White wine
527 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.
Niepoort - Redoma White 2019
Intense, mineral and precise, this white offers all the guarantees of a great vintage.
Te Mata Estate - Sauvignon Blanc 2022
With its exotic notes and freshness, this New Zealand Sauvignon is a delight.
Mount Pleasant - Elizabeth 2016
An Australian Sémillon emblematic of its region: finesse, acidity and minerality are essential.
Montecrocetta - Recioto di Gambellara "Passitaia" 2005
A Recioto di Gambellara of great richness, where concentration is balanced by remarkable freshness
Benanti - Pietra Marina 2020
A large, white volcanic wine from Etna, taut, saline and deeply mineral.
E's Vino - Chardonnay 2024
A Chardonnay from the high-altitude terroirs of Gualtallary, combining tension and minerality
Tyrrell's - Winemakers Selection Vat 1 Semillon Landmark Release 2009
An emblematic Semillon from Hunter Valley, of great purity, combining chiseled freshness and remarkable aging potential.
In Situ - Chardonnay Reserva 2024
A round and smooth Chardonnay from Aconcagua
El Porvenir - Alto de Los Cuises Chardonnay 2022
A round and balanced wine, expressing the typicality of Tannat
Caelum - Fiano Gran Reserva 2020
Mediterranean brilliance in Andean terroir, combining freshness, complexity and timeless refinement
El Porvenir - Torrontés Laborum de Parcela 2023
An intense and mineral wine, expressing all the typicality of Torrontes
Holdvölgy - Exaltation 2015
A late harvest that enhances the Muscat à petits grains in the prestigious volcanic terroir of Tokaj
Savage Wines - Never been asked to Dance 2024
A superb Chenin Blanc from old vines planted in 1956
Matias Riccitelli - Old Vine From Patagonia Chenin Blanc 2024
A high-flying Patagonian wine, made from old Chenin Blanc vines
Aneto - Ines 2022
A sweet white wine, produced with balance and finesse.
Ravines - Riesling Dry 2020
A dry and racy Riesling from the Finger Lakes region
Domaine du Four Bassot - Mercurey Le Crêt Blanc 2022
Poire, pêche et pierre à fusil : un Mercurey blanc taillé par le calcaire du Crêt.
Domaine la Renarde - Rully Les Plantenays White 2023
Un blanc crémeux du Chalonnais, fleurs de printemps et noisette grillée.
Domaine Dubois - Côtes de Nuits Villages Les Monts de Boncourt White 2022
Pierre à fusil et citron confit, un blanc structuré signé Côtes de Nuits.
The Sadie Family - Skerpioen 2024
Chenin et palomino co-pressés à deux kilomètres de l'Atlantique, salins jusqu'en finale.
Matias Riccitelli - Old Vine From Patagonia Torrontes 2024
A high-end Patagonian wine, made from old Torrontes vines
The Sadie Family - Skurfberg Chenin 2024
Chenin de vignes centenaires du Skurfberg, entre richesse aromatique et tension saline.
Paso Primero - Paso Primero White 2019
A lovely white wine from Northern Spain, from vineyards at the foot of the Pyrenees
Kistler - Les Noisetiers Chardonnay 2019
La signature bourguignonne de Kistler appliquée au chardonnay californien, profondeur et vivacité.
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.