Love Sauvignon Blanc? Try White Bordeaux

Written by Madeline Puckette

What is White Bordeaux? Well, the major grapes include Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. Find out what this famous white wine blend has to offer including food pairing recommendations.

New Guide: Dive deeper into Bordeaux’s Wines and Region with Wine Folly’s new Bordeaux Region Guide.

White Bordeaux Taste, ginger, gooseberry, lemon, grass, grapefruit

Smart Finds: White Bordeaux Wine

White Bordeaux Grapes

The grapes of White Bordeaux include Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle. There are a few other less-known varieties used in White Bordeaux such as Colombard and Ugni Blanc (the grape used in Cognac), but most White Bordeaux are made of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Bordeaux is where Sauvignon Blanc originated and it’s very old. In fact, it’s older than Cabernet Sauvignon.

Hot Value: $12-$16
Looking for a great value white wine that’s green like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and zesty like Italian Pinot Grigio? Expect to spend about $12-$16 on a totally quaffable bottle of White Bordeaux.

White Bordeaux Taste

There are two major styles of White Bordeaux: Light & Fruity or Rich & Creamy. Light & Fruity styles make up the majority of White Bordeaux and are generally cheaper. Rich & Creamy White Bordeaux wines are made in a specific region (Pessac-Leognan) and tend to be expensive. So what do the two styles of White Bordeaux taste like?

Light & Fruity

This is the most readily available style of White Bordeaux. Expect big flavors and aromas of citrus, grapefruit, lemon, gooseberry and lime along with grass, freshly-wet concrete, honey, passionfruit and honeysuckle flower.

Rich & Creamy

This is the most highly sought-after style of White Bordeaux. These wines tend to be predominantly Semillon which offers a much richer, more oily feeling on the tongue than Sauvignon Blanc. Expect flavors of baked apples and pears, crème brûlée, carmelized grapefruit, orange zest, ginger, figs, lemon butter and even chamomile.


Food Pairing

If there’s basil, lime, avocado or garlic in your food, you will enjoy a bottle of White Bordeaux.

Of all the Sauvignon Blancs in the world, White Bordeaux tends to be more citrus and floral vs. grassy and herbal. The acidity is not as high as Pouilly-Fumé (a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley) and the flavor is not as tropical or peachy as California Suavignon Blanc. Remember to be careful pairing White Bordeaux with overly acidic foods that will overshadow the wine.

White Bordeaux Food Pairing Ideas
  • Arugula Salad with Lemon and Parmesan
  • Asparagus Risotto
  • English Pea Ravioli with Crab or Lobster
  • Angel Hair Pasta with Basil Pesto
  • Yellowtail Sushi with Avocado
  • White Fin Fish, such as Cod or Halibut, with Beurre Blanc

Learn More About Bordeaux

12x16 France Bordeaux wine map by Wine Folly
White Bordeaux only makes up about 7% of wines sold from the region, the rest is red. While the region is famous for its high-priced collector wines, they make up less than 5% of the region’s production. The remaining wines of Bordeaux offer exceptional value, if you know where to look!

Bordeaux Wine Guide

Written byMadeline Puckette

James Beard Award-winning author and Wine Communicator of the Year. I co-founded Wine Folly to help people learn about wine. @WineFolly