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The grape variety guide white
Discover “Le Guide des Cépages,” a must-have resource for exploring the most popular vine varieties and their unique characteristics, to better understand and appreciate the diversity of the wine world.
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Alicante Bouschet
Alicante Bouschet: Origins and characteristics of this unique grape variety
Alicante Bouschet is a unique red grape variety, famous for its atypical characteristics that set it apart from other varieties. Born of a cross between Grenache and Petit Bouschet in the 19th... Read more -
Aligoté
Aligoté: Origins and Characteristics of This Unique Grape Variety
Aligoté is an iconic white grape variety from the Burgundy vineyards, which, although sometimes underestimated, holds a firmly rooted place in the world of wine. Originating from France, specifically... Read more - Altesse
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Artaban
The Artaban grape… Read more
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Bourboulenc
The Bourboulenc Grape: A Must-Know White Variety from Southern France and the RhĂ´ne Valley
The Bourboulenc is a standout white grape variety from southern France and the RhĂ´ne Valley, highly regarded for its ability to produce fresh and aromatic wines in warm climates. This... Read more
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- Cabernet
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet-Sauvignon
- Caladoc
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Camaralet
The Camaralet, a rare white grape from Southwest France, is a true treasure for lovers of authentic wines. Long forgotten, this ancient grape variety is now returning to the forefront thanks to its exceptional aromatic potential and the dedication of passionate winemakers.... Read more
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Carcajolo
Carcajolo, an ancient and distinctive grape variety, represents the richness of Mediterranean vineyards. Long overshadowed by more popular grapes, this variety offers exceptional aromatic potential that thrives on insular terroirs, particularly in Corsica. Rare and authentic,... Read more
- Carignan
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Carménère
Carménère, a grape variety with a tumultuous history, is today a symbol of revival and authenticity. Originally from Bordeaux and long forgotten, this grape is experiencing a renaissance thanks to its return to French terroirs. Revered for its ability to produce elegant,... Read more
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Chardonnay
Chardonnay: Origins and Characteristics of This Grape Variety
As the second most widely planted white grape variety in the world, Chardonnay is an essential varietal. How did this grape, the source of the most prestigious white Burgundies and the finest Champagnes, manage... Read more - Chenin
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Cinsault
Cinsault: Origins and Characteristics of This Iconic Grape Variety
Cinsault, an emblematic red grape variety of the Mediterranean vineyard, is a cornerstone of red and rosé wine blends in southern France, particularly in the Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, and Rhône Valley... Read more - Colombar
- Counoise
- Courbu
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Egiodola
Egiodola is a discreet red grape variety from southwestern France, known for producing fruity, generous, and colorful wines. Created through agronomic research, this modern grape variety captivates wine lovers with its aromatic richness and smooth structure. Discover the... Read more
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- Fer Servadou (Mansois)
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Gamay
Gamay: Origins and Characteristics of This Iconic Grape Variety
The Gamay grape, an emblematic red variety from the Beaujolais region, is a very ancient grape variety mentioned since the Middle Ages! Primarily planted in France, Gamay is a grape known for its unparalleled... Read more - Gamay
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GewĂĽrztraminer
Gewurztraminer: Origins and Characteristics of This Grape Variety
An emblematic grape variety of Alsace, Gewurztraminer is undoubtedly one of the most aromatic and charming white grapes in France! With its characteristic aromas of rose, spices, and lychee, a glass of... Read more - Grenache Blanc
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Grenache Gris
Grenache Gris is a distinctive grape variety primarily cultivated in Roussillon. A member of the Grenache family, it stands out for its ability to produce complex dry white wines, fruity rosés, and exceptional natural sweet wines. Discover the origins, iconic terroirs,... Read more
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Jacquère
Jacquère: Origins and Characteristics of This Grape Variety
Jacquère is a white grape variety emblematic of Savoie and Bugey. Known for producing fresh, light, and mineral wines, Jacquère is the main grape used to make the famous Savoie wines, particularly in the Apremont and...
