Best French White Wine Types
This French wine region is located in the Loire Valley (Touraine district), and it is known for the production of varietal white wines that are predominantly produced from Chenin Blanc. Although the appellation also includes sparkling and dessert wines, Vouvray is mostly known for their crisp dry wines (sec).
These wines are characterized by their straw yellow color, vibrant acidity, and complex aromas that typically include floral, citrus, and white fruit notes. Dry Vouvray wines have excellent aging potential. With age, they evolve, but remain fresh, aromatic, and lively, while their aromas may develop into ripe white fruit, almonds, and hazelnuts.
Gewurztraminer is a pink-skinned grape that produces some of the most aromatic and complex white wines in the world. The exact origin of Gewurztraminer is hard to trace, but the grape is related to Traminer family that is cultivated across Europe, and although Gewurztraminer has shown success in Germany, Austria, Australia, Washington and California, the French Alsace region remains its foreground.
Alsace produces varietals that are rich and typically deeply colored, often low in acidity and high in alcohol with exotic aromas of lychee and rose petals. Their character and the body heavily depends on the terroir and ripeness of the grapes, and they may range from dry to off-dry and sweet styles.
THE BEST Gewurztraminer d'Alsace Wine Varieties

Weingut Hans Wirsching
Iphöfer Kalb Gewürztraminer Trockenbeerenauslese
Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold 2022

Weingut Ökonomierat Petgen-Dahm
Petgen-Dahm Gewürztraminer-Sekt b.A. "Les deux dames" klassische Flaschengärung
Asia Wine Trophy - Grand Gold 2017
This late-harvest dessert wine of Bordeaux is predominantly made with Sémillon, the region's rare golden-skinned white grapes affected by noble rot, though the blends often include Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The appellations may include Sauternes, Barsac, Cérons, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, Cadillac, Loupiac, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, and Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire.
In general, Sauternes wines exhibit pronounced notes of fruit, butterscotch, caramel, and spices, along with floral notes coming from the Muscadelle grapes. Noted for their full body and freshness, Sauternes wines pair nicely with soft cheeses, blue cheeses, washed rind cheeses, terrines, foie gras, and various fruit-based desserts.
THE BEST Sauternes Wine Appellations
Riesling is an aromatic white grape native to Germany. It is a terroir-driven wine known for its versatile character and intense aroma, usually reminiscent of citrus, petroleum, and white flowers. In Alsace, Riesling is one of the main varieties.
Although the grape is often associated with sweeter styles, most of the examples coming from Alsace are bone dry. Riesling from Alsace can slightly vary in character, from leaner to more opulent, flavor-packed expressions, but it is generally complex, richly flavored, and high in acidity.
THE BEST Alsace Riesling Wine Varieties
Chablis is the name of the wine region in northern Burgundy, but it is also the name of a white wine coming from this very region. Chablis is made with 100% Chardonnay, but unlike other Chardonnay wines, it rarely utilizes oak-aging, resulting in different taste profile and style.
It has white flower and citrus aromas with light-bodied and dry flavors of pear, salinity, and minerality. Among the most desirable traits of Chablis is a long finish of flint-like minerality and high acidity, which makes the wine exceptionally well for pairing with creamy sauces, chicken, trout, bass, quail, clams, cod, halibut, or scallops.
Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio and Grauburgunder, is a white grape variety whose origins are believed to be in Burgundy, but the grape has shown amazing potential in Alsace—the region with which it is mostly associated nowadays.
In Alsace, Pinot Gris is considered a noble grape. In the past, it was mistakenly related with Hungarian Tokaj, and it was often called Tokaj d'Alsace. The wines made from Pinot Gris considerably differ in character than those found in other wine-growing regions.
Viognier is a grape variety with unclear origins that found its home in the northern Rhône, where it has been cultivated for centuries. It is best known as the single varietal used in the Condrieu appellation, though it is also used as a blending variety in Côte-Rôtie.
The grape makes heavily perfumed, mostly full-bodied wines whose character may range from light to rich and creamy. Typical flavors found in most Viognier wines include peach and apricots, while the aromas may range from lighter expressions of stone fruit, honeysuckle, and spring blossom to heartier notes of vanilla and spices.
Meursault is a French appellation located around the namesake village in Côte de Beaune (Côte-d’Or) region of Burgundy. The appellation consists of nineteen premier cru vineyards that produce some of the best expressions of Chardonnay grapes.
Although there are subtle differences in style, depending on the location, Meursault wines are typically rich, buttery, and creamy, while remaining fresh. They can usually age well, and they often display nutty flavors and aromas of toasted almonds and hazelnuts, as well as citrus, floral and mineral nuances.
Chenin Blanc is a grape variety grown in the Loire valley of France, from where it spread to South Africa and became popular as Steen. Due to its versatility, it comes in a few varieties, such as bubbly, dry, or sweet. The dry version of Chenin Blanc from the Loire has a good aging potential with its assertive acids and typical honey, apple, pear, and quince aromas while the great Loire Chenins are the sweet wines of Vouvray, Bonnezeaux, Coteaux du Layon, and Quarts de Chaume.
Depending on the style and character, Chenin Blanc wines can match a variety of dishes, while dry styles may accompany poultry, pork, fish, terrines or pâtes, sweeter versions would be a good match to desserts, Asian cuisine, cheese, and creamy sauces.
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine is the best-known region of the Muscadet appellation. The region is also one of the largest in terms of production and size. It spreads across twenty communes in the Loire-Atlantique department. The name is a reference to the two rivers that flow through the area, Sèvre Nantaise and Maine.
All the wines are produced from Melon de Bourgogne variety. The entire region is focused on the production of dry white wines and sur lie (aged on lees) styles. The wines are quite versatile and terroir-driven. They include floral, fruity, and mineral examples.
Best French White Wine Producers
AWARDS

