French White Wines

France offers the most varied selection of white wines of any country in the world: it’s all in the geography, and the complex matrix of north-south and east-west.

It’s not just a matter of the north being cool and the south hot; it’s the difference between maritime influenced climates to the west and continental climates to the east.

For example, despite being far north Alsace is surprisingly dry - Strasbourg is the second driest city in France after Perpignan! - protected as it is by the Vosges mountains to the west, and enjoys a pretty hot summer. By contrast Bordeaux, right on the bay of Biscay, can be on the receiving end of weather not dissimilar to Cornwall. Then there are regions cooled by proximity to mountains - Jurancon and Limoux, for example, both just north of the Pyrenees; and there’s the really hot zone along the Med in the arc from Marseille to Perpignan.

On the whole each region of France has its own cluster of grape varieties, best suited to its climate and soils: for example the Loire has Sauvignon Blanc grown in the eastern vineyards on calcareous soils, Chenin Blanc in the middle on tufa, and Melon de Bourgogne on the granitic vineyards of Muscadet. Bordeaux has Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon; Burgundy, Chardonnay; and in Alsace there is a bunch of grapes which are also grown in neighbouring Germany and Northern Italy: Pinot Gris (Grigio), Pinot Blanc (Bianco), Gewurtztraminer, plus Riesling. Throughout the Rhône valley, Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon the best results are with grapes able to take the summer heat: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Rolle (Vermentino) and Macabeu. (Where Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are planted in the south the results tend, with few exceptions, to be poor). Then there are all sorts of weird and wonderful white grapes grown in the outlying areas, such as south-west France (Petit and Gros Manseng among others), Savoie and Jura.

When one considers that many of these wines come in unoaked and oaked styles, the diversity is breathtaking!

Billaud-Simon, Chablis 1er Cru, Montee de Tonnerre, 2020

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Billaud-Simon, Chablis 1er Cru, Montee de Tonnerre, 2020

Intense citrus character and minerality on the palate, completed with a little creaminess on...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeBIL320

GrapeChardonnay

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Forges, Chenin de Loire, 2022

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Forges, Chenin de Loire, 2022

We have been buying from Domaine des Forges for over twenty years. They make a terrific range...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionLoire

ColourWhite

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFOR822

GrapeChenin Blanc

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Domaine des Garriguettes, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, Fleur de Lune, 2022

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Domaine des Garriguettes, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, Fleur de Lune, 2022

From approximately 50% Clairette, 40% Grenache Blanc and 10% Viognier, with about 20% of the...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

ColourWhite

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeGAR622

GrapeClairette, Grenache Blanc & Viognier

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Domaine Verzier, Condrieu, Authentic, 2020
Decanter

From a terraced plot named Chante-Perdrix (the singing partridge), “très granitique” as...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionRhone

ColourWhite

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeVER620

GrapeViognier

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Domaine des Crets, Macon-Chardonnay, L'Echenault de Serre 2021

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Domaine des Crets, Macon-Chardonnay, L'Echenault de Serre 2021

From a tiny, organically farmed estate with vineyards over the hills (Crêts being crests) near...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeDDC121

GrapeChardonnay

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Antoine et Laurent Robin, Chablis Grand Cru, Blanchots, 2020

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Antoine et Laurent Robin, Chablis Grand Cru, Blanchots, 2020

Blanchots is the sole south-east facing Grand Cru, giving a longer ripening season – arguably...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeROB620

GrapeChardonnay

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Antoine et Laurent Robin, Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons, 2020

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Antoine et Laurent Robin, Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons, 2020

From four scattered parcels in this large south and south-east facing 1er Cru; vines averaging...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV 13%

Bottle75cl

CodeROB520

GrapeChardonnay

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Lequin-Colin, Bourgogne Chardonnay, Back to the Roots, 2020

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Decanter Jancis Robinson
Lequin-Colin, Bourgogne Chardonnay, Back to the Roots, 2020

"Broad, honeysuckle, clementine and spices on the nose. Juicy fruit, drawing from the...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV 12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeLEQ520

GrapeChardonnay

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Antoine et Laurent Robin, Chablis 2021

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Antoine et Laurent Robin, Chablis 2021

From vines averaging 45 years old (the earliest planted in 1954), on a vineyard facing the 1er...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV 12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeROB221

GrapeChardonnay

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Clos de L’Amandaie, AOP Languedoc, Amandaie Blanc, 2021

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Jancis Robinson
Clos de L’Amandaie, AOP Languedoc, Amandaie Blanc, 2021

From Stéphanie and Philippe Peytavy of Aumelas. Certified organic. 80% Grenache Blanc, 20%...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc

ColourWhite

ABV14%

Bottle75cl

CodeCLA221

GrapeGrenache Blanc & Roussanne

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Clotilde Davenne, Bourgogne Aligote 2022

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Clotilde Davenne, Bourgogne Aligote 2022

A classic, thirst-quenching Aligoté from Kimmeridgian soils full of tiny marine fossils near...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeCLO622

GrapeAligoté

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L'Estabel, Languedoc Blanc, Grand Cuvee Comtesse, 2022

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Jancis Robinson
L'Estabel, Languedoc Blanc, Grand Cuvee Comtesse, 2022

"Gold medal Paris 2023. Blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Rolle and Bourboulenc from...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc-Roussillon

ColourWhite

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeLES122

GrapeGrenache Blanc & Clairette

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