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White wine

White wine
1. White wine production

When the harvest arrives in the cellar, the bunches of grapes (white or red) are destemmed, i.e. the seeds are removed from the stalks. The grapes are then crushed. The grapes are lightly crushed to release the juice. They then pass directly into a press.

Then begins the cuvaison, an essential stage in defining the wine's character. The juice from the press is pumped into a settling tank. The must obtained from the press is then placed in a vat for settling. The particles that make the juice cloudy fall to the bottom of the settling tank, and the clear juice is then recovered for transfer to fermentation tanks or barrels.

The vatting period for alcoholic fermentation lasts between two weeks and a month and a half for a dry white wine. It is much longer for a sweet wine, and can extend to several months.

The wine is then matured, except in the case of primeur wines. Before bottling, the wine undergoes a number of operations designed to confirm its qualities and preserve its uniqueness. It may be filtered to give it its full brilliance.

In appellations where several grape varieties are permitted, blending is also an essential part of the wine's life cycle. Next comes bottling, enabling the wine lover to continue ageing in his or her own wine cellar.

2. The case of sweet or syrupy wines

In addition to the longer vatting period, sweet to liqueur-like wines are produced using a variety of methods, which may or may not be combined. These include late harvesting, in which the grapes are left on the vine to concentrate their sugar content under the action of the sun. Passillage hors souche is a technique that consists in evaporating the water from the grapes after harvesting. In certain terroirs, climatic conditions make it possible to obtain noble rot in the grapes. This is the technique used to make Sauternes, Monbazillac and certain Loire Valley wines such as Coteaux du Layon Chaume. Finally, sugar concentration can be achieved by cold pressing. The cooled grapes retain the frozen water flakes within them, releasing only the sweetest juice when pressed. This technique makes it possible to produce sweet wine in regions where climatic conditions would not allow it, but the aromas are modified.

3. White wine grape varieties

There are many different grape varieties used to make white wine. It should be pointed out that the grapes used can be white or red with white flesh, with only the white juice being used to make the wine. Maceration, which gives red wines their color, is not a stage in white wine production. Among the most widely used white grape varieties are Chardonnay B from Burgundy, and Sauvignon B, which is now widely cultivated in France, the USA and South Africa. The vineyards of Alsace use a variety accustomed to harsh climatic conditions: Riesling B. Without being exhaustive, other grape varieties include Chenin B in the Loire Valley, Viognier in the Rhône Valley, Grenache blanc, Sémillon B in the Bordeaux region, Maccabeu B in Spain or in Languedoc and Roussillon, Ugni blanc in Italy... As already mentioned, certain grape varieties with pink or red skins are also used in white winemaking: Gewurztraminer, Pinot noir...

4. White wine regions

The main areas of white wine production are partly a function of consumer habits. In South Africa, Australia and the United States, for example, the consumption of white wine is higher than that of red or rosé. As a result, wine-growing regions are more likely to produce white wine. France, as an exporter, is the exception with a very small white wine consumption, but it also has some very large white wine-producing regions. In addition to Champagne, the Loire Valley, Alsace and Jura produce white wines of excellent reputation. The Bordeaux and Burgundy regions, however, have appellations whose white wines are renowned for their quality: Sauternes, Barsac, Chablis, Meursault...

5. Some legendary white wines

It's undoubtedly the Sauternes wine Château Yquem that figures in the Pantheon of famous wines. This house of excellence goes so far as to sacrifice harvests so as not to damage its reputation, sometimes omitting certain vintages such as 1974 or 1992. However, this is a sweet wine. Among dry whites, there is no such marked supremacy in terms of reputation, but some names often come to mind when one evokes whites of excellence: Château Laville Haut Brion in Pessac-Léognan, Beaune Premier cru Clos des Mouches or Montrachet Marquis Laguiche from Domaine Joseph Drouhin, Château Grillet in the Rhône Valley or La Coulée de Serrant in the Loire Valley.

6. White wine pairings

Once again, pairing white wines is first and foremost a matter of taste and respect for the basic rules, the rest coming from experience and personal choice. However, it's clear that a sweet, syrupy wine will not be appreciated with the same dishes as a dry white wine. The former can be drunk as an aperitif, with foie gras, lobster, blue-veined cheese or certain desserts. Dry white wines are ideal with non-oily, grilled or marinated fish, or white meats. Some white wines can be used as an alternative for certain dishes that are difficult to marry, such as soups, salads or eggs. In this case, dry white wines can be more or less lively, more or less fatty, to compensate for the alteration that certain foods cause on the palate.

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White wine recently presented in private sale on 1jour1vin

Domaine de L'Hortus - Bergerie de L'Hortus blanc 2023

Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5

4.5/5 (2 reviews)

"A sure value in its appellation, a white pleasure that rhymes with elegance and precision".

Notes : Hachette 1*Étoile
"Six grape varieties come together in this fruity, tank-aged white, with a vigorous, floral and exotic nose. Pineapple, peach and apricot come to the fore in a lively palate that's as round as it is fresh, with unmistakable balance and a definite sweetness." (Le Guide Hachette 2025)

Mas des Caprices - Corbières Le Blanc de l'Œuf 2023

Rated 3.5/5Rated 3.5/5Rated 3.5/5Rated 3.5/5Rated 3.5/5

3.5/5 (2 reviews)

"Vinified and matured in an egg-shaped vat, this white is full of length and complexity.

