White wine and Bordeaux may not be synonymous, but the whites of Bordeaux are incredibly versatile. Like the reds, the reflect the terroir and accompany many local dishes. Crisp or structured, citrusy or floral, from oysters to grilled chicken, we have a white wine to enjoy from Bordeaux.
ARE WHITE BORDEAUX NEW TO THE AREA?
A lot of people who come to Bordeaux are looking for what they consider to be a classic ‘Bordeaux’, a structured red. This is in many ways thanks to the 1855 classification which made left bank reds the benchmark for great Bordeaux red wines. Historically, we can look back to the medieval era when Libournaise reds were prized, shipped from the port of Libourne to England.
(If) The Romans planted vines, le Biturica, in the area two-thousand years ago, primarily for white wine. If we are to look at the late 1600 to late 1800’s, sweet whites like those of Sauternes were highly sought after. The largest appellation by land is the Entre Deux Mers, which until only recently was primarily known for their white wines. In the last ten years, Saint Emilion producers started to make ‘blanc de noirs‘, white wine with red grapes (accomplished by eliminating the skins after pressing).
STYLES OF WHITE BORDEAUX
Is this the future trend in Bordeaux wines? Maybe. To explore what is being produced, let’s look at some of the white Bordeaux wines to try. Keep in mind, the majority of whites in Bordeaux are mainly produced using semillon, sauvignon blanc, muscadelle and to a very small extent, sauvignon gris. There are also the blanc de noirs which use Cabernet Franc.
Sauternes, Barsac, Cadillac, Loupiac and Saint Croix du Mont, are still producing their classically sweet whites, but also dry whites as tastes have evolved. Trying dry versions of semillion is a great way to see how these grapes change thanks to botrytis, or noble rot. Chateaux like Chateau Guiraud offer three styles of whites with the same grapes from their property in tastings. Sauternes – Aquitaine Travel Guide
Crisp, dry, citrusy blends from the Entre Deux Mers – this is a wine you can find for 10 Euro in the grocery store and not be disappointed. Perfect with oysters, excellent on a hot summers day. Typically sauvignon blanc and semillon blends and aged in inox. One of my favorites is Moulin de Launy, vielle vignes. It’s around 8€, easy to drink and refreshing!
Aging whites is possible, some of the best are from Pessac-Leognan appellation. Chateau Carbonnieux maybe the benchmark for these floral whites aged in oak. Whites from the Graves will be good value, like Jouvente. Enjoying them ten years after bottling is truly a pleasure. As they are more structured, they can hold their weight with heavier dishes. Martillac and Leognan, Vineyards and Restaurants –
If you are interested in try a blanc de noir (under the ‘Vin de France’ designation), Pomerol producer Bonalgue and others on the right bank produce such wines. If you have ever enjoyed champagne, you have already likely tried a blanc de noir, so the profile will be familiar. Having said that, the blanc de noir from Chateau Trianon that my friend Greg at Bordeaux Classique, a caviste in Saint Emilion, had me try was very unique. One of the most enjoyable blanc de noirs I’ve tried recently!
White Medocs are going to be a surprise to many. I haven’t personally tried one yet so let’s see! Just this year, as of March 3, 2026, the Medoc started to produce white wines under AOC Medoc, officially. Their wines are produced using the same majority white grape varietals as in other Bordeaux whites – Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon Gris. Additional grapes allowed (though only in small proportions) are Alvarinho (Albariño), Liliorila, Sauvignac, Souvignier Gris, and/or Floréa.
Crement de Bordeaux, what sparkling whites from this area are called, are a mixed bag. Finding good quality is not always easy, but some that I can recommend would be Les Cordeliers in Saint Emilion. This one in particular is easy to find, nicely balanced on the palate and smooth, smaller bulles. LES CORDELIERS
Pet nats are some of my favorite wines in the area for summer months, Petnat, the Natural Sparkling Wine – Aquitaine Travel Guide
Have you tried a white Bordeaux that you love? Let us know!
READ MORE :
Libournais : Carte du terroir, produits locaux et spécialités régionales | L’OPT
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