Our white wines from Bordeaux

White Bordeaux: An Underappreciated World-Class Category

When most wine drinkers think of Bordeaux, they think red. But white Bordeaux — both dry and sweet — represents one of France's finest and most diverse wine categories, producing styles that range from crisp, aromatic everyday bottles to some of the world's most sought-after dessert wines.

Dry White Bordeaux

The Grape Varieties: Dry white Bordeaux is typically a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, with occasional additions of Muscadelle. Sauvignon Blanc provides freshness, citrus fruit, and aromatic lift; Sémillon contributes body, texture, and ageing potential.

Pessac-Léognan is the jewel of dry white Bordeaux. The gravelly soils of this Graves sub-appellation produce whites of extraordinary complexity — mineral, smoky, and rich, with remarkable ageing potential. Châteaux Haut-Brion Blanc and Laville Haut-Brion (now La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc) are among France's most celebrated white wines.

Entre-Deux-Mers produces the everyday face of dry white Bordeaux — fresh, aromatic, citrus-driven wines for early drinking and excellent value.

Bordeaux Blanc — the broad appellation covers a wide range of styles, from simple aromatic whites to more serious, barrel-fermented expressions.

Sweet White Bordeaux

Sauternes is arguably the world's greatest sweet wine region. Noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) concentrates the Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes to extraordinary levels of sweetness and complexity. The finest châteaux — Yquem, Rieussec, Suduiraut, Climens — produce wines of almost immortal longevity.

Barsac is a sub-appellation within Sauternes producing wines of slightly lighter style and greater freshness.

Cadillac, Loupiac, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont — less famous but often excellent sweet whites on the right bank, offering superb value compared to Sauternes.

White Bordeaux Food Pairing