The World’s Leading White Wine Brands: Best Wines, Prices (2024)

by Anthony Zhang

White wines offer a zingy freshness that can brighten your weekend brunch, date night, or even a quiet evening at home.

But, you may be stumped by the stunning array of brands available today - from all parts of the world.

In short, choosing the best wine brand can be super-tricky!

In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 white wine brands and their prominent labels. We’ll also share the best foods to complement these delicious wines.

10 Exceptional White Wine Brands And Bottles To Buy In 2024

Here are 10 notable white wine brands that produce some of the best labels in the world:

Chateau d'Yquem (Bordeaux, France)
Maison M. Chapoutier (Rhone Valley, France)
Maison Trimbach (Alsace, France)
Henri Bourgeois (Sancerre, France)
Josko Gravner ( Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy)
Maculan (Veneto, Italy)
Cakebread Cellars (Napa Valley, United States)
Weingut Dr. Burklin-Wolf (Pfalz, Germany)
Leeuwin Estate (Margaret River, Australia)
Cloudy Bay Vineyards (Marlborough, New Zealand)

1. Chateau d'Yquem (Bordeaux, France)

Chateau d’Yquem is a prominent sweet white wine producer in Sauternes, Bordeaux. The 113-hectare estate has crafted late harvest wines since the 16th century.

The terroir favors noble rot and is perfect for sweet wine production. The primary grape varietals are Semillon (75%) and Sauvignon Blanc (25%.)

The estate only harvests fully botrytized grapes leading to low yields (900 liters per hectare.) The harvested grapes are pressed three to four times to produce aromatic wines with concentrated and sweet flavors.

Fermentation is done in new oak barrels, followed by aging for 6 to 8 months before blending.

Best Wines:

2019 Chateau d'Yquem ($536): This French wine boasts an intense caramel nose, vibrant acidity, a tropical fruit, and a white peach flavor.
2010 Chateau d'Yquem 'Y' Ygrec ($272): Here’s a dry Sauvignon Blanc wine with a citrus bouquet and pear tasting notes.

2. Maison M. Chapoutier (Rhone Valley, France)

Maison M. Chapoutier is a family-owned Rhone Valley producer known for its Hermitage red and white wines. Besides grape cultivation, the estate began producing and selling wines in 1879.

Outside Hermitage, Chapoutier also owns vineyard plots in Cote Rotie, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and Condrieu in France.

The white wines of the estate are Marsanne and Roussanne blends. The winery also produces a small amount of unrefined wines from organically grown grapes.

Best Wines:

2010 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Vin de Paille ($366): This is one of the sweeter wines made from Marsanne grapes. A delicious apricot flavor balances the honey and mushroom aromas.
2016 M. Chapoutier Ermitage de l'Oree Blanc ($278): Here’s a pale gold French wine with vibrant acidity, a vanilla nose, and rich peach and butter notes.

3. Maison Trimbach (Alsace, France)

Maison Trimbach is one of Alsace’s oldest wineries, with a winemaking heritage dating back to 1626. The estate is located in Ribeauville, surrounded by the Vosges Mountains, and has limestone-rich vineyard soils.

Trimbach specializes in producing dry, age-worthy Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Moscato, Sylvaner, Gewurztraminer, and the Pinot Noir red wine. The winery also releases a sparkling wine style of Pinot Blanc.

Some Trimbach vintages are used to craft prestigious Vendages Tardives, Selection de Grains Nobles, and Eaux-de-Vie labels.

Best Wines:

2005 F E Trimbach Riesling Clos Sainte Hune ($351): This is a fresh Riesling wine with stone fruit aromas in a delectable green apple and lime palate.
2008 F E Trimbach Gewurztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles Hors Choix ($187): Here we have a refreshing dry white wine that presents addictive lychee, tropical fruit, and citrus flavors.

