Lavender

White · Medium · Dry

The most-planted white grape and the most chameleon-like. Crisp and steely from Chablis; rich, oaky, and tropical from California. Read the label, then match the style to the dish.

Works with Lavender · Lavender Chicken · Lavender Icecream +3 more Lavender · Lavender Chicken · Lavender Icecream · Lavender And Honey · Lavender Asiago Shortbread · Pan Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Mango Mint And Lavender Salsa

Red · Light · Dry

Burgundy's most temperamental grape, but the rewards are real — translucent ruby with a perfumed lift of red cherry, forest floor, and clove. Silken tannins and bright acid make it the most versatile red on the table; serve cool, around 58°F.

Works with Lavender · Lavender Chicken · Lavender Icecream +1 more Lavender · Lavender Chicken · Lavender Icecream · Lavender And Honey

Rosé · Light · Dry

Provence's gift to summer — dry, pale, faintly strawberry-and-citrus, with low alcohol and crisp acid. Made to drink cold, with food, in the shade.

Works with Lavender · Lavender Chicken · Lavender Icecream +1 more Lavender · Lavender Chicken · Lavender Icecream · Lavender And Honey

Sparkling · Light · Dry

Spain's traditional-method sparkling, made in Catalunya. Crisper and chalkier than Prosecco; remarkable value next to Champagne. Pair with jamón, tortilla, and grilled vegetables.

Works with Lavender · Lavender Icecream · Lavender And Honey

Sparkling · Light · Sweet

Asti's more refined sibling — gently frizzante, only 5-6% alcohol, all peach and orange blossom. The perfect summer dessert wine.

Works with Chocolate And Lavender · Passion Fruit Souffle With Mango Creme And Lavender Madeleines

Dessert · Full · Sweet

Bordeaux's legendary sweet white — Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc hit by noble rot, then patiently fermented. Honey, apricot, candied citrus, and a finish that lasts a small eternity. Pair with foie gras, blue cheese, or a fruit tart.

Works with Chocolate And Lavender · Passion Fruit Souffle With Mango Creme And Lavender Madeleines

Red · Full · Dry

The benchmark for full-bodied red — structured, age-worthy, unapologetic. Black currant, graphite, and tobacco lead into firm tannins that demand protein on the plate. Decant young bottles; cellar the serious ones.

Dessert · Medium · Sweet

A style designation rather than a single wine — grapes left to over-ripen for concentrated sugar and intense flavor. Common in Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and many dessert Chardonnays. Always sweet, always memorable.

Southern Rhône's classic fortified sweet white — Muscat à Petits Grains with peach, orange blossom, honey. Pair with fresh fruit or blue cheese.

Sparkling · Light · Off-dry

Veneto's everyday sparkler — Glera grape, charmat method, frothier and fruitier than Champagne. Pear, white flowers, easy fun. Made for aperitivo.

White · Light · Off-dry

Aromatic, racy, and shapeshifting — bone-dry in Alsace, off-dry on the Mosel, syrupy and ageless when late-harvested. The single most versatile wine for spicy food on earth.

White · Light · Dry

Citrus, cut grass, and a wire of acid. Marlborough makes it loudest; Sancerre makes it most refined. Either way, it cuts cleanly through goat cheese, herbs, and anything with shellfish.