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- Loin de l'Oeil
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- Macabeu
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Malbec
Malbec: Origins and Unique Characteristics of This Grape Variety
Malbec, an essential grape variety in Argentina’s renowned red wines from the Mendoza region, is often forgotten as a French red grape variety. Indeed, Malbec originally hails from Southwest France and is also... Read more - Malvasia
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Marsanne
Marsanne: Origins and Characteristics of This Unique Grape Variety
Marsanne, a relatively underplanted yet rapidly expanding white grape variety, deserves a prominent place in the wine world for its uniqueness and the exceptional quality of the wines it produces. Native to... Read more -
Melon de Bourgogne
Melon de Bourgogne: Origins and Unique Characteristics of This Grape Variety
The Melon de Bourgogne, a discreet yet fundamental grape variety in the French wine landscape, is the cornerstone of the renowned Muscadet white wines. This unique white grape variety, contrary to... Read more - Melon de Bourgogne
- Merlot
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Merlot
Merlot: Origins and Characteristics of This Grape Variety
As the most widely planted grape variety in France and the second most planted grape variety in the world, how did Merlot become one of the most iconic red grape varieties globally? Follow our guide to discover... Read more -
Mourvèdre
Mourvèdre: Origins and Characteristics of This Grape Variety
Mourvèdre is a red grape variety emblematic of sun-drenched Mediterranean wine regions. It contributes to the creation of many renowned red and rosé wines, especially in southern France, Spain (where it is known as... Read more -
Muscadelle
Muscadelle: Origins and Characteristics of This Grape Variety
Muscadelle is a white grape variety inseparable from the great sweet wines of Bordeaux and the South-West of France. Although less well-known than SĂ©millon and Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle plays a crucial role in... Read more -
Muscat
Of Greek origin, Muscat grapes have small, firm, juicy white berries that enable the production of rosé and dry white wines. Its wines release aromas of orange, brown sugar, barley sugar and raisins. Read more
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Muscat de Hambourg
Muscat of Hamburg, a red grape variety with white flesh, originated from the cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Frankenthal. This Muscat variety is renowned for its intense aromas and sweet taste, making it a preferred choice for both dessert wine production and table... Read more
- Muscat Ă petits grains
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Nielluccio
Nielluccio (or Niellucciu): Origins and Characteristics of This Grape Variety
Nielluccio, also known as Sangiovese in Italy, is a red grape variety emblematic of Corsica. Often considered one of the island’s oldest and noblest grape varieties, it plays a key role in the... Read more
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- Petit Courbu
- Petit Verdot
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Picardan
Picardan: The Rare and Ancient White Grape Variety of Southern France
Picardan is a rare and ancient white grape variety predominantly cultivated in the south of France. Despite its relative obscurity, it plays a crucial role in the production of renowned wines,... - Picpoul
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Pineau d'Aunis
Pineau d’Aunis: Origins and Characteristics of this Grape Variety
Pineau d’Aunis is an ancient and emblematic red grape variety from the Loire Valley in France, known for producing red and rosé wines with distinctive aromas of pepper and spices. Though less renowned than... -
Pineau d’Aunis
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Pinot Meunier
Pinot Meunier: Origins and Unique Characteristics of this Exceptional Grape Variety
Often overshadowed by its more famous cousins, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier plays a crucial role in the creation of Champagne. This unique grape variety, with its fruity aromas and... Read more -
Pinot blanc
Pinot Blanc: A Versatile Grape Variety
Pinot Blanc is a versatile white grape that produces refined still and sparkling dry white wines. This grape variety is emblematic of the Alsace region, though it originally hails from Burgundy. Although less known than the main... Read more -
Pinot gris
Pinot Gris: Origins and Unique Characteristics of this Noble Grape Variety
A true emblem of the Alsace wine region, Pinot Gris is a noble grape variety with multiple facets. Versatile and highly valued, it is known for its ability to produce a range of wine styles, from dry... Read more - Poulsard
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Riesling
Riesling: Origins and Unique Characteristics of this Iconic Grape Variety
The Riesling grape, emblematic of Alsace, is far from confined to the borders of France. In fact, it is widely grown in Germany and throughout much of Central and Eastern Europe, and today, it is found... Read more - Rolle
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Romorantin
Romorantin: The Unique and Iconic Grape Variety of the Loire Valley
