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!

Clotilde Davenne, Cotes d'Auxerre Blanc, 2023

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Clotilde Davenne, Cotes d'Auxerre Blanc, 2023

From one parcel of 65 year old Chardonnay vines on Kimmeridgian and Portlandian soils near St...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeCLO823

GrapeChardonnay

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Clotilde Davenne, Bourgogne Aligote 2023

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Clotilde Davenne, Bourgogne Aligote 2023

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

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeCLO623

GrapeAligoté

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L'Estabel, Languedoc Blanc, Grand Cuvee Comtesse, 2024

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L'Estabel, Languedoc Blanc, Grand Cuvee Comtesse, 2024
L'Estabel, Languedoc Blanc, Grand Cuvee Comtesse, 2024

Another winner from the team at L’Estabel - this blends Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc,...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc-Roussillon

ColourWhite

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeLES124

GrapeGrenache Blanc & Clairette

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Kalian Bernasse, Monbazillac, France, 2017

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Kalian Bernasse, Monbazillac, France, 2017

Organically farmed and certified; from grapes picked in several passages through the Griaud...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionSouth-West

ColourWhite

ABV13%

Bottle75cl

CodeKAL1217

GrapeSemillon & Muscadelle

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Kalian Bernasse, Monbazillac, France, 2022 Half Bottle

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Kalian Bernasse, Monbazillac, France, 2022 Half Bottle

Organically farmed and certified; from grapes picked in several passages through the Griaud...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionSouth-West

ColourWhite

ABV13%

Half Bottle37.5cl

CodeKAL122

GrapeSemillon & Muscadelle

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Château de la Liquiere, Faugeres,  Amandiers Blanc, 2024

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Château de la Liquiere, Faugeres, Amandiers Blanc, 2024
Château de la Liquiere, Faugeres, Amandiers Blanc, 2024

Energetic blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Rolle. Fun and fruity...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionLanguedoc-Roussillon

ColourWhite

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeLIQ624

GrapeRoussanne, Granache Blanc & Marsanne

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Les Chapelieres, Comte Tolosan, IGP, 2024

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Les Chapelieres, Comte Tolosan, IGP, 2024

An easy drinking blend from south-west France of 70% fruity Colombard and 30% crisp Ugni Blanc,...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionSouth-West

ColourWhite

ABV11%

Bottle75cl

CodeAGW324

GrapeColombard & Ugni Blanc

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Domaine d'Elise, Petit Chablis, 2023

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Domaine d'Elise, Petit Chablis, 2023

Why have we worked with Elise for 23 straight vintages? Because this is a benchmark, far better...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV12%

Bottle75cl

CodeELS123

GrapeChardonnay

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Cherrier Père et fils, Sancerre, 2023

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Cherrier Père et fils, Sancerre, 2023

Sancerre has seen unfortunate price rises after several years of low yields, but the white...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionLoire

ColourWhite

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeROS123

GrapeSauvignon Blanc

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Jean-Luc & Bruno Meyer, Gewurztraminer, 2023

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Jean-Luc & Bruno Meyer, Gewurztraminer, 2023

A perfect balance between rose-petal aromatics, exotic fruit and spice. Full bodied, off-dry...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionAlsace

ColourWhite

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeMEY323

GrapeGewurztraminer

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Domaine Fourrey, Chablis, 2022

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Domaine Fourrey, Chablis, 2022

Scent of citrus – but actually fruitier than one expects, with a ripe red apple note....

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionBurgundy

ColourWhite

ABV12.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeFRR122

GrapeChardonnay

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Jean-Luc Meyer, Pinot Gris, 2023

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Jean-Luc Meyer, Pinot Gris, 2023

Northerly Alsace appears an unlikely home for organic cultivation, but the vineyards lie in the...

Style

Dry > Sweet

OriginFrance

RegionAlsace

ColourWhite

ABV13.5%

Bottle75cl

CodeMEY223

GrapePinot Gris

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