French White Wine: 15 Different Styles, Best Bottles to Try

French white wine is the undisputed gold standard of great whites. They come in a range of styles - from light and fruity to savory and enticingly creamy!

Discover everything about the different French white wine styles in this article, including the best bottles and their investment potential.

The Various Styles of French White Wines (Including Wine Characteristics & Recommendations)

Here are 15 most popular white wines of France:

1. Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a white wine grape native to Burgundy. However, it’s also grown in the Champagne wine region, where it’s used in the making of sparkling wine.

Traditional French Chardonnay is oaked with a creamy texture. This white Burgundy wine is packed with apple, hazelnut, lemon, vanilla, and mushroom notes.

The dry wine is exceptional when paired with pork, chicken, seafood, pasta, and creamy sauces.

Try the 2014 Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseigneres ($9,977) for a taste of one of the best Chardonnay wines.

2. Chablis

Chablis is a wine region in Burgundy that produces an exceptional unoaked 100% Chardonnay wine with the same name.

The Chablis dry wine presents white blossom and zingy citrus aromas with pear and saline notes.

The wine’s crisp acidity and rich minerality make it an ideal companion to chicken and white fish dishes served with creamy sauces.

Discover Chablis with a dry white wine like the 2018 Domaine Francois Raveneau Les Clos ($1,609.)

3. Sauternes

Sauternes is a sweet wine made by blending Semillon white wine grape with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. These wines are made in the celebrated Sauternes appellation in the Bordeaux wine region.

This dessert wine expresses floral, caramel, butterscotch, and fruit notes and pairs well with fruit desserts, cheese, terrines, and foie gras.

The 2010 Chateau d'Yquem ($580) is a popular Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon white Bordeaux wine from Sauternes.

4. Semillon

Semillon is a white grape from Bordeaux usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc to produce fabulous white wines. There are two styles of Semillon:

• Dry Style: This is a light-bodied French wine from Bordeaux with honeysuckle, lemon, and grapefruit flavors.

• Sweet Style: This is a dessert wine from the Sauternes region of Bordeaux with citrus, honey, marmalade, and apricot notes.

Semillon wines pair beautifully with chicken, duck, pork, ham, turkey, and goat cheese.

The 1971 Chateau Caillou ($237) is an excellent Sauternes Semillon wine.

5. Sauvignon Blanc

The Sauvignon Blanc grape from Bordeaux and the Loire Valley produces a dry, medium-bodied white wine. The Pessac Leognan region is known for producing an oaked style of this wine. 

This white Bordeaux wine has a flavor profile of grapefruit, peach, brioche, and butter notes. The palate is a wonderful complement to shellfish, white meat, fish, pasta, cheese, and desserts.

Sample the magic of Sauv Blanc with a bottle of the 2003 Louis-Benjamin - Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Asteroide ($2,303) dry white wine.

6. Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio)

Pinot Gris (also known as Pinot Grigio) is a white grape variety from the French wine region of Burgundy. This white Burgundy wine has refreshing lime, green apple, red grapefruit, and honey notes with hints of smoke and zest.

It pairs well with fish and seafood dishes like ceviche, fresh vegetables, salads, and appetizers.

The 2001 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Altenbourg Quintessence de Grains Nobles ($726) is an exquisite Pinot Gris label.

7. Chassagne-Montrachet

Chassagne-Montrachet is an AOC (appellation d'origine controlee) in Burgundy’s Cote de Beaune region. This appellation produces outstanding Chardonnay wine bottles. 

The flinty Chassagne-Montrachet wines offer a vibrant bouquet of white flowers, acacia, and hazelnuts balanced by honey, pear, and toast notes.

The wines are best enjoyed with chicken, duck, crab, halibut, veal, and herb-rich dishes.

Sample a bottle of the 2015 Domaine Hubert Lamy Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru ($1,532) for the best expression of the Chassagne-Montrachet terroir.

8. Vouvray

Vouvray is a wine region in the Loire Valley, known primarily for its dry Chenin Blanc varietal whites. 

These acidic wines have floral, citrus, almond, hazelnut, and white fruit notes with substantial aging potential.  

Vouvray wines are excellent compliments to pork, fowl, scallops, and cheese.

An exquisite Vouvray wine is the 1997 Domaine Huet Vouvray 'Cuvee Constance' Moelleux ($259.)

9. Meursault Blanc

The Meursault AOC (appellation d'origine controlee) consists of 19 Premier Cru vineyard plots in the Cote de Beaune region. The appellation is notable for its Chardonnay grape plantations.

