The aperitif is the privileged moment for the French to relax and share with loved ones. And what could be better than a tasty white wine to accompany these generous convivial moments?! The latter lends itself perfectly to consumption before a meal thanks to its freshness as well as its ability to appetize.
As you probably know, the wine regions of France are full of white wines that can ideally accompany this moment of life.Let's explore them.but first, let's identify the qualities of a good white wine for an aperitif!
The qualities of a good white wine for an aperitif
Although it is essential to identify your personal tastes in order to ideally select the cuvée or cuvées that will accompany your aperitif, it is preferable, in the vast majority of cases, to go for a white wine with a rather light and refreshing profile. For what ? It's quite simple! The aperitif preceding the meal, it is necessary not to start the evening with wines that are too heady, at the risk of weighing down your taste buds.
Knowing that the chosen wine will possibly be followed by other bottles, it is indeed important to go "crescendo" in order to be able to fully appreciate the different dishes and cuvées that will be served afterwards . For example, if you serve a Meursault gourmet and rich (as good as it is) and you follow up with a Riesling from Alsace known for its freshness and acidity, you risk completely missing out on the latter because your palate will have been accustomed to very intense aromas beforehand. That would be a shame, wouldn't it?
Now that you know this basic logical rule, we can now begin a tour of our beautiful regions and discuss varieties and appellations that will delight you as an aperitif!
White wines as an aperitif according to the region
Loire aperitif white wines
The Loire offers a wide variety of white wines. Sauvignon Blanc, a grape variety very present in the region (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Reuilly, Menetou-Salon etc.), produces, for example, vivid and fruity wines that pair superbly with seafood, light salads or goat cheeses. For a successful aperitif, we can also think of Muscadet or the magnificent Chenin, an emblematic variety of appellations such as Vouvray, Savennières as well as all of Anjou-Saumur.
White aperitif wines from Burgundy
Bourgogne is renowned for its elegant and complex white wines, almost exclusively made from the Chardonnay variety. Thus, while many appellations produce cuvées of great richness that lend themselves more to the table than to an aperitif (Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Mercury etc.), certain AOCs such as Chablis or certain Chardonnay from Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits will present more freshness and minerality, and as such will be in line with an aperitif. Further south, we can also think of the region of Mâcon, capable of producing superb quality-price ratios.
White aperitif wines in Alsace
Located in the northeast of France, Alsace is a land of exceptional white wines. Its flagship variety, Riesling, is a divine grape variety, which, when vinified well, produces wines with remarkable acidity as well as brilliant minerality. As you can imagine, these factors make this grape variety a magnificent companion for an aperitif thanks to its finesse and its freshness.
Gewurztraminer, in an aromatic, exotic and exuberant register, can also be paired divinely with spicy bites or small savory-sweet starters. Beware of its sweetness, however because this variety also makes semi-dry and sweet wines!
Finally, other grape varieties such as Sylvaner, Pinot Gris or Pinot Auxerrois can also be interesting.
Aperitif white wines from Beaujolais
Although Beaujolais is primarily known for its red wines made from the Gamay grape, the region also produces light and fruity white wines from Chardonnay. These wines offer aromas of green apple, citrus, peach and apricot and are often wrapped in a refreshing acidity (although less marked than in Burgundy).The price-performance ratio can also be excellent here.
White aperitif wines from the Rhône Valley
The Rhône Valley offers a wide variety of white grape varieties, making it possible to produce white wines with varied profiles. We can think for example of Viognier, creating fleshy and gourmet wines with low acidity.For an aperitif, however, there is no need to turn to the famous appellation Condrieu where this variety is queen.Very beautiful expressions of this grape variety can indeed be found within the IGP Collines Rhodaniennes and this with an excellent quality-price ratio!
The Marsanne and Roussanne varieties are also well established in the region and can make ideal wines for an aperitif in appellations such as Crozes-Hermitage or Saint-Péray.
Finally, the Clairette, more present in the southern part of the Rhône Valley, can also be the basis of delicious white wines that adapt perfectly to the aperitif.
White aperitif wines from the Jura
The Jura, located in eastern France, produces unique and atypical white wines. If the Chardonnay is very established there, allowing the production of fruity wines with a beautiful acidity, it is indeed the Savagnin which is the star of the vineyard. Thus, if this allows in particular to produce extremely intense wines when aged under veil (like yellow wine), it can also produce cuvées more suited to the aperitif when it is vinified as a classic white wine. It will then present a nice acidity as well as notes of citrus fruits and white fruits.
White aperitif wines from the South-West
The South-West of France offers a variety of very pleasant dry white wines that can adapt perfectly to this convivial moment that is the aperitif. Thus, the aromatic Petit and Gros Manseng, or the Colombard and Ugni blanc varieties combine superbly to make fresh and drinkable friends' wines on AOC Côtes de Gascogne. We can also think of dry white wines from the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh or Gaillac appellations. The IGP Landes also makes it possible to produce very pleasant wines for pleasure.
White aperitif wines from Provence
While Provence is particularly famous for its rosé wines, its AOC Côtes-de-Provence Nevertheless also offers surprisingly fresh and elegant white wines. Thus, the Rolle grape variety (also called Vermentino) can make delicious fresh and aromatic wines (apple, citrus fruits, white fruits, etc.) proving to be very pleasant to accompany light Mediterranean dishes.
Note that this observation also applies to the wines of Corsica, Vermentino being the most used white grape variety on the island of beauty.
White aperitif wines from Languedoc-Roussillon
The Languedoc-Roussillon offers white wines with very varied profiles given the many white grape varieties present. Varieties such as Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Maccabeu, Clairette or t1>Roussanne gives birth here to fresh and fragrant wines, with a fairly low acidity but perfect to accompany summer salads or Mediterranean dishes.
White aperitif wines from Savoie
A mountain vineyard par excellence, Savoie produces beautiful nuggets marked by great freshness. Here, the grape varieties Roussette (also called Altesse), Jacquère as well as Roussanne (locally called Bergeron) allow the production of delicious wines taut, fruity and mineral. Great pairings with local cheeses (Abondance, Beaufort, Reblochon, Tomme etc.) are imaginable here.
Conclusion
As you may have understood through this reading, the playing field for white aperitif wines is particularly vast, allowing all wine lovers to find what they are looking for.
Of course, it should be pointed out that white wines are not the only wines suitable for an aperitif! As an example, Champagne and other sparkling wines will offer great alternatives.We can also mention certain red wines light and drinkable, in particular those made from the Pinot Noir and Gamay grape varieties.
So feel free to explore and experiment with different grape varieties and regions to find your favorite combinations! And if you need advice, La Cave Éclairée is always there to guide you in your choices!
