10 Best White Wines That Could Be Your New Favourites

Explore expert white wine recommendations and discover the best white wines that cater to various preferences, palates, and occasions.

Are you looking for a refreshing and versatile drink that can pair well with different cuisines and occasions? White wine is 4000 years old and has matured beautifully with age, culminating in a splendid variety of flavours for every preference or occasion.

Whether you're drawn to the crisp and dry notes of a Sauvignon Blanc or savour the rich, buttery depths of a Chardonnay, there's a white wine out there that's just right for you. This diverse and time-honoured drink offers something for everyone, whether you're a seasoned connoisseur or new to the world of wines.

A Quick Look at Our Top 10 White Wines

1. Best for versatile food pairings: Pounamu Special Selection Sauvignon Blanc
2. Best for pairing with seafood: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
3. Best for sharing with friends: Gemma Di Luna Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC
4. Best for natural oak flavor lovers: Ronco Di Sassi Bianco d'italia
5. Best for tropical flavor enthusiasts: McGuigan Private Bin Chardonnay
6. Best with dairy dishes: Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay
7. Best for enjoying on its own: Maison Castel - Grand Reserva Chardonnay
8. Best for pairing with poultry: Montes Alpha Chardonnay
9. Best for rich and fatty foods: Vinuva Pinot Grigio Terre Siciliane IGT
10. Best for an after-dinner digestif: Psagot Gewurztraminer

1. Best for versatile food pairings

• Grape varieties

  Sauvignon blanc

• Region

  Marlborough, NZ

• Price

  $35 - $55

• ABV

  13%

Meaning greenstone or Jade, the Pounamu series, known for producing some of the best New Zealand white wine sauvignon blanc, comes from a single vineyard in the unique Waihopai Valley. This sauvignon blanc is its star, epitomizing the quality and versatility that make it a top recommendation for good white wine.

It's a perfect combination of an award-winning wine with a friendly price tag. You'll only regret not having enough bottles to explore all the food pairings this nimble wine offers: BBQs, seafood, chicken, or light vegetable dishes.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Light honey

• Nose

  Pink grapefruit and fleshy green apples

• Palate

  Succulent peach and overripe melons with moderate levels of acidity.

• Finish

  Silky tannins tickle the tongue as the fruits give way to gentle herbaceous notes

2. Best for pairing with seafood

• Grape varieties

  Sauvignon blanc

• Region

  Marlborough, NZ

• Price

  $50 - $80

• ABV

  13%

Having set a gold standard for sauvignon blancs internationally since 1985, Cloudy Bay is a top contender for the title of most popular white wine and is no stranger to this collection. It rightfully belongs on any list of the best white wines. The 2022 vintage, robust like its predecessors, presents a beautiful bouquet, a fantastic mix of fruits and acidity on the taste, and a lingering minerality on the finish.

Best for pairing with seafood, it also complements white meat or salads perfectly, showcasing its versatility as a highly recommended white wine.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Pale straw

• Nose

  Makrut lime leads the nose with gentle hints of passionfruit and white nectarines

• Palate

  Stony saline orchestrates a symphony between peach, guava, and passionfruit

• Finish

  Clean, mouthwatering finish as the stonefruit takes the front seat

3. Best for sharing with friends

• Grape varieties

  Pinot grigo

• Region

  Delle Venezie, ITALY

• Price

  $30 - $40

• ABV

  12%

This beautiful, teal-coloured bottle, adorned by a crescent moon bathed in glitter, is more than just stylish packaging; it's a symbol of Italian celebration, making it a very nice white wine choice with a confident flavor to match. Exploding with life from the first nose to the tart finish, this wine, perfect for sharing with friends, does not fail to deliver.

Ideal for enjoying on its own or paired with white fish, it embodies the spirit of a good white wine for drinking, blending style and substance seamlessly.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Golden straw

• Nose

  Fresh apples, honey, & summer vegetables

• Palate

  A refreshing dryness combined with a bright acidity brings all the juicy fruits like white peach, honeysuckle, and pear into perfect harmony

• Finish

  Short and tart with hints of bitter almonds

4. Best for natural oak flavour lovers

• Grape varieties

  Chardonnay, verdeca, fiano, malvasia

• Region

  Italy

• Price

  $40 - $55

• ABV

  13%

Ronco Di Sassi, a top choice in many white wine recommendation lists, uses barriques (oak wine barrels) at low temperatures for fermentation, diverging from conventional stainless steel vats. This method enhances the wine's complexity, making it an incredibly good white wine for drinking, with a bold and robust character. Its elegance and depth place it among the world's best white wines, suited for pairing with dishes like fish or pasta.

It has truly secured its place as one of the most popular white wines for those who appreciate a complex and expressive flavor profile.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Deep honey

• Nose

  Bright citrus fruits, acacia, and wafts of earthy spice

• Palate

  Bursting with pear, white peach, and lemon blossoms

• Finish

  Long and gentle, a beautiful meld of the fruits, with some light oak that comes through at the tail end

5. Best for tropical flavour enthusiasts

• Grape varieties

  Chardonnay

• Region

  Hunter Valley, AUS

• Price

  $29 - $40

• ABV

  13%

Grown in a region celebrated for producing some of the best Australian white wines, where long sunny days encourage high evaporation rates, the grapes reach their highest concentration potential. Harvested at night and processed in cooler temperatures, this method retains intense flavor, resulting in an expressive wine akin to a firework of tropical fruits.