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2023, 2022, 2019, 2018
BEST Les Grands Vins de Pazac Wines
AWARDS

Berlin Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2023, 2022, 2018

Portugal Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2023, 2022

Asia Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2022
BEST Les Vignobles du Rivesaltais Wines
Château d'Yquem is one of the most renowned wineries in the world, located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux, France. It is famous for producing some of the finest sweet wines, particularly those made from the Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grape varieties.
The estate's wines are primarily known for their exceptional quality, complexity, and aging potential.
AWARDS

James Suckling - 100 points
2024

Falstaff - 100
BEST Château d'Yquem Wines
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2024

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024, 2021, 2019, 2017

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2021, 2018, 2016
BEST Champagne Charles Heidsieck Wines
Champagne Taittinger is a distinguished family-owned Champagne house headquartered in Reims, France. Its origins date back to 1734 when it was founded by Jacques Fourneaux. The Taittinger family became associated with the house in 1932 when Pierre Taittinger acquired the estate, including the historic Château de la Marquetterie.
The Taittinger estate encompasses approximately 288 hectares of vineyards, making it one of the largest in the Champagne region. Notably, the house is renowned for its high proportion of Chardonnay in its blends, contributing to the signature elegance and finesse of its Champagnes.
AWARDS

James Suckling - 99 points
2024

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2024, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017

International Wine Challenge - IWC Champion Sparkling Wine 2020 - Daniel Thibault Trophy
2020
Château Palmer is one of the most celebrated estates in the Margaux appellation in Bordeaux, renowned for producing rich and opulent wines with exceptional longevity. The 55 hectare estate is characterised by its mixture of fine and sandy gravels, together with clay soils.
The key grape varieties are old vine Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, all farmed biodynamically, resulting in superbly elegant, velvety wines with a wonderful capacity to age and evolve in bottle.
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2019

Falstaff - 100

Falstaff - 99
BEST Château Palmer Wines
AWARDS

Wine Spectator - 96
2022

Falstaff - 100
BEST Château de Beaucastel Wines
AWARDS

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2024, 2023, 2022

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2019
BEST Champagne Vignon Pere et Fils Wines
Maison Louis Latour is a distinguished family-owned winery in Burgundy, France, with a history dating back to 1797. The Latour family's involvement in viticulture began even earlier, in 1731, with their first vineyard acquisition in the Côte de Beaune.
In 1832, Maison Louis Latour constructed the Corton Grancey Cuverie in Aloxe-Corton, the first purpose-built winery in France. Ingeniously designed over five levels into a hillside, it utilizes gravity for the winemaking process, minimizing the need for pumps and preserving the wine's integrity.
AWARDS

James Suckling - 99 points
2024

USA Wine Ratings - Gold
2021

Wine Spectator - 95
2021
BEST Maison Louis Latour Wines
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2019

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024, 2017
BEST Gabriel Meffre Wines
Best French White Wines
AWARDS

Berlin Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2023, 2022, 2018

Portugal Wine Trophy - Grand Gold
2023, 2022
AWARDS

International Wine Challenge - IWC Great Value Champion White 2022
2022

International Wine Challenge - IWC Great Value Champion White 2021
2021
AWARDS

Frankfurt International Trophy - Grand Gold
2022, 2019
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2022
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2023
AWARDS

International Wine Challenge - IWC Champion White Wine 2023
2023
AWARDS

International Wine Challenge - IWC Great Value Champion Sparkling 2023
2023
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2020

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