Welcome Spring with 7 White Wine Alternatives
ABC’s of “Anything but Chardonnay” - 17 World-wide Suggestions
Spring has to be my favorite season. Since we just “Sprang forward,” I think a great way to greet Spring is with a new white wine alternative. I am suggesting 17 wines from 7 wine varieties/blends to try.
Are you a Chardonnay drinker? The “ABC - Anything But Chardonnay” movement began several years ago when many brand-level chardonnay producers all wanted to mimic the success of Kendall Jackson with that oaky, buttery, creamy flavor and texture. In 2025 we are fortunate to have many faces and facets of Chardonnay. I love Chardonnay styles now. They vary from the unoaked crisp apple and pear expressions to the new oak, barrel-aged buttery, creamy mouth-feel variety.
OK, we love Chardonnay, but why not widen our horizons with these 7 white wine varieties/blends that are gaining more and more attention? Each of the wines I have chosen have a 90+ point or above rating or they are medal winners. The wine examples can hail from such diverse wine regions as South America, Alsace, Portugal, Spain, California, France, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and USA: Texas, Washington, Oregon, California.
Let’s talk about trying Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Picpoul, Pinot Gris, Albariño, and a White Bordeaux-style blend. How many of the 17 suggestions can you check off your list?
Party Idea: Throw a sampling party of these 7 standout wines and add these delicious alternative varietals to your wine Rolodex©.
Sauvignon Blanc in the US – France – New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc grapes make a white wine that takes on the different expressions of the area’s terroir – climate, soil, sun, wind, and elevation. For example, a Sonoma Russian River Sauvignon Blanc like Merry Edwards has aromas and tastes of tropical fruit and Crème brûlée. A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc like Kim Crawford may have aromas of grapefruit and grass that is evident in the wines of NZ’s Marlborough region. A French Sancerre from the Loire Valley or White Bordeaux (see below) are the old world gold standards of Sauvignon Blanc.
2023 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc , Sonoma, Russian River - $37 for a ½ bottle, 375 ML
93 Points, Wine Spectator
This wine exhibits notes of muskmelon, mango, papaya, and guava that widen the aroma, along with accents of white peach, nectarine and Meyer lemon. Hints of minerality, crème brûlée, and toasted hazelnuts add even more sophistication. This wine is lush with good viscosity
Merry Edwards is my absolute favorite Sauvignon Blanc, pricey (note this is a half-bottle) but worth it. The winery in Sonoma, Russian River Region, has a highly entertaining and educational presentation of how they grow their grapes and make their wines. Merry Edwards is one of the early female master’s degree graduates of the celebrated University of California at Davis Enology program.
2023 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, $18
91 Points, Tasting Panel
One of the most popular and great value SB’s.
2022 Acamas Sancerre Blanc , Loire, France, $33
92 Points, Wilfred Wong
A classic Sancerre with flavors of green apple and a special limestone finish.
Viognier – France – US - Australia
The most famous white wine in France’s Rhône Valley comes from the Viognier grape. Winemakers in the Condrieu AOC-Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée– in Northern Rhône - create exceptional and expensive wines. Viognier’s New World wine expressions exhibit a rich mouthfeel (much like Chardonnay,) but with floral aromas and flavors of lychee and stone fruits. Try one from Australia’s Eden Valley and the US/Santa Barbara regions.
2022 Yalumba Samuel’s Collection Eden Valley, Australia, $19
91 Points, James Suckling
The aromas are reminiscent of fresh apricots, lifted ginger, saffron, and fresh white flowers. This wine complements spicy dishes so try it with a Moroccan tajine or pork dumplings with ginger and chili oil dipping sauce.
2019 E. Guigal Condrieu , Condrieu, Rhône, France, $70
93 Points, Wine Enthusiast
From the original Rhône home of Viognier, this E. Guigal Condrieu delivers stunning aromas of orange blossom, honeysuckle, and exotic flowers. This medium to full-bodied white wine brings a fleshy opulence with a great clean finish. It should keep for 7-8 years.
K Vintners Art Den Hoed Vineyard Viognier, Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington $20
92 Points, James Suckling
A great value US Viognier.
Chenin Blanc – Loire Valley - South Africa – Washington State
Chenin Blanc is grown virtually around the world and may be most famously grown and made in the Loire Valley region of France. In South Africa, Chenin Blanc is also known as Steen. Chenin Blanc is used to make everything from dry white wines to sparkling wines to well-balanced dessert wines. Here I have chosen a New World Mendoza Argentina as my favorite.
2024 Lubanzi Chenin Blanc Swartland, South Africa, $16
90 Points, James Suckling
A great value South Africa “Steen.”
2023 Catena Appellation Lujan de Cuyo White Clay Semillon-Chenin Blanc, Mendoza, Argentina - $20
92 Points, James Suckling
This wine has delightful aromas of citrus and peach. This blend of Semillon and Chenin Blanc pairs well with vegetables and grilled white meat. 60% Semillon, 40% Chenin Blanc
Picpoul – France, Texas and California – the “Lip Stinger”
Southern France, Languedoc region, is the home to Picpoul where it is known as Piquepoul. It is often drunk alone or used as a blending grape in wines to add crisp acidity (thus the “lip stinger moniker) and aromatics to a blend. In the Texas Hill Country, Bending Branch winery has proven that this wine is wonderful on its own. It tends to have tangy lemon flavors and even a bit of salty minerality.
