illustrates the modernity and finesse of Hungarian sweet wines
Tabali - Talinay Chardonnay 2022
A Chardonnay that is both vibrant and smooth
Ott - AM Berg Grüner Veltliner 2023
A white wine that perfectly embodies the revival of great Austrian white wines: terroir, precision and elegance.
Tabali - Talinay - Sauvignon Blanc 2021
An elegant and mineral Sauvignon Blanc, with aromas of spring flowers and citrus fruits
The Sadie Family - Kokerboom 2024
Kokerboom is a living memory of South African Sémillon: a rare and vibrant wine born from the heights of the Cederberg
Glenelly Estate - Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2022
Chardonnay de Stellenbosch fermenté en fûts de 500 litres, coing et zeste de citron vert.
Tetramythos - Natural Sauvignon blanc 2023
A high-altitude Sauvignon Blanc combining depth and aromatic intensity
Dona Paula - Los Cardos Chardonnay 2020
Chardonnay vif de Mendoza, agrumes et fruits exotiques, à boire bien frais.
Aneto - Aneto S Late Harvest 2014
A great liqueur that combines complexity, elegance and freshness.
Etchart - Late Harvest Torrontes 2024
Late-harvest Torrontés, lychee and honey, for dessert or spicy food.
Cave des Amandiers - Cuvée Safran 2011
Noble-rot grapes, thirteen years in wood, candied fruit and honey for a rare sweet wine.
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.