Did you know that in France white wines have overtaken reds in the hearts of consumers*? And that chardonnay is by far the French people’s favourite grape variety? And that’s fortunate because it’s precisely with this variety that Beaujolais estates, cellars and wineries work to produce their white wines. Overview of these gems which are highly valued by connoisseurs!
*Source: SOWINE/Dynata 2024 Barometer
Beaujolais White, what is your flavour profile?
The Beaujolais White and Beaujolais Villages appellations are true revelations for those lucky enough to try them. Even though they are all made from chardonnay grapes, these white wines all express themselves differently from one cuvée to another and reveal the qualities of the terroir.
Beaujolais whites have a bouquet full of white flowers as well as citrus and white flesh fruit aromas. The Beaujolais Villages white appellation is known for its heroic plots: specific, very hilly, terroirs with different types of soils (granite, blue stone, limestone…). The white wines produced under this appellation provide mineral notes and a certain intensity.
In terms of the wine making process, Beaujolais white wines are usually obtained after directly pressing chardonnay bunches and a 15-day fermentation period in vats. The wine is sometimes matured in oak barrels but also in casks. Known for their excellent value for money, Beaujolais whites and Beaujolais Villages whites have been a favourite with wine lovers for several years now.
From the north to the south, the Beaujolais terroirs are ideal for Chardonnay
It’s no secret to anyone that clayey-limestone soils and chardonnay go hand in hand. The largest white wine terroirs are limestone. Luckily, the Beaujolais vineyard also has clayey-limestone soils. Mainly located in the Pierres Dorées and on the doorstep of the Mâconnais region, these areas include several chardonnay plots.
-> Click here for more information about the Beaujolais soils.
Sonja Geoffray, winemaker at Château Thivin, produces two white wines including the Beaujolais white “Clos de Rochebonne” in the Pierres Dorées. Matured in barrels, this wine is complex on the palate and offers mineral notes. In this area in the south of the Beaujolais region, well-known for its brightly coloured limestone, a group of winemakers assert the typicality of their wines and, for several years now, the “Pierres Dorées” indication has earned a place on their labels.
“By focusing on chardonnay, we are breathing new life into the magnificent region that is the Pierres Dorées.”
Sonja Geoffray, Château Thivin
Beaujolais whites are not just produced on clayey-limestone soils. The estates, cellars and wineries with chardonnay plots in Beaujolais Villages are experimenting with various soils (including granite and blue stone). The results in the glass are surprising and bear witness to the fact that the organoleptic properties of chardonnay vary from one plot to another. The richness of the soils in the Beaujolais region ensures the richness and variety of its white wines.
The estates, cellars and wineries located in the north of the vineyard are also seeking recognition for the quality of their white wines. They are more precise on their labels in order to assert their singularity. We can now see the names of communes such as “Beaujolais Leynes white” or “Beaujolais Lantignié white” on labels.
Sébastien Besson from Domaine du Penlois in Lancié is a member of a group of winemakers determined to gain recognition for the white wines produced on the Chatelard hill. A fourth-generation winemaker on the estate, his wines have received three awards in the Best Chardonnay in the World competition.
When and with what should you drink Beaujolais white wines?
Beaujolais white wines are ideally drunk young. They generally reach their potential within 5 years of production. Some great cuvées however have good ageing potential. These bottles can be opened at any time and are best enjoyed between 10 and 12°C. While white wine is often served with the apéritif, Beaujolais whites can go perfectly well with a main course.
Some examples? Cauliflower curry, spice-crusted salmon or even Mac’n Cheese pair wonderfully with Beaujolais white wines.
Sonja Geoffray likes to pair her Beaujolais white with a simple quiche, or even fish, either grilled or with a sauce. Sébastien Besson recommends pairing his white wines with white meat, goat’s cheese or seafood. In his opinion, his cuvée “La Criée”, characterised by its freshness, calls out for a platter of oysters and good company.
“Working with chardonnay is thrilling, especially with a beautiful terroir such as ours. Our whites pair wonderfully with a platter of oysters or at a mâchon – an authentic Lyon breakfast – in good company”
Sébastien Besson, Domaine du Penlois
Beaujolais whites, like Beaujolais rosés, are of the highest quality and deserve to be (re)discovered. With a grape varietal acclaimed the world over (that can pride itself on having a ‘Chardonnay-day’), varied terroirs and winemakers determined to get the best out of them, Beaujolais whites have a bright future ahead of them!
Key figures for Beaujolais whites in 2023:
- In volume, 4% of the wines produced
- 574 hectares of vines harvested
- Around 450 producers
- 2.3 million bottles from the Beaujolais appellation and 930,000 from Beaujolais Villages
