11 Under-Appreciated French White Wines

Ask yourself: how many whites have you tried? If the list ends after Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay, you’re missing hundreds more that are grown around the world, and some of France’s very best bottles. Nestled among the familiar favorites are grapes that don’t always appear on wine lists: some are mainly kept secret by the locals, others have fallen out of favor for more recognizable wines, and still more appear mainly in blends and don’t get the credit they deserve as single varietals. Here we showcase 11 French white wine varieties that will expand your repertoire, enhance your meals, and enrich your travel experience.

Where it’s from: Altesse (also called Roussette) is associated with the French Alpine region of Savoie. Mountains get in the way of vineyards, but the winemakers of the region manage to cultivate enough to satisfy the winter ski crowd and the summer hiking set.

Tasting notes: Altesse gains a honeyed complexity with age. When young it’s fresh, crisp, and mineral-packed. Typical flavors include almonds, herbs, and pineapple.

Try this if you like: Pinot Grigio

Pair it with: Raclette, potato-and-cheese tartiflette, and fondue are regional classics, but this wine can also be a match for shrimp, grilled fish, and salad.

Taste it on: DuVine’s Alps Journey Bike Tour.

Where it’s from: As with Altesse, this wine hails from the French Alps of Savoie—so get a fresh glass!

Tasting notes: Balanced and characteristically low in alcohol, Jacquère has notes of fresh herbs, fruit, and wildflowers.

Try this if you like: Sauvignon Blanc

Pair it with: This is the wine of the après ski crowd, great on its own as an apéro or with snacks like bread, charcuterie, and cheese.

Taste it on: On a cycling journey through the French Alps.

Where it’s from: Roussanne is found mainly in the Rhône Valley of southern France. This grape prefers the light, sun, stone, and hillsides of Provence as much as the visitors who flock there.

Tasting notes: A full-bodied, aromatic wine that offers whiffs of lemon, beeswax, brioche, and apricot.

Try this if you like: Chardonnay

Pair with: Lobster rolls, crab cakes, pâté, duck, or roasted turkey.

Taste it on: Our Provence Bike Tours.

Where it’s from: Ugni Blanc is one of France’s most widely planted white varieties, often used to make Cognac. It’s a wind-sensitive vine, which is why it has found a home in Provence, where the Mistral wind is ferocious and bold.

Tasting notes: Ugni Blanc is fruit-forward, with loads of citrus freshness.

Try this if you like: Albariño

Pair with: Charred veggies, light pasta, and grilled fish.

Taste it on: A DuVine vacation in Provence—especially in lavender season.

Where it’s from: Picpoul de Pinet is a dry white wine cultivated in the Languedoc, a southern region that offers dry, hot summers which the grape enjoys. The name means “lip stinger,” likely due to its bold acidity. Still, modern Picpoul de Pinet is balanced and food-friendly. When grown outside of the appellation, it’s simply called picpoul (or piquepoul).

Tasting notes: Fresh with bursting citrus and green apple. Look for the characteristic green bottle.

Try this if you like: Albariño

Pair with: Grilled seafood, oysters, shellfish, and grilled veggies.

Taste it on: A Pyrenees Journey Bike Tour.

Where it’s from: Chenin Blanc is a hallmark of the Loire Valley and the key to Vouvray wines. It’s produced in a variety of styles and also goes into the region’s treasured late-harvest dessert wines (like Quarts de Chaume and Bonnezeaux).

Tasting notes: This is a versatile wine, but the classic profile is comprised of floral aromatics and generous acidity with yellow apple, honey, and pear flavors.

Try this if you like: Sauvignon Blanc

Pair with: Roasted pork, Asian cuisine, soft cow milk cheese, and goat cheese with herbs.

Taste it on: Your cycling vacation in the Loire Valley.

Where it’s from: Viognier is famously associated with the steeply sloped vineyards of the Northern Rhône Valley, where it is cultivated for single-varietal wines or blends. Viognier is especially prized in the legendary appellation of Condrieu.

Tasting notes: A bodied, highly aromatic wine with notes of jasmine, stone fruit, honeysuckle, and white blossoms.

Pair with: Thanksgiving dinner, grilled scallops, Indian food, and baked brie.

Try this if you like: Dry Riesling or Pinot Gris

Taste it on: A cycling tour of Provence.

Where it’s from: Muscadet, one of the Loire Valley’s iconic wines, is made from Melon de Bourgogne grapes. It’s a dry white named for where grows along the Atlantic coast of Brittany.

Tasting notes: Muscadet has a saline quality with very subtle fruit and restrained acid. If aged on the lees (which will be noted on the label), Muscadet can offer a pleasant, yeasty texture.

Pair with: Any seafood, but especially oysters, shrimp, and mussels—classic gastronomic pairings.

Try this if you like: Pinot Grigio

Taste it on: DuVine’s Loire Valley Bike Tour.

Where it’s from: It may be a surprise to hear that there’s another white wine grape in Burgundy besides Chardonnay! Aligoté is an everyday wine for vintners in Burgundy, with the most famous Aligoté coming from Bouzeron, a village on the Côte Chalonnaise.

Tasting notes: Aligoté offers floral aromatics, balanced citrus, flinty flavors, and satisfying acidity.

Pair with: Vegetables or fish drizzled in olive oil.

Try this if you like: Chardonnay

Taste it on: A cycling holiday in Burgundy.

Where it’s from: Known as Rolle in Provence and Vermentino in Italy and elsewhere, this grape prefers a sunny, Mediterranean climate and is quite at home on the French island of Corsica where locals call it Vermentinu.

Tasting notes: Floral aromatics and crisp citrus acidity give Rolle a mouthwatering freshness.

Pair with: Charcuterie, shrimp, or fresh pasta.

Try this if you like: Sauvignon Blanc

Taste it on: A bike trip to Corsica with DuVine.

Where it’s from: It’s likely you’ve tried Sauvignon Blanc, but until you’ve tried Sancerre (the name of the region, not the grape) from the Loire Valley, you haven’t truly tasted Sauv Blanc.

Tasting notes: While Sancerre has restrained fruity notes—think pear or gooseberry—it’s set apart by a flinty, almost smoky profile and stark acidity.

Try this if you like: Chardonnay from Chablis

Pair with: fromage de chevre (especially the local Crottin de Chavignol), herbed pasta, and shellfish.

Taste it on: A Loire Valley cycling trip.