Our Floral White Wines

Not all white wines speak the same language. Some rely on minerality, others on freshness or fruit. Floral white wines seduce through their delicate aromas of rose, jasmine, acacia, honeysuckle or orange blossom. They are often the wines that immediately catch your attention on the nose — expressive, elegant and particularly enticing as an aperitif or at the dinner table.

At Vinodelice, we have selected floral white wines from Alsace, Piedmont, Salta in Argentina, Stellenbosch in South Africa, the Rhône Valley and Australia. Because the finest fragrances know no borders.

How to choose a floral white wine?

Not all floral wines are alike. Depending on the grape variety and terroir, flowers express themselves in very different ways.

Do you love aromas of rose and lychee?

Gewurztraminer is probably the king of floral white wines. Fresh rose, rose petal, lychee, gentle spices: few grape varieties offer such an expressive aromatic palette. The biodynamic Gewurztraminer from Frères Engel perfectly illustrates this generous, charming and immediately recognisable style.

Do you love white flowers and orange blossom?

Argentine Torrontés is one of the most seductive grape varieties for floral wine lovers. Grown in the high-altitude vineyards of Salta, it often develops notes of jasmine, orange blossom, citrus and exotic fruit while retaining a beautiful freshness. The Llama Torrontés is an excellent introduction to this world.

Do you love elegant, gastronomic floral wines?

Viognier occupies a category of its own. Less demonstrative than Gewurztraminer, it offers subtle aromas of jasmine, honeysuckle, apricot blossom and white flowers. The great Viogniers of Condrieu or the Viognier from Kleinood perfectly illustrate this refined and complex expression.

Do you love floral and mineral wines?

Some Rieslings develop delicate notes of lime blossom, acacia or honeysuckle while retaining great freshness. Australian Rieslings from Clare Valley or Alsatian Rieslings often offer this fascinating marriage of tension and floral elegance.

Do you enjoy discovering lesser-known grape varieties?

Arneis from Piedmont is often nicknamed the "little prince of Italian white wines". Its notes of white flowers, pear and fresh almond make it one of the most elegant floral wines in Italy. The Roero Arneis from Giovanni Rosso is a superb illustration.

A world tour of floral white wines

At Vinodelice, we hold one conviction: floral wines are among the most expressive wines in the world. From the roses of Alsatian Gewurztraminer to the orange blossom of Argentine Torrontés, via the jasmine of Viognier or the honeysuckle of certain Rieslings, each region develops its own aromatic signature.

This collection invites you to travel between Alsace, Piedmont, Salta, Stellenbosch, Condrieu, Clare Valley, Eden Valley and Marlborough. Because a floral wine is never simply a question of aromas — it is also an invitation to journey.

Our top picks for discovering floral white wines

To explore the great classics

• Frères Engel Gewurztraminer Alsace 2024
• Viñas en Flor The Llama Torrontés
• Giovanni Rosso Roero Arneis 2022

For lovers of fragrant wines

• Kleinood Estate Tamboerskloof Viognier
• Tardieu-Laurent Condrieu
• Mount Horrocks Watervale Riesling

For lovers of gastronomic wines

• Vincent Girardin Pernand-Vergelesses 2021
• Frères Engel Riesling Grand Cