The aperitif is the French's favorite moment to relax and share with loved ones. And what's better than a tasty white wine to accompany these generous convivial moments?! The latter is in fact ideal for consumption before the meal thanks to its freshness as well as its ability to us to whet the appetite .
As you probably know, the wine regions of France are full of white wines that are ideal for pairing this moment of life. So let’s go and discover 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 he either primordial to identify your personal tastes In order to ideally select the vintage(s) that will accompany your aperitif, it is preferable, in the vast majority of cases, to opt for a white wine with a rather light and refreshing profile . Why? It's quite simple! The aperitif before the meal, it is necessary to Do not start the evening with wines that are too heady , at the risk of weighing down our taste buds.
Knowing that the chosen wine will be possibly followed by other bottles, it is indeed important to go "crescendo" in order to be able to fully appreciate the different dishes and vintages that will be served afterwards. For example, if you serve A Meursault greedy 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 miss the latter because your palate will have been accustomed to very intense aromas beforehand. That would be a shame, isn't it?
Now that you know this basic rule of logic, we can now begin a tour of our beautiful regions and discuss grape varieties and appellations that will delight you as an aperitif!
White wines as an aperitif by region
Loire aperitif white wines
There Loire offers a wide variety of white wines. The Sauvignon Blanc , a grape variety very present in the region ( Sancerre , Pouilly-Fumé , Menetou-Salon etc.), produces for example lively and fruity wines pairing superbly with seafood, light salads or goat cheese. For a successful aperitif, you can also think about the Muscadet or even the magnificent Chenin , an emblematic variety of appellations such as Vouvray , Savennières as well as any Anjou-Saumur .
White aperitif wines of Burgundy
There Burgundy is renowned for its elegant and complex white wines, almost exclusively made from the grape variety Chardonnay . Thus, if many appellations produce vintages of great richness more suited to the table than to an aperitif (Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet , Chassagne-Montrachet , Mercurey etc.), some AOCs such as Chablis or some Chardonnays from High Coasts of Beaune And High Coasts of Nights will present more freshness, minerality, and will therefore be in keeping with the aperitif. Further south, we can also think of the region of Mason , capable of producing superb value for money at very reasonable prices.
White aperitif wines in Alsace
Located in the north-east of France, Alsace East a land of exceptional white wines . Its flagship variety, the Riesling , is a divine grape variety, which, when well vinified, allows the production of wines with a remarkable acidity as well as a great minerality . As you might expect, these factors make this grape variety a magnificent companion for an aperitif thanks to its finesse and his freshness .
THE Gewurztraminer , in a register aromatic , exotic and exuberant , can also be divinely combined with spicy bites or small sweet and savory starters. Be careful of its sweetness though 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.
Beaujolais white aperitif wines
Although the Beaujolais Although mainly known for its red wines made from the Gamay grape variety, the region also produces light and fruity white wines from the Chardonnay . These wines offer aromas of green apple, citrus, peach and apricot and are often coated with a refreshing acidity (although less marked than in Burgundy). THE value for money can also be excellent here.
White aperitif wines from the Rhône Valley
There Rhone Valley offer a wide variety of white grape varieties , allowing the production of white wines with varied profiles. For example, we can think of Viognier , creating full-bodied and delicious wines low acidity. For an aperitif, however, there is no point in turning 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 price-quality ratio!
The varieties Marsanne And Roussanne are also very well established in the region and can produce wines ideal for aperitifs in appellations such as Crozes-Hermitage or Saint-Péray.
Finally, the Clairette , more present in the southern part of the Rhone Valley, will be able to It can also be the basis of delicious white wines that are perfect as an aperitif.
White aperitif wines from the Jura
THE Jura , located in the East of France, produces unique and atypical white wines.If the Chardonnay is very well established there, allowing the production of fruity wines with a good acidity, it is the Savagnin which is the star of the vineyard. Thus, if it allows in particular to produce extremely intense wines when aged under veil (like the vin jaune), it can also produce vintages more suited to the aperitif when it is vinified like a classic white wine It will then present a nice acidity as well as notes of citrus and white fruits.
White aperitif wines from the South West
THE Southwest France offers a variety of very pleasant dry white wines that can be perfectly adapted 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 create wines of friends fresh and smooth on AOC Côtes de Gascogne . We can also think of dry white wines from the appellations Pacherenc of Vic-Bilh or of Gaillac . The Landes PGI also allows the production of very pleasant pleasure wines.
White aperitif wines from Provence
If the Provence is particularly famous for its rosé wines , her AOC Côtes-de-Provence nevertheless also proposes surprising white wines of freshness and elegance . So, the grape variety Rolle (also called Vermentino) can be made there delicious fresh and aromatic wines (apple, citrus fruits, white fruits, etc.) which are very pleasant to accompany light Mediterranean dishes.
Note that this observation also applies to wines from Corsica , Vermentino being the most widely used white grape variety on the Isle 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 the Viognier , THE Grenache Blanc , THE Maccabeus , there Clairette or even the Roussanne give rise 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, the Savoy produces beautiful nuggets marked by a great freshness . Here, the grape varieties Roussette (also called Highness ), Jacquère as well as Roussanne (locally called Bergeron ) allow the production of delicious, taut wines, fruity And minerals . Great pairings with local cheeses (Abondance, Beaufort, Reblochon, Tomme etc.) are possible 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 noted that white wines are not the only wines suitable for an aperitif! For example, Champagne and others sparkling wines will offer very nice alternatives. We can also mention some red wines light and smooth , especially those based on grape varieties Pinot Noir And Gamay .
So don't hesitate to explore and experiment with different grape varieties and regions in order to find your favorite combinations! And if you need advice, The Illuminated Cellar is always there to guide you in your choices!