Notes : RVF 93/100
"The sapid bitters on the finish have a northern feel in Corbières Le Blanc de l'Œuf. Radiance and crystalline light emanate from this ambitious cuvée made from the last sorting of grapes from the estate's main plot." (Le Guide RVF 2025). A real treat!

Charles Joguet - Chinon Les Charmes blanc 2021

"A luminous white, for this Chenin of great purity".

Notes: James Suckling 93/100, Bettane & Desseauve 91/100, Robert Parker 90/100
"A superb white Chinon with a subtle nose of spiced apples, dried pears, white flowers and wet stones. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. Dense, concentrated and heavy. Well-balanced and harmonious, with a mineral frame in the center. Wisely structured and charming, with a long finish." (James Suckling 2023).

Domaine de Bonserine - Condrieu Les 3 Lieux 2023

"A dazzling success!

Notes : Jancis Robinson 16/20
"Reserved at first, then peach and apricot aromas emerge. On the palate, the style is more sustained, the fruit is full and fleshy. Slight sparkle on the finish. Just enough freshness. (Jancis Robinson 2024)

Château Suduiraut Sauternes 2013 - 1er Cru Classé

Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5

4.5/5 (2 reviews)

"Phenomenal according to James Suckling & Extraordinary according to Yves Beck!

Notes : Hachette 3*Coup de Coeur, Yves Beck 99/100, Le Figaro 98/100, Bettane & Desseauve 98/100, James Suckling 97/100, The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve 96/100
"Dressed in sparkling gold, this 1ercru classé offers an already assertive bouquet that combines all the assets of a great Sauternes wine. Its sumptuous aromas of candied orange and mirabelle plum jam are underscored by a subtle, refined woodiness. After a dazzling attack, with mineral notes and surprising aromas of marron glacé, the palate asserts itself with its richness and finesse, combining opulence with elegance, with notes of quince, candied orange and melon. A very complete wine, with an assertive classicism, whose concentration guarantees a happy evolution". (Favorite du Guide Hachette des Vins - Edition 2017) - Delivery in wooden case possible for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (depending on country and shipping method selected)

Pierre-Jean Villa - Condrieu Jardin Suspendu 2023

"Tribute to the terraces overlooking the estate

Notes : Jancis Robinson 16/20
"Juicy and balanced, with notes of white fruit and flowers. Medium-bodied, fresh and already ready to drink." (Jancis Robinson 2024). A very fine Condrieu, combining density and elegance. The palate is pure, sapid, with good persistence, finishing with tannins that suggest green tea. Sublime!

Domaine Garon - Condrieu La Vieille Maison 2022

"It will envelop your palate to finish on a pleasant salinity".

Notes: Jeb Dunnuck 92/100
"I continue to love the wines from this estate, and the Condrieu La Vieille Maison 2022 (10% new barrels) is magnificent, with a pure, medium-bodied, elegant style and impressive aromas of honeyed melon, crushed pineapple and minty herbs. It has typical Condrieu minerality, perfect balance and an excellent finish. It has good richness, but it's all about complexity, purity and elegance." (Jeb Dunnuck 2024)

Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2010 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur (37,5cl)

"A prima ballerina of spellbinding delicacy and intensity!"

Notes : Hachette 3*Coup de Coeur, Vert de Vin 99/100, Bettane & Desseauve 98/100, Yves Beck 98/100, Jean-Marc Quarin 98/100, James Suckling 97/100, RVF 97/100
"Golden yellow color. Intense, fine, subtle, noble, fresh and complex nose. A touch of warm butter as it evolves in the glass. Meticulous on the attack, airy in the mid-palate, particularly aromatic, fat and melting, the wine gains a crazy energy between the middle and the finish. It's superb. It's superb. (Jean-Marc Quarin 2021) - Delivery in wooden cases possible for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (depending on country and shipping method selected).

Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2016 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

"A legendary wine rated 100/100 by La RVF!

Notes : RVF 100/100, James Suckling 99/100, Robert Parker 98+/100, Vert de Vin 98/100, Decanter 97/100, Jean-Marc Quarin 97/100, The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve 97/100
"A very classic Yquem. A breathtaking spectrum of floral aromas of honey, exotic fruits (passion fruit, mango and pineapple), caramel and marzipan. But none of this is too much. In fact, the wine is extremely precise and finely nuanced. Wonderful freshness and textural complexity, despite high concentration and extravagance. Very suave, sensual finish that goes on and on. To drink or to keep." (James Suckling 2019) - Delivery in wooden case possible for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (depending on country and shipping method selected)

Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2019 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

"Highly expressive, brilliant and absolutely balanced! ~ Favorite du Guide Hachette "

Notes : Hachette 3*Coup de Coeur, The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve 98/100, RVF 98/100, Decanter 97/100, Yves Beck 97/100, Jean-Marc Quarin 97/100
"Pale yellow color. Intense, fine, subtle, complex, deep and noble nose. This splendid aromatic ambience remains difficult to describe. The palate opens onto a world of airy subtlety. Very complex, silky, crystalline, the wine melts on the palate before offering, oh surprise, the roasted nobility of candied grapes on the finish. Impossible to spit out. (Jean-Marc Quarin 2022) - Delivery in wooden cases possible for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (depending on country and shipping method selected).