French King Cake With Frangipane

France's most northeastern wine region — single-varietal whites from Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and more. Aromatic, structured, sometimes off-dry, always food-friendly.

Loire Chenin Blanc at its sweetest and most age-worthy — noble-rot wines of striking honey-and-citrus intensity, balanced by laser acid.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Méthode champenoise from the most chalk-rich corner of France — fine bubbles, brioche, lemon zest, and a finish that goes on for half a minute. The wine for anything fried, salty, or special.

Drôme's traditional sweet sparkling — Muscat-based, light, low-alcohol, peachy. The Rhône Valley's quietly delightful sparkling wine.

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Burgundy's traditional-method sparkler — Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, made by the Champagne method outside the appellation. Often serious; always a value.

Bordeaux's quietest sweet white appellation — between Sauternes and Graves, drinking like a lighter Sauternes at lower prices.

The Loire's noble-rot Chenin Blanc — honey, quince, candied citrus, balanced by trademark Chenin acid. Ages magnificently; the sweet wine for those who find Sauternes cloying.

The Jura's broader appellation — Chardonnay and Savagnin whites with the oxidative, nutty character that defines the region. A taste for adventure helps.

A small Southwest French appellation with an outsized range — dry whites from native grapes, traditional-method sparkling, and quietly serious reds. Curious wines, all of them.

Southwest France's quiet treasure — both bone-dry and lusciously sweet wines from the Gros and Petit Manseng grapes. The sweet bottlings are world-class.

Southwest France's affordable Sauternes — Semillon and Sauvignon hit by noble rot, just over the river from Bordeaux. Honey, apricot, candied citrus at half the price.

Vouvray's quieter neighbor across the river — Chenin Blanc in dry, off-dry, sweet, and sparkling styles. Often a fraction of Vouvray's price with similar quality.