The Main White Wine Types of France

Various white wine types hail from France but there are seven main ones and those are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Moscato, Semillon, Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer and Riesling.

Let us take a look at each of those white wine types in more detail:

Sauvignon Blanc

This crisp white wine goes nicely with salads, seafood, and poultry. It is grown in the Bordeaux area and blended with Semillon grapes. Perhaps you have tried a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, as that is also a popular one. A lot of great Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Loire Valley in France. This wine is best from cooler places. Australian Sauvignon Blancs tend to lack fruitiness and be flat and these are grown in warmer regions.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay can be sparkling or still and it was the most popular grape in the 1990s. Pair Chardonnay with chicken or fish recipes. This grape is grown in the French region of Burgundy and it originated there. It is versatile and not difficult to grow. French Chardonnays are full-bodied with strong grapefruit or lemon flavors. Fermenting Chardonnay in new oak barrels gives it a buttery tone, which is comparable to toast, coconut, vanilla or toffee flavors.

Moscato

Moscato, which is not related to Muscadet, is best drunk solo, without any food. This grape is grown in Austria, the Rhone Valley and Italy, as well as France. The wines are sweet and fruity, perhaps with musk or grapefruit flavors. If you have tasted a Moscato table grape, you can imagine how the wine will taste because it is nearly the same.

Semillon

This is the major white grape grown in France's Bordeaux area. Also known as Hunter, Malaga, Columbier, Blanc Doux, and Chevrier, this grape grows well in Australia, California, Chile, and Argentina too. Serve Semillon with mussels, pasta salad, or clams. This wine is frequently blended with Sauvignon Blanc to tone down its rich berry flavors. A lot of Semillon also features a fig flavor.

Pinot Grigio

This wine goes with a wide range of foods. Also known as Pinot Gris, it is planted in the Loire Valley, where it is called Malvoisie. This grape is also grown in some western coastal regions of the US and throughout Italy, especially in the Alto-Adige and Venezia regions. The Pinot Grigio grape is known as Grauer Burgunder or Rulander in Austria and Germany, where it is used to make young white wine types.

Gewurztraminer

This aromatic variety pairs with grilled sausages, pork, or Asian food. It is also grown in Germany, New York, and the west coast of the US. This wine has a good flavor but is not as refreshing as some other white wine types. It often features allspice, peach, lychee and rose flavors.

Riesling

Dry Rieslings are great with chicken, pork, and fish. This grape is also grown in Germany, where they are sweeter with some acid for balance. Eastern US and Alsace Rieslings are usually good - they are just as aromatic but less sweet. Some Rieslings come from California but these are usually not acidic enough to balance out the sweetness. Riesling is lighter than Chardonnay with fresh apple aromas. The exact flavor depends on the winemaking and the district. A fresh Riesling will become nicer if it is left in a wine cellar to age.