The Meursault wines are rich and creamy with a refreshing minerality. These age-worthy wines are packed with citrus notes and nutty almond and hazelnut flavors.  

The best foods to pair with Mersault Blanc are seafood, mushrooms, creamy sauces, roast chicken, and turkey.

A bottle of the 2009 Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Meursault Les Narvaux ($9,375) is a hearty Chardonnay from Mersault.

10. Gewurztraminer

Gewurztraminer is a pink-colored grape predominantly grown in the French wine region of Alsace. 

The Gewurztraminer wines from Alsace are complex and range from dry to sweet styles. They have low acidity and high ABV with prominent rose blossom, apricot, pepper, and lychee fruit notes. 

Salmon, trout, duck, Indian cuisine, sweet vegetables, and blue cheese work brilliantly with the Gewurztraminer French white wine.

The 2002 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Altenbourg Selection de Grains Nobles ($307) is a great Gewurztraminer wine.

11. Viognier

Viognier is a white grape variety grown in the northern Rhone region (mostly in the Condrieu and Chateau Grillet appellations.)

The flavor profile of Viognier wines is diverse with tangerine, mango, honeysuckle, vanilla, clove, and nutmeg notes.

You can pair these delectable wines with seafood, roasted meats, salads, cheese, and Asian cuisine.

The 2005 Chateau-Grillet ($466) is an outstanding Viognier wine you can try.

12. Muscat Blanc

Muscat Blanc is a French wine produced in: 

• Languedoc-Roussillon: This region produces light-bodied Muscat Blanc called Muscat de Rivesaltes.  
• Rhone Valley: Here the wine is called Muscat de Beaumes de Venise - a richer and more dense version of Muscat Blanc.

Both wines have a sumptuous palate with orange, apple, peach, honeysuckle, and vanilla notes. 

The wine is best paired with dried fruits, nuts, cheese, spicy cuisine, and chocolate.

The 2012 Domaine Gauby La Roque Blanc ($95) is a mesmerizing Muscat Blanc wine.

13. Muscadet

Muscadet wine is produced in the Loire Valley of France using the Melon de Bourgogne grape varietal. 

Muscadet wines are lean and dry with savory notes of quince, green mango, lime, and seashell. The best food pairings for them include oysters, shrimp, lobster, crab, and scallops.

A good Muscadet French wine is the 2018 Domaine de Bellevue Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Gaia Cuvee Ovoide ($40.)

14. Chenin Blanc

The Chenin Blanc grape varietal is used to produce three wine styles - dry, sweet, and sparkling wine. 

The grape is mostly grown in the French Loire Valley and the wines have an opulent nose of white peach and honeysuckle offset by lemon, chamomile, and pear flavors. 

Chenin Blanc wines pair well with salads, rich fish, creamy chicken dishes, cheese, and desserts. 

A great Chenin Blanc to try is the 1990 Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 'Goutte d'Or' ($557.)

15. Sancerre

Sancerre is a Loire valley appellation known for its stunning dry Sauvignon Blanc wines. 

The Sancerre wines are a unique expression of the region’s rich terroir. They offer opulent white fruit, citrus, and herbal flavors. Serve a glass of Sancerre with Japanese cuisine, poultry, pork, seafood, and salads. 

The 2008 Edmond Vatan Sancerre Clos la Neore ($541) is an exceptional Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc.

Besides these, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Ugni Blanc, and Grenache Blanc are a few other famous French white wines.

Investing in French White Wines

Many French white wines are coveted investment-grade labels. France boasts a wide selection of Grand Cru, Premier Cru, and other exceptional whites, which are highly valued in the secondary market and at auctions.

These wines appreciate in value over time. For instance, between 2020 and 2021. The 2011 Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru value shot up by over 284%, from $6,074 to $23,368. 

You’ll also find many French white wines at global auctions. For example, at Sotheby’s:

• In 2021, a 4-bottle lot of the 1994 Montrachet Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was sold for $32,500.

• In 2020, an 11-bottle assorted lot of Bourgogne Chardonnay from J.F. Coche-Dury was sold for $2,700.

French White Wines: The Wine World’s Creme de la Creme 

With a range of outstanding labels, there are French white wines available for every discerning palate! 

Get hold of these excellent wines and mesmerize your guests at the next get-together.

If you wish to build a portfolio of collectible French whites, check out the Vinovest website. It helps you buy, store, and sell fine wine bottles from around the world.