4. Henri Bourgeois (Sancerre, France)

Henri Bourgeois is a renowned Loire Valley wine producer located in the Chavignol village in Sancerre. The estate was established in the 1960s and now owns vineyards spread across 72 hectares.

Since the 1980s, the winery has followed eco-friendly viticulture and winemaking techniques. Its wines are aged on their lees before bottling to enhance their texture and tasting notes.

Besides the signature Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc white and Pinot Noir red wine, Henri Bourgeois produces:

Sauvignon Blanc blends from the Quincy, Menetou-Salon, and Côteaux du Giennois appellations
A Pinot Noir wine from Menetou-Salon
A Pinot Noir – Gamay blend from Chateaumeillant
A Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir Rose from the Val de Loire IGP appellation

Best Wines:

2002 Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Le Chene Saint-Etienne Blanc ($94): This dry white wine presents lemon, stone fruit aromas in a green apple and peach palate.
2008 Henri Bourgeois Vendange de la Saint Charles ($73): Here’s a delicate wine with crisp acidity, intense pear, andyellow fruit notes.

5. Josko Gravner ( Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy)

Joska Gravner is a pioneer of the modern orange wine movement.

The estate owns 15-hectare wine-growing plots and is located in the Collio Goriziano region in northeastern Italy. Though Ribolla is the dominant grape, Gravner also produces the Pignolo, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay grape varietals.

Gravner wines are fermented for six months in large, imported amphorae (qvevri) buried in underground cellars. Fermentation is followed by a 6-month maceration period when the wines are left on the lees.

They are then aged in oak barrels for three years.

Best Wines:

1992 Gravner Sauvignon Collio ($251): Here we have a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc with floral hints and a zesty fruit flavor.
2006 Gravner Ribolla Venezia Giulia IGT ($111): The wine presents a nutty nose with fiery almond and tree fruit notes.

6. Maculan (Veneto, Italy)

Maculan is a family-owned winery founded by Giovanni Maculan in 1947. The 40-hectare estate is located in the Veneto wine region at the Dolomite Mountain foothills.

The vineyards have volcanic loam soil and are planted with the Sauvignon Blanc white grape variety. Chardonnay, Marzemino, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Moscato, Tai, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are also grown here.

Maculan is known for its sweeter wines. These include:

Torcolato: A wine made from dried, botrytis-affected Vespaiola grapes
Dindarello: A sweet, white wine produced from the Moscato grape
Acininobili: Another Maculan wine crafted from botrytis-affected Vespaiola
Madoro: A red sweet wine blend of Marzemino and Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Wines:

2009 Maculan Acininobili Veneto IGT ($115): Here’s a straw yellow colored dessert wine with honey aromas and an exotic fruit flavor.
2008 Maculan Dolce Torcolato Breganze ($82): This lush and balanced dessert wine bottle offers caramel undertones and delicious apricot flavors.

7. Cakebread Cellars (Napa Valley, United States)

Cakebread Cellars is a leading, family-owned Californian winery located in Rutherford, Napa Valley. It was founded by Jack and Dolores Cakebread in 1973 and became Napa Green Certified in 2008.

The estate spans 15 hectares and produces flavorful American Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Besides its flagship labels, Cakebread also makes a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.

The cellars produce about 175,000 cases of wine every year.

In Walla Walla, Washington, Mullan Road Cellars is Cakebread's secondary label producing red Bordeaux-style Cabernet blends.

Best Wines:

2016 Cakebread Cellars Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc ($86): This 2016 vintage wine bottle has an aromatic citrus nose offset by pear and peach notes.
2013 Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay ($53): Unlike the unoaked Chardonnay wine style, this complex and rich American Chardonnay has a creamy mouthfeel with oak hints on the palate.

8. Weingut Dr. Burklin-Wolf (Pfalz, Germany)

Weingut Dr. Burklin-Wolf is one of Germany’s largest family-run wineries located in Pfalz. Bernhard Burklin founded the estate in 1597. Its vineyards are classified as Grand Cru and Premier Cru.

