Elaboration
Which grapes are used to make white wine?
Grape varieties from different regions of France are used to make white wine and white-fleshed grapes. Although most grapes are white, they can also have a black skin. It is this skin that gives the wine its color (maceration).
List of grape varieties for white wine vinification
In France, several varieties of vine are used to produce white wines and champagnes. The diversity of grape varieties contributes to the richness of France's winegrowing heritage and terroir. Each variety has its own aromas, each grape its own color, and each bottle of the precious spirit its own story.
There are many more. Here is a non-exhaustive selection of the grape varieties used for white wine. The grape varieties are not exclusively located in the areas specified. Some grow in other regions.
| Grape variety | Examples of geographical areas where it can be found |
|---|---|
| Aligoté | Burgundy |
| Bourboulenc | South of France |
| Chardonnay | Burgundy, Champagne |
| Chenin blanc | Loire |
| Clairette | South |
| Gewürztraminer | Alsace |
| Gros Manseng | South west |
| Loin de l’Œil | South-west |
| Maccabeu | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Malvoisie | Roussillon |
| Marsanne | Drôme |
| Melon de Bourgogne | Burgundy |
| Muscadelle | Bordeaux, Bergerac, Languedoc |
| Muscat | Mediterranean, Rhône, Alsace |
| Petit Courbu | South-west, Pyrenees |
| Pinot noir | Champagne |
| Pinot meunier | Champagne |
| Vermentino (Rolle) | Rhône, Mediterranean, Provence |
| Romorantin | Sologne |
| Roussanne | Rhône |
| Sauvignon blanc | Loire valley, Bordeaux |
| Sémillon | Bordeaux, South-west |
| Terret blanc | Languedoc |
| Ugni blanc | South-west, Languedoc, Provence |
| Viognier | Rhône coast |
| Grape variety | Aligoté |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Burgundy |
| Grape variety | Bourboulenc |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | South of France |
| Grape variety | Chardonnay |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Burgundy, Champagne |
| Grape variety | Chenin blanc |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Loire |
| Grape variety | Clairette |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | South |
| Grape variety | Gewürztraminer |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Alsace |
| Grape variety | Gros Manseng |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | South west |
| Grape variety | Loin de l’Œil |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | South-west |
| Grape variety | Maccabeu |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Grape variety | Malvoisie |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Roussillon |
| Grape variety | Marsanne |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Drôme |
| Grape variety | Melon de Bourgogne |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Burgundy |
| Grape variety | Muscadelle |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Bordeaux, Bergerac, Languedoc |
| Grape variety | Muscat |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Mediterranean, Rhône, Alsace |
| Grape variety | Petit Courbu |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | South-west, Pyrenees |
| Grape variety | Pinot noir |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Champagne |
| Grape variety | Pinot meunier |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Champagne |
| Grape variety | Vermentino (Rolle) |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Rhône, Mediterranean, Provence |
| Grape variety | Romorantin |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Sologne |
| Grape variety | Roussanne |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Rhône |
| Grape variety | Sauvignon blanc |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Loire valley, Bordeaux |
| Grape variety | Sémillon |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Bordeaux, South-west |
| Grape variety | Terret blanc |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Languedoc |
| Grape variety | Ugni blanc |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | South-west, Languedoc, Provence |
| Grape variety | Viognier |
| Examples of geographical areas where it can be found | Rhône coast |
Is white wine made from white grapes?
If the grape used to make white wine has a white pulp, this does not necessarily mean that its skin (pellicle or epicarp) is white. Grape juice is colorless, while the pigments (anthocyanins) are found in the skin. Some red grape varieties are an exception to the rule, with black pulp. These are known as "dyeing grapes".
White wine can therefore be made from... black grapes. Unlike red wines, white wine vinification does not involve maceration, especially when black-skinned grapes are involved. This hiatus in the process gives the wine its white color; the juice is not in contact with the skin, or only for a very short time.
On his side, rosé color may be due to pellicular maceration of black-skinned grape must in a vat (saignée rosés). Another technique involves coloring the grapes during pressing. Rosé can also be produced by blending a red wine with a white wine, before secondary fermentation. This process is inherent to the Champagne region.
Aveine precision
"Blanc de blancs" is a champagne made exclusively from white chardonnay grapes. "Blanc de noirs" are champagnes made from pinot noir, a red grape with white flesh.