2023 Bending Branch Estate Picpoul Blanc, Camledge Vineyard, Texas High Plains, $34
Bending Branch introduced Picpoul Blanc to Texas in 2009 and produced its first Estate Picpoul Blanc in 2011. They recommend raw oysters, herb roasted chicken, and filet of sole in tarragon cream sauce as perfect pairings for this wine. Silver medal winner, 2025 Fort Worth Stock Show and International Wine Competition.
2022 Bonny Doon Picpoul, Central Coast California, $17
Bonny Doon is known for making Rhône and southern France varietal wines. Check out their 91 Point rating from Wine Enthusiast.
2022 Gerard Bertrand Terroir Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc, Southern France, $20
90 Points, James Suckling
Wonderful Picpoul from the region of its historic, native origins.
Albariño/Alvarinho – Spain and Portugal
Albariño is a variety of white wine grape most well-known for growing in Galicia northwest Spain’s Rias Baixas region, and in northwest Portugal where it is used to make varietal white wines. Albariño is the Galician name for the grape; in Portugal it is known as Alvarinho. In the US, this grape is planted primarily in California, Oregon, and Texas.
2023 La Cana Albariño, Rias Baixas Spain, $20
92 Points, James Suckling
This wine offers crackling flavors of crushed seashells, salted lemons, and slice apples. Bring on the oysters!
2022 Aveleda Alvarinho, Portugal, $14
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Pair with tuna, salmon, and grilled vegetables. Wonderful value.
Pinot Gris/Grigio- Alsace and Oregon
Pinot Gris/Grigio is a white wine grape variety thought to be a clone of the Pinot Noir variety. It normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name (gris meaning "gray" in French) but the grapes can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance. Pinot Gris is grown around the globe. The expressions range from the "spicy" full-bodied Alsace, France Pinot Gris styles to the lighter-bodied, more acidic Pinot Grigio Italian styles.
I visited Alsace in 2019 and enjoyed the Alsatian style of Pinot Gris. The delicate flavors match well with spicy dishes as well as luxurious one’s like foie gras and loin of lamb. This style is often duplicated in New World wine regions such as Marlborough, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Australia, and in the US in Washington, Texas, and Oregon. These New World wines tend to have a moderate to low acidity, higher alcohol levels, and an almost oily texture that contributes to the full-bodied nature of the wine.
2021 Domaines Schlumberger Les Princes Abbes Pinot Gris, Alsace, France, $28
92 Points, James Suckling
The Pinot Gris of Alsace are classically floral and smoky.
2023 Acrobat Pinot Gris, Oregon - $15
90 Points, Tasting Panel
Tasting Notes: Fresh and vibrant, this harmonious white is appealing for its aromas of Asian pear and ripe cantaloupe. Flavors of fresh pear and Fuji apple abound. This is a medium bodied mouth-feel with a bright finish. Acrobat represents some very good-valued wines. This wine is perfect with grilled fish, cream sauces, chicken, and pork dishes. It would be wonderful with foie gras. 96% Pinot Gris, 4% Chardonnay
White Bordeaux: A White Wine Blend – France and Chile
White Bordeaux wines are a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle grapes. This wine can only be called a White Bordeaux if it is made in the Bordeaux region of France. I visited the Pessac-Leognan region of Bordeaux in August 2023. It is famous for its high-quality white and red Bordeaux blends. One of the most famous of the region is Domaine de Chevalier – highly recommended here as my all-time favorite White Bordeaux. See Wine Wanderings newsletter with an interview of their Owner/CEO, “Domaine de Chevalier: An Interview with Olivier Bernard, A Family Estate, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France.”
Of course, you can find this wonderful blend made in other countries and wine regions, particularly Australia (wonderful in the Margaret River region), South Africa, Chile, and the US. They may be called “SSB” wines. You can spend quite a bit for a high-quality White Bordeaux, so I also suggest a Semillon from the Hunter Valley, Australia with a great price.
2021 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, $110
95 Points, Decanter Magazine
With its pale gold color and vivid glimmers, this wine exhibits an intense and exotic floral nose of yellow peach, mangoes, and citrus fruit. There is a long, elegant finish with great finesse. In Bordeaux, I enjoyed this wine with lunch of salmon and herbed vegetables. Thank you, Olivier Bernard, for your warm hospitality. 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon.
2024 Tyrrell’s Semillon, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, $20
92 Points, Wine Enthusiast
We all love Chardonnay in all of its various styles and expressions. However, other white wines represent a whole new range of scents, flavors, and mouthfeel to complement a range of dishes, particularly Asian cuisine. These dishes may have with that would tend to fight with the oakiness of Chardonnay. These alternative white wines offer a new terroir, “sense of place,” adventure. Anything But Chardonnay? Experience these traditional and new classics and let us know your own personal white wine favorites.
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