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ALIGOTE
This varietal is quite frequently grown on soils unfit for Chardonnay and is mainly found in Burgundy. This sturdy and hardy plant produces small clusters in big quantities and generally makes medium-quality white wines. |
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CHARDONNAY
Chardonnay is cultivated on 1/4 of Champagne appellation, particularly on Cote des Blancs. When it is not blended, it produces Blanc de Blancs and is also used to make the bests white Burgundy wines. Characterized by reduced yields, it brings elegant and subtle elements to the wine and ensures a very good aging potential. |
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CHASSELAS
The name of this early budding plant comes from a small village in Saone-et-Loire where it was first introduced by Romans via Switzerland. It produces juicy and mellow berries and makes light and fresh wines. |
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CHENIN BLANC
This sturdy and early budding varietal produces medium-sized and cone-shaped clusters. It is mostly grown in Anjou where it makes sweet and sparkling fruity wines which can be aged quite long. |
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FOLLE BLANCHE
Folle Blanche is quite a productive varietal which was originally used to make Armagnac and Cognac. Today it is replaced by Ugni Blanc but is still blended in Gros Plant wines from Nantes wine-region. |
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GEWURZTRAMINER
Gewurztraminer is really typical of Alsace wine region as nowhere else has it been able to produce such subtle and aromatic wines. Its small pink berries are always used to make white wines. It reacts very well to noble rot (botrytis cinerea) and produces great late harvested crops. It makes a very robust and spicy wine the power of which fills your nose and mouth. |
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MUSCADELLE
This varietal is quite rare today but is still grown and used for white Graves and Sauternes wines as it brings a very interesting bouquet quite similar to muscats. However, it is hardly never used on its own. Most of the times, it is blended with other grape varieties. |
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PINOT GRIS
Pinot Gris is also called Alsace Tokay. It produces small bluish berries. It gives out aromas of nuts and dry fruit as well as flowers. However, the bouquet might become too heavy when it is made with too mature grapes. |
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RIESLING
It is certainly the only plant which can rival with Chardonnay for white wine production. These blond berries with small golden stains makes a dry and fruity white wine which can be late harvested on very good years. Riesling wines are fine and elegant with a nice fruity bouquet and quite strong but refined acidity. |
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SAUVIGNON
Sauvignon is one of the oldest French varietal. Yields are usually quite limited but it produces a fruity wine extremely appreciated, especially when it is blended with Semillon. It is of course the renowned varietal used for Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire wines. |
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SEMILLON
Coming originally from Sauternes wine region, this sturdy plant is one of the most frequently cultivated in France. Its ability to catch noble rot makes it the ideal varietal for sweet white wines, especially Sauternes wines. |
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SYLVANER
This Austrian plant was introduced in Alsace wine region in the middle of the 19th century. It is quite resistant and offers high and regular croppings. Vineyards planted with Sylvaner are decreasing but it still remains the first varietal in Alsace where it represents 20% of the vineyard. |
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UGNI BLANC
This plant generally produces very high yields but is unfortunately quite sensitive to frost and wind, which are frequent in many wine-regions such as Bordeaux, Cotes de Provence or Cotes du Rhone. It makes a yellow dry and acid wine which is often used in blended wines as well as in Cognac and Armagnac making. |
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VIOGNIER
This sturdy plant of high quality likes poor soils. It produces small white or amber-colored berries. It is mainly found in Burgundy where it gives a fine and mellow white wine with quite a strongly-perfumed nose. |