A top white wine recommendation, it's perfect for pairing with cream-based dishes or roast chicken, embodying qualities sought in good white wines for drinking. Its vibrant taste and quality secure its place as a popular choice for those who appreciate a robust and fruity profile.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Pale straw

• Nose

  Ripe tropical fruits with subtle background notes of citrus peels

• Palate

  Succulent honeydew, pineapple, and figs

• Finish

  Crisp, clean finish as the citrus follows through accompanied by subtle oakiness

6. Best with dairy dishes

• Grape varieties

  Chardonnay

• Region

  Limari Valley, Chile

• Price

  $35 - $65

• ABV

  13.5%

In a climate caressed by a cold sea breeze, these grapes benefit from the added minerality to their flavor profile as they ripen slowly in the temperate region. This unique terroir contributes to a wine that stands out in white wine recommendation lists, pairing wonderfully with seafood, or cream- and cheese-based foods.

Its well-balanced minerality and slow ripening process result in a wine that is not only a good white wine for drinking but also ranks among the best white wines, particularly popular among those who appreciate a nuanced and harmonious flavour profile.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Honey gold

• Nose

  White chrysanthemum, toasted hazelnuts, and fresh-cut grass

• Palate

  Silky smooth on the tongue with fruity flavours of fig and pear

7. Best for enjoying on its own

• Grape varieties

  Chardonnay

• Region

  France

• Price

  $32 - $50

• ABV

  12.5%

Carefully selected grapes from the Pays d’Oc reserves are used in this chardonnay, which many consider among the best white wines, encapsulating the region's essence in a dynamic bottle. Tropical fruits lead, evolving into oak and vanilla tones, culminating in a creamy finish that lingers, making it an exceptionally good white wine for drinking, especially with soft cheeses and barbecued seafood.

This wine matures beautifully, changing its expression over time with temperature variations, securing its popularity among those who savour a nice white wine that evolves with each sip.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Straw and amber

• Nose

  Mango, passionfruit, and subtle notes of toasted marshmallows

• Palate

  Smooth oak takes the driver's seat underlaid with vanilla and fruit

8. Best for pairing with poultry

• Grape varieties

  Chardonnay

• Region

  Casablanca Valley, Chile

• Price

  $35 - $55

• ABV

  14.5%

One of the fastest-growing countries in the wine industry, Chile produces this chardonnay, often listed among the best white wines. Made in a prestigious valley, its climate encourages slow grape maturation, allowing full potential expression in the final product.

One of the region's top white wines, it's perfect on its own and even better with poultry dishes. Its crafting and quality have made it a popular white wine choice, showcasing the best of Chilean winemaking.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Honey gold

• Nose

  Strong flavours of ripe banana and mango undercut by white asparagus

• Palate

  Medium-bodied with a nice mouthfeel that's accompanied by peach and subtle hints of minerality

9. Best for rich and fatty foods

• Grape varieties

  Pinot grigio

• Region

  Italy

• Price

  $28 - $40

• ABV

  12%

Vinuva Pinot Grigio, my personal top white wine recommendation, is organically grown, capturing the essence of the grapes of Sicily's hills. This wine, known for being one of the smoothest white wines, is fruit-forward and pleasantly dry, pairing wonderfully with slightly fattier foods like foie gras.

Its organic nature and robust fruit flavors contribute to its status as a popular white wine, appreciated by those who enjoy a well-balanced and flavorful drinking experience.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Light gold with flecks of jade

• Nose

  Nutty almond with fresh-cut apples

• Palate

  Predominantly fresh and fruity with nectarine, citrus zest, and dry pear

• Finish

  Crisp and dry with apples and citrus following through

10. Best for an after-dinner digestif

• Grape varieties

  White blend

• Region

  Isreal

• Price

  $40 - $65

• ABV

  12%

Psagot Winery, often featured in white wine recommendations for its unique aging process, has an all-natural barrel cellar in an ancient cave found during construction. The cellar's consistent humidity and temperature enhance the wine's delicate flavors from start to finish, making it a top choice as a digestif.

This wine is known for being a good white wine for drinking after meals, showcasing a sophistication that has made it a popular white wine among those who appreciate a finely crafted and nuanced drink.

Experience and Flavours

• Eye

  Light gold

• Nose

  Rose, lychee, and tart green apples

• Palate

  Light-to-medium bodied with complex white peaches, apples, and a final hint of pepper

• Finish

  Moderate finish as the acidity from the fruits gives way to the astringency of grapefruit and lemon

Your Favourite White Wine Awaits

There you have it! The best white wines, each perfect for different tastes and occasions. Whether you're looking for a good white wine for drinking casually, a top recommended white wine for a special event, or exploring the most popular white wines for a sophisticated gathering, there's something here for everyone.

Just select your preferred varietal, align it with your occasion, taste preference, and budget, and then easily order online from Paneco. Experience the finest selections, from the best Australian white wines to globally acclaimed varieties, all in one place.