A Guide To French White Wine
French wines can be complicated but at Wine & Beyond, we strive to make shopping French wines easy and exciting. France offers some of the world’s greatest wines with excellent variety and value. Most of the entire renowned grape varietals available today were sourced from France from Cabernet Sauvignon to Sauvignon Blanc.
All French wines are classified and labelled according to the “Appellation d’Origine Controlee” system or “AOC” for short. This system ensures authenticity and that the grapes are grown in the area stated on the label. Usually, the smaller the place where a wine is named from, the higher it’s rank. This pyramid has the levels from highest quality (top) to the lowest.
What are the Varieties of White Wines?
Major varieties of grapes used to produce white wines include:
What are the White Wine Styles?
Not counting sparkling wines (champagne) and very sweet dessert wines, all white wines can be divided into four broad categories:
Fresh & Unoaked White Wines: These white wines are characterized by dryness, crisp acidity, light body, and no oaky flavors or aromas. The fresh, unoaked style of white wine is common with Italian whites and some French whites.
Aromatic, Off-Dry White Wines: Although not sweet like a dessert wine, the off-dry wines also aren't as dry as the other white wine styes. Their second principle characteristic is the presence of strong, intense aromas and flavors that come from the grape variety used to create them. Many German wines, especially Rieslings, are made in this style.
Rich, Oaky White Wines: These white wines are almost the opposite of the previous category. They are characterized by being full bodied, dry, and strong oaky notes from being aged in oak barrels or casks. This is the most common style for Chardonnay and many French white wines, like those from Burgundy. Rich, oaky white wines can be more expensive than other categories.
Earthy White Wines: This style of wine may be lightly oaked or unoaked but it isn't as heavily oaked as the rich, oaky white wine style. These white wines are also fairly dry and full-bodied. The earthy white wine style is common in some regions of France, like the Cotes du Rhone.
All French wines are classified and labelled according to the “Appellation d’Origine Controlee” system or “AOC” for short. This system ensures authenticity and that the grapes are grown in the area stated on the label. Usually, the smaller the place where a wine is named from, the higher it’s rank. This pyramid has the levels from highest quality (top) to the lowest.
What are the Varieties of White Wines?
Major varieties of grapes used to produce white wines include:
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Gewürztraminer
- Muscat
- Pinot Grigio
- Riesling
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
What are the White Wine Styles?
Not counting sparkling wines (champagne) and very sweet dessert wines, all white wines can be divided into four broad categories:
Fresh & Unoaked White Wines: These white wines are characterized by dryness, crisp acidity, light body, and no oaky flavors or aromas. The fresh, unoaked style of white wine is common with Italian whites and some French whites.
Aromatic, Off-Dry White Wines: Although not sweet like a dessert wine, the off-dry wines also aren't as dry as the other white wine styes. Their second principle characteristic is the presence of strong, intense aromas and flavors that come from the grape variety used to create them. Many German wines, especially Rieslings, are made in this style.
Rich, Oaky White Wines: These white wines are almost the opposite of the previous category. They are characterized by being full bodied, dry, and strong oaky notes from being aged in oak barrels or casks. This is the most common style for Chardonnay and many French white wines, like those from Burgundy. Rich, oaky white wines can be more expensive than other categories.
Earthy White Wines: This style of wine may be lightly oaked or unoaked but it isn't as heavily oaked as the rich, oaky white wine style. These white wines are also fairly dry and full-bodied. The earthy white wine style is common in some regions of France, like the Cotes du Rhone.
