The aperitif is the French people's favorite moment to relax and share with loved ones. And what better than a delicious white wine to accompany these generous convivial moments?! Indeed, it is perfectly suited for consumption before a meal thanks to its freshness as well as its ability to whet our appetite.
As you probably know, the wine regions of France are full of white wines that can ideally accompany this special time. So let's go and discover them...but first of all, let's identify the qualities of a good white wine for an aperitif!
Summary
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 opt for a white wine with a rather light and refreshing profile. Why? It's very simple! Since the aperitif precedes the meal, it is necessary to not start the evening with wines that are too strong, at the risk of overwhelming our taste buds.
Knowing that the chosen wine will possibly be followed by other bottles, it is indeed important to go "crescendo" in order to fully appreciate the different dishes and cuvées that will be served afterwards. For example, if you serve a Meursault indulgent and rich (as good as it may be) and then follow with an Alsace Riesling known for its freshness and acidity, you risk completely missing out on the latter because your palate will have already become accustomed to very intense aromas.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 grape varieties and appellations that will delight you during the aperitif!
Freshness and lightness are the key words for a successful white wine aperitif
White wines for the aperitif by region
White aperitif wines from the Loire
The Loire offers a great diversity of white wines. The Sauvignon Blanc, a grape variety very present in the region (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Menetou-Salon etc.), for example, produces lively and fruity wines that pair superbly with seafood, light salads, or goat cheeses.
For a successful aperitif, one can also consider Muscadet or the magnificent Chenin, an emblematic variety of appellations such as Vouvray, Savennières, as well as the entire Anjou-Saumur region.
Aperitif white wines from Burgundy
Burgundy is renowned for its elegant and complex white wines, almost exclusively made from the Chardonnay grape variety. Thus, while many appellations produce cuvées of great richness that are more suited to the table than to the aperitif (Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Mercurey etc.), certain AOCs such as Chablis or some Chardonnays from the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits will offer more freshness and minerality, and will therefore be well suited to the aperitif.
Further south, one can also consider the Mâcon region, which is capable of producing superb value for money indulgentwines.
Aperitif white wines in Alsace
Located in the northeast of France, Alsace is an exceptional land for white wines.Its flagship variety, Riesling, is a divine grape, which, when well vinified, allows the production of wines with remarkable acidity as well as brilliant minerality. As you might expect, these factors make this grape a wonderful companion for an aperitif thanks to its finesse and freshness.
Gewurztraminer, in a more aromatic, exotic and exuberant style, can also pair divinely with spicy bites or small sweet-and-savory appetizers. However, be mindful of its sweetness as this variety also produces off-dry and sweet wines!
Finally, other grape varieties such as Sylvaner, Pinot Gris, or even Pinot Auxerrois can also be interesting.
Beaujolais white aperitif wines
Although Beaujolais is mainly known for its red wines made from the Gamay grape variety, 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 pronounced than in Burgundy). The value for money can also be excellent here.
White aperitif wines from the Rhône Valley
The Rhône Valley offers a wide variety of white grape varieties, allowing the production of white wines with diverse profiles. For example, one might think of Viognier, creating full-bodied wines with indulgent low acidity.
For an aperitif, however, there is no need to turn to the famous Condrieu appellation where this variety reigns supreme. Very fine expressions of this grape variety can indeed be found within the IGP Collines Rhodaniennes, and this with an excellent quality-price ratio!
The varieties Marsanne and Roussanne are also very well established in the region and can produce ideal wines for aperitifs in appellations such as Crozes-Hermitage or Saint-Péray.
Finally, Clairette, more present in the southern part of the Rhône Valley, can also be the basis for delicious white wines that are perfectly suited for aperitifs.
Aperitif white wines from Jura
The Jura, located in the east of France, produces unique and atypical white wines. If Chardonnay is very well established there, allowing the production of fruity wines with beautiful acidity, it is indeed Savagnin that is the star of the vineyard.
Thus, while this grape variety can be used to produce extremely intense wines when aged under a veil (like vin jaune), it can also produce cuvées more suited to aperitifs when it is vinified as a classic white wine. It will then display lovely acidity as well as notes of citrus and white fruits.
Aperitif white wines from the South-West
The South-West of France offers a variety of very pleasant dry white wines that are perfectly suited to the convivial moment of the aperitif. Thus, the aromatic Petit and Gros Manseng, as well as the Colombard and Ugni blanc varieties, combine superbly to create friendly wines that are fresh and easy-drinking on the Côtes de Gascogne AOC.
One can also consider the dry white wines from the appellations Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh or from Gaillac. The Landes PGI also allows for the production of very pleasant, enjoyable wines.
Provence aperitif white wines
While Provence is particularly famous for its rosé wines, its Côtes-de-Provence AOC also offers surprisingly fresh and elegant white wines.
Thus, the grape variety Rolle (also called Vermentino) can produce delicious fresh and aromatic wines (apple, citrus, white fruits, etc.) that are very pleasant to pair with light Mediterranean dishes.
It should be noted that this observation also applies to wines from Corsica, as Vermentino is 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 diverse profiles, given the many white grape varieties present.Varieties such as Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Maccabeu, Clairette or even Roussanne here give rise to fresh and aromatic wines, with rather low acidity but perfect for accompanying summer salads or Mediterranean dishes.
Savoie aperitif white wines
A mountain vineyard par excellence, Savoie produces beautiful gems 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, taut, fruity and mineral wines.
Great pairings with local cheeses (Abondance, Beaufort, Reblochon, Tomme, etc.) are imaginable here.
Conclusion
As you may have understood through this reading, the playground of aperitif white 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 other sparkling wines will offer very attractive alternatives. We can also mention certain light and easy-drinking red wines, especially those made from Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes.
So don't hesitate 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!