Romorantin is a rare and iconic white grape variety from the Loire Valley in France. Known for producing elegant and refined dry white wines, it is primarily cultivated in the renowned AOC Cour-Cheverny... Read more - Roussanne
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- Sauvignon
- Sauvignon
- Sauvignon Gris
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Savagnin
Savagnin: Origins and Unique Characteristics of this Exceptional Grape Variety
Savagnin is undoubtedly the iconic white grape variety of the Jura region. This unique white grape stands out for its atypical character and its ability to express the rich terroir of the Jura.... Read more -
Sciaccarello
Sciaccarellu: Origins and Unique Characteristics of this Corsican Grape Variety
Sciaccarellu, also known as Sciaccarello, is an emblematic red grape variety of Corsican viticulture. Valued for its delicate aromas and finesse, it is often used to produce elegant red and rosé... Read more - Solaris
- Sylvaner
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Syrah
Syrah: Origins and Unique Characteristics of this Renowned Grape Variety
As the third most planted red grape variety in France and the fourth most planted red grape variety in the world, Syrah is a grape you must get to know! While Syrah is the cornerstone of Northern RhĂ´ne... Read more -
SĂ©millon
SĂ©millon: Origins and Unique Characteristics of this Exceptional Grape Variety
SĂ©millon, a white grape variety with many facets, holds a special place in the hearts of wine enthusiasts. Originating from the Bordeaux region in France, it has become a cornerstone of some of the... Read more
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- Terret Blanc
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Trebbiano
Ugni Blanc: Origins and Characteristics of This Grape
Have you ever heard of Ugni Blanc? If this grape variety doesn’t ring a bell, know that it is simply the most planted white grape in France! Indeed, while it is much less known than Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, Ugni... Read more -
Trousseau
Trousseau: Origins and Unique Characteristics of This Jura Grape Variety
Trousseau is an iconic red grape variety from the Jura region of France, renowned for its fine and spicy wines. Although it may be relatively discreet in the French wine landscape, it offers wines of... Read more
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Vermentino
Vermentino: Origins and Unique Characteristics of This Grape Variety
While Vermentino is a white grape variety primarily cultivated in Italy, it also produces outstanding white wines in southern France. Known as Rolle in Provence and Vermentinu in Corsica, Vermentino is... Read more - Viognier
A white grape is judged on three things: its acidity, which gives freshness, its aromas, discreet or exuberant, and its texture, from taut to rich. That trio is what separates an oyster white from a white for chicken in cream. Six grapes cover most French whites.
The six white grape varieties to know
Chardonnay
The white grape of the great appellations. Not very aromatic by nature, it takes on the taste of its soil and its winemaking: taut and mineral on the limestone of Chablis, buttery and full in the CĂ´te de Beaune, lively and fine in Champagne. Aged in oak, it gives whites that keep for ten years and more.
Sauvignon Blanc
The most recognisable French white. Blackcurrant bud, citrus, cut grass and a flinty edge on the Loire's terroirs. Lively, straight, never heavy. It is the grape of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, of dry white Bordeaux alongside Sémillon, and of many whites from the South West. Best drunk young.
Chenin Blanc
The Loire's grape, and the most complete of all. Dry, it is nervy, with apple, quince and chalk. Off-dry or sweet, it keeps the acidity that stops it feeling heavy. As sparkling wine it makes the crémants and pétillants of Saumur and Vouvray. Its ageing capacity is among the longest of any French white.
Riesling
Alsace's great grape. Dry, taut, with lemon, white flowers and wet stone, plus that characteristic petrol note that comes with age. It is the white of precision, the one that shows its terroir without make-up. It ages remarkably well and also produces late-harvest wines.
Viognier
The most seductive white grape. Apricot, peach, white flowers, a round and oily palate. Born in the northern RhĂ´ne, it has settled in the Languedoc, where it gives generous whites to drink young. It loves fragrant cooking: poultry with sweet spices, fish in a curry sauce, aged goat's cheese.
Gewurztraminer
The most perfumed of the white grapes. Rose, lychee, oriental spice, a full palate and often a little residual sugar. An Alsace grape that resembles no other and that you recognise at the first sniff. With a Munster, Thai food or foie gras, nothing else comes close.
Other white grapes give a region its personality: Melon de Bourgogne, the Muscadet grape, dry and saline; Picpoul from the Languedoc, lively and lemony; Vermentino, called Rolle in Provence, fresh with a slight bitterness; Roussanne and Marsanne from the Rhône, full and honeyed; Pinot Gris from Alsace, smoky and round; Muscat, which smells of fresh grapes; Aligoté, Burgundy's lively white. Each entry in the list above tells you more.
