Highly quaffable French whites under $17 to get you salivating
Delish white wines from France that are easy on the wallet!
I don’t know about you, but I have been pinching pennies like crazy these days, especially in the wine department. While France is known for making some of the most expensive wines in the world, it can also be a great source of low-cost yet delicious wines. Here are a few of my latest French white wine coups de coeur (i.e. favourites or top picks).
Villa Blanche Viognier
($16.95 at the LCBO)
Looking for a great wine to go with Asian fare? Look no further than this viognier by Calmel & Joseph. Viognier is a fuller-bodied white (especially when grown in the sunny South of France) with beautiful floral and fruit aromas. This one is quite dry (i.e. not sweet), yet heavy on the stone-fruit and honeysuckle, with a hint of baking spice. A perfect pairing for a mid-week stir-fry. Yummy!
Famille Bougrier Collection Vouvray 2021
($16.95 in Vintages at the LCBO)
It was cold and rainy on my birthday a few weeks ago, and I just couldn’t muster up the energy to go out for a fancy meal. So we ordered a big platter of delicious sushi from our neighbourhood Japanese restaurant and opened this bottle of Vouvray by Famille Bougrier. Vouvray is a specific appellation from the Loire Valley where the main grape varietal grown is chenin blanc.
What I loved about this wine was how balanced it was. I would never have guessed that its residual sugar levels were at 28 g/l (demi-sec, or medium), because it was perfectly balanced by its high acidity, counteracting the perception of sweetness. That said, what sweetness was discernable did an excellent job of softening the bite of the spicy wasabi I insist on mixing into my soy sauce. Despite the sugar levels, it was also surprisingly delicate and elegant, with a ripe fruity palate and hints of honey and apricot. Another top choice for Asian fare! I’ll be keeping an eye out for this one, as there are still lots of bottles kicking around in Vintages. There’s another Vouvray available in the general listing for a couple of dollars more, so a comparison might be an interesting activity for the next rainy (or snowy?) day.
Laurent Miquel Père et Fils Chardonnay
($16 at the LCBO)
I picked up this bottle back in October since I’d heard good things about the Laurent Miquel line made by eighth-generation winemakers. We opened it on a Sunday afternoon with friends, and everyone LOVED it. To the point where I went back and got 4 more bottles while it was on sale for $2 off. I took the picture above today with the last of those bottles (that is already halfway done 😲). As you may have surmised, this wine goes down way too easy. I think it could even convert some of you in the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) crowd.
Made in the south of France, it’s a light, dry, unoaked chardonnay with flavours of white flower, pear, apricot and melon. This is officially my new house white, and judging by the customer reviews on the LCBO’s website, I am not alone in my choice. This is the perfect pairing for seafood or chicken dishes!
Reminder: Outstanding in their Fields this Friday
Savvy Company’s Outstanding in their Fields is just two days away! Do you have your tickets yet? If not, but you want to attend, send me a message and I’ll see if I can work some magic 🥂
Hope you’re all having a great week! Happy wining!
P.S. Leave a comment if you’ve tried one of these wines or if you have another steal of a deal to share!