The estate is a leading producer of the Riesling white grape variety in Germany.

Its vine plantations cover 85 hectares, and the estate follows biodynamic viticulture. The winery produces diverse styles of Riesling from its reputed Forst, Wachenheim, Ruppertsberg Gaisbohl, and Deidesheim vineyard plots.

The wines are fermented with natural yeasts and aged in old oak barrels. The estate’s annual production is about 40,000 cases of eclectic Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Scheurebe, and red blend wines.

Best Wines:

1998 Dr. Burklin-Wolf Muskateller Trockenbeerenauslese ($1,511): This sweet wine boasts a honey and nut aroma in a delectable almond and ripe fruit palate.
2007 Dr. Burklin-Wolf Forster Kirchenstuck Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese ($331): The wine has apricot and baked apple aromas balanced by white peach flavors.

9. Leeuwin Estate (Margaret River, Australia)

Leeuwin Estate is a prominent Australian winery located in the Margaret River district. Ranch owners Denis and Tricia Horgan established the estate in the 1970s with 50 hectares of vine plantations.

Leeuwin is renowned for its Art Series Chardonnay wine but also releases a diverse portfolio of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. A commissioned artist does the label for each vintage wine.

The winery also produces youthful, fruity wines under its Prelude Vineyards and Siblings labels.

Best Wines:

2006 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay ($171): This oaked Chardonnay bottle presents spicy oak aromas in a delicious pear and hazelnut palate.
2015 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Sauvignon Blanc - Semillon ($27): Here we have a dry wine with vibrant acidity, citrus, lychee, and sherbet tasting notes.

10. Cloudy Bay Vineyards (Marlborough, New Zealand)

Cloudy Bay is New Zealand’s most renowned wine producer, located in the Marlborough wine region.

David Hohnen established the estate in 1985, which now owns four vineyards in the Wairau Valley. These vineyard plots enjoy a maritime climate with ample sunlight.

The winery also buys grapes from nine other vineyards in the Wairau Valley.

The Te Koko is Cloudy Bay’s distinctive, savory Sauvignon Blanc style fermented in oak with wild yeasts.

Sauvignon Blanc is the estate’s flagship wine, but it also produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and a sparkling wine called Pelorus.

Best Wines:

2002 Cloudy Bay Late Harvest Riesling ($115): This bottle opens with hints of intense orange and marmalade. The wine has balanced acidity and tropical fruit notes on the palate.
2020 Cloudy Bay Te Koko Sauvignon Blanc ($62): Here’s a remarkable dry wine with a herb and spice aroma balanced by citrus and grapefruit notes.

Best Food to Pair with White Wines

Here are the best foods to pair with some leading white wines:

Sauvignon Blanc: It works well withgreen vegetables, delicate fish, oysters, and cheese.
Chardonnay: This wine is a perfect companion to roast chicken, halibut, salmon, and grilled seafood.
Gewurztraminer: Duck, chicken, pork, cheese, and roasted vegetables are great choices to complement this white wine.
Semillon: The ideal food to pair with a glass of Semillon isshellfish, veal, chicken, game, blue cheese, and cream sauces.
Riesling: Sweet Riesling is a fantastic companion for desserts and cheesecakes. Dry Riesling is great with shrimp, lobster, herbs, dried fruit, and eggplant.
Moscato: Moscato works well with pork, turkey, crab, bruschetta, Indian curries, and salami.
Grüner Veltliner: The Grüner Veltliner wine is a superb palate cleanser for Austrian dishes, artichoke, and grilled asparagus.

Pick Your Favorite White Wine Brand Today!

A bottle or two of white wine is sure to woo a gathering of wine drinkers or your friends at the next house party. Just pick any of the opulent, crisp, savory, or sweet labels from the white wine brands we suggested above!

Now, if you’re a wine lover looking to build a portfolio of investment-worthy white wines, visit the Vinovest website. It is an excellent platform to buy, store, and sell authentic labels from around the world.