To American drinkers, perhaps France’s most familiar white grape varietals are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc. However, the vineyards of France produce 56 different types of grape varietals, most of which are easily available at wine shops that feature French white wines. Let’s explore five somewhat unknown varieties…
Marsanne
About the Grape
Marianne is most commonly found in the Northern Rhône region, and is often blended with Roussanne. It’s very picky about weather, and winemakers try to harvest it just before it hits full ripeness.
Aromas & Flavors
Oz Clarke, in his Encyclopedia of Grapes, notes that Marsanne produces deeply colored wines that are rich and nutty, with hints of spice and pear. As Marsanne ages, the wine takes on an even darker color and the flavors can become more complex and concentrated with a honeyed texture.
Food Pairing
Marsanne is a very food-friendly wine, pairing best with seafood, shellfish, poultry, pork, and Asian cuisine.
Melon de Bourgogne
About the Grape
This grape is mostly grown in the Loire Valley of France and is used in the wine Muscadet. It is barrel fermented and receives sur lie aging, meaning that the wine is kept in contact with the inactive yeast cells left over after fermentation. These two processes add to the wine’s complexity.
Aromas & Flavors
Muscadet is a light, dry, wine with crisp acidity that makes it very food-friendly.
Food Pairing
Muscadet pairs well with ocean fish, seafood, and creamy dishes, such as scalloped potatoes and cheese platters.
Pinot Gris
About the Grape
Pinot Gris has been grown in the region of Burgundy since the Middle Ages. Pinot gris is grown in many different locations in the world, each contributing to different flavor profiles, from spicy to fruity.
Aromas & Flavors
Pinot gris is grown around the globe with the “spicy” full-bodied Alsatian and lighter-bodied, more acidic Italian styles being most widely recognized. In the US, Oregon versions are medium bodied with a yellow to copper-pink color and aromas of pear, apple, and/or melon. At Sumner Vineyards, we make a Pinot gris that is somewhat Alsatian in character. It has aromas of spicy stone fruits, with hints of honey and smoke, and its minerality underscores intense, rich apricot and guava flavors.
Food Pairing
Pinot gris pairs beautifully with salmon and other oily fish, as well as rich poultry, cream sauces, potato dishes.
Sémillon
About the Grape
In France, Sémillon is the preeminent white grape in the Bordeaux wine regions. It’s a golden-skinned, and used to make both dry wines (where it’s blended with other grapes) and sweet white wines (in which it is mostly used by itself). To make the sweet varieties, the vine is exposed to the “noble rot” of Botrytis cinerea, which makes the grapes shrivel and the sugar levels are intensify into ambrosia!
Aromas & Flavors
The best Sauternes, the sweet wine made from Sémillon, are balanced, complex, and concentrated, and balance their sweetness with a zesty acidity. Some common flavor notes include apricots, honey, peaches, and a nutty note.
Food Pairing
Served with dessert, Sauternes pairs well with creamy custard-type dishes, but is also delicious served with savories such as foie gras and sweetbreads.
Viognier
About the Grape
Viognier is the only permitted grape for the regions of Condrieu and Château Grillet, in the Rhône Valley. Some say that low yields, difficult growing conditions, and late harvesting contribute to the exceptional, concentrated flavors.
Aromas & Flavors
Viognier produces full-bodied wines with a lush, soft character wines, well known for their floral aromas. It has natural aromatics that include notes of peach, pears, violets, and minerality.
Food Pairing
Pair Viognier with grilled seafood; it’s also a good match for most foods flavored with fruit salsas, Asian dishes, and curries.
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