Guide on white wine grape varieties

Aligoté

Aligoté is a medium-fine and fairly productive Burgundy white grape variety that produces clear white wines that are light, fresh and acidic. It releases lemony, acacia, hazelnut and green apple aromas on the palate.

Bourboulenc

This grape variety is primarily grown in the South of France and is harvested over a late period around 25 September. Low in alcohol, these wines release a delicate, flowery and fruity bouquet.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay Originating from Burgundy, Chardonnay enjoys worldwide fame and is used in nearly every wine growing region in France. Its wines are golden in colour and release citrus, dried fruit or brioche aromas.

Chenin

Chenin Hailing from the Loire Valley, enjoying an extreme richness Chenin is used to produce dry, sweet and sparkling wines with complex aromas of yellow fruits, dried fruit, citrus fruit, white flowers and honey.

Clairette

Clairette Typically from the South, Clairette has a particularly juicy flesh that gives body and vitality to an alcoholic and slightly acidic wine. Fennel, apple, lime, apricot and peach are the main aromas distinguishing its wines.

Gewürz-traminer

Gewürztraminer Its German-sounding name comes straight out of Alsace and contrasts with the exotic mango, passionfruit, lychee and pineapple aromas of its wines.

Gros Manseng

Gros Manseng Gros Manseng is grown extensively around Pau (South West France) with vines covering over 2,800 hectares. Although its wines are low in alcohol, it is recognised by its strong candied fruit and spicy flower aromas.

Loin de l'œil

Loin de l'œil Loin de l’oeil (Len de l’ehl in Occitan Toulousan) is a white grape variaty native to Gaillac (South West France) that has large extremely juicy berries bursting with the aromatic richness of apple, pear, exotic fruit, and dried fruit, etc.

Maccabeu

 Native to Catalonia, Macabeu is often associated with other Languedoc-Roussillon AOC wines. It produces dry wines with flowery and fruity aromas.

Malvoisia

Malvasia Hailing from Greece, Malvasia is primarily grown in Roussillon. This grape variety is often associated with Macabeu. Its thick-skinned white berries produce fruity (lychee) and flowery wines.

Marsanne

Originally from Montelimar in Drôme, Marsanne is distinguished by its small juicy berries that produce light, slightly acidic wines with aromas of yellow and white fruit, along with light hints of honey and liquorice.

Melon de Bourgogne

 As its name suggests, this Burgundy grape variety has generous and round leaves, similar to a melon. Its light, iodinated and fresh wines release lemony, grapefruit, green almond, golden delicious apple aromas and hints of aniseed and honey.

Muscadelle

Muscadelle This grape variety originating from Bordeaux is characterised by its fragile and delicate grapes that produce light wines with springtime flavours and honeysuckle and acacia aromas.

Muscat

Muscat Native to Greece, Muscat has small, juicy and firm, white berries that produce rosé and dry white wines. Its wines release orange, brown sugar, barley sugar and raisin aromas.

Petit Courbu

Petit Courbu Petit Courbu (not to be confused with Courbu Blanc) is a grape variety native to the Pyrenees. It has very small berries that produce delicate wines whose tannins provide great finesse. Delicious aromas of honey and lemon are released from its wines.

Rolle or Vermentino

 This grape variety of Turkish origin has been grown in the Languedoc for a very long time. Its wines are light and fresh with aromas of grapefruit, fresh apple, green almond, sweet spices, hawthorn, ripe pear and fresh pineapple.

Romorantin

Grown in Sologne near Blois, its grapes with small, juicy berries produce sweet wines with white flowery, citrus and honey aromas.

Roussanne

Originally from Montélimar, Roussanne is also grown in Languedoc, Savoie and Roussillon. Its wines exude aromas of coffee, honeysuckle, iris and peony.

Sémillon

Native of South West France, Sémillon is primarily used to produce Sauternes wine. Its fine and hardy grape produces rich wines, full of tannins beautifully long on the palate and with aromas of hazelnuts, acacia and honey.

Terret Blanc

Terret Blanc Originating in Languedoc, Terret Blanc has large bunches with medium-sized berries. Its wines are light and fruity with a lovely bouquet of aromas including hints of yellow and citrus fruits.

Ugni Blanc

Ugni Blanc Grown in Cognac, Languedoc, Provence and Corsica, Ugni Blanc, also known as Trebbiano, is one of the most popular grape varieties in France. Poor in aroma, it is mainly used for blending with other grape varieties. It is used to produce dry white wines.

Viognier

Voigner is grown in Northern Côtes du Rhône, and is highly regarded in Portugal, as well as the United States and Australia. Its wines have an extremely varied, floral, fruity and spicy aroma.