Acidity, the marker that counts
In a white, acidity does what tannins do in a red: it provides the backbone. It brings freshness to the palate, makes you salivate, and it is what allows a white to age. Riesling, Chenin, Sauvignon and Melon de Bourgogne are the liveliest grapes. Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne and Gewurztraminer are rounder, with a richer texture. When you ask for a wine that is "not too acidic", you are asking for the second family.
For serving, a light, lively white is best well chilled, between 8 and 10 °C. A round or oak-aged white is served a little less cold, between 10 and 12 °C, or you lose its aromas. A great white for ageing never goes below 10 °C. Out of the fridge, leave the bottle on the table for ten minutes before pouring.
Which white grape with which dish
Oysters, shellfish and raw fish call for a dry, taut white: Melon de Bourgogne, Picpoul, Riesling or Sauvignon, see our selection of wines for mussels. Fish in sauce or poultry in cream want roundness: Chardonnay or Roussanne. Spiced or Asian dishes and tagines pair with the aromatic whites: Viognier, Gewurztraminer, dry Muscat. Fresh goat's cheese likes Sauvignon, aged goat's cheese Chenin, Munster or blue cheese Gewurztraminer or a sweet Chenin. As an aperitif, a Picpoul, a Melon de Bourgogne or an Aligoté opens the appetite without weighing you down, see our aperitif wines.
Buy a white wine from this grape direct from the winemaker
Every white wine on Avenue des Vins ships from the estate's cellar, with no warehouse in between. That matters for a white, which is more sensitive than a red to heat and light: the winemaker keeps it in the right conditions until you order and sends it to you directly. Look for a wine by grape from the list above, or browse our winemakers by region: Burgundy for Chardonnay and Aligoté, the Rhône for Viognier and Roussanne, Provence for Rolle, the South West for Sauvignon and the Mansengs. Delivery is calculated per winemaker, one parcel per estate.
Frequently asked questions about white grape varieties
Which is the most aromatic white grape?
Gewurztraminer: rose, lychee, spice, recognisable at the first sniff. Then Viognier, with apricot and white flowers, and Muscat, which smells of fresh grapes. Sauvignon Blanc is also highly aromatic, but in a greener, livelier register: blackcurrant bud, citrus, cut grass. At the other end, Chardonnay is almost neutral and takes on the taste of its terroir and its winemaking.
What is the difference between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc?
Chardonnay is a discreet grape shaped by its soil and its ageing: round, sometimes buttery, with white fruit and hazelnut when it goes through oak. Sauvignon is the opposite: highly aromatic, lively, herbaceous and mineral, with citrus and blackcurrant bud, almost never oaked. Both are dry, but one is a white of texture and the other a white of nose and freshness.
Which white grape goes with seafood?
Melon de Bourgogne, the Muscadet grape, and Picpoul are the classics for oysters and mussels: dry, saline, no oak. Riesling and Sauvignon also work well with shellfish and raw fish. For cooked crustaceans, a lobster with butter or prawns in cream, move to a Chardonnay or a Roussanne, which are rounder.
Can a white grape produce a wine for ageing?
Yes, provided it has the acidity to match. Riesling, Chenin, oak-aged Chardonnay and, on its best terroirs, SĂ©millon age for ten years and sometimes much longer. With age they take on notes of beeswax, honey, toasted hazelnut and mushroom. Whites for ageing are less well known than reds, and often more affordable for the same quality. The span depends on the vintage, the estate and your cellar conditions.
Which white grapes are the lightest and freshest?
Melon de Bourgogne, Picpoul, Aligoté and Sauvignon give the liveliest and lightest whites, with bright acidity and moderate alcohol. They are drunk young and well chilled, as an aperitif or with seafood. Vermentino, or Rolle, belongs to the same family, with a small grapefruit bitterness that refreshes.
At what temperature should white wine be served?
A light dry white, Melon de Bourgogne, Riesling, Sauvignon or Picpoul, is served between 8 and 10 °C. An oak-aged Chardonnay, a Viognier or a sweet Chenin between 10 and 12 °C. Below 8 °C the cold numbs the aromas, whatever the grape. For a great white for ageing, stay above 10 °C and use a wide glass.
Which white wine should I choose as a gift?
A grape that impresses without being complicated. An Alsace Riesling or a dry Loire Chenin for someone who likes taut whites. A Burgundy Chardonnay as the safe choice. A Viognier or a Gewurztraminer for someone who loves perfumed wines. A wine bought direct from the winemaker has an extra advantage as a gift: it comes with an estate, a face and a story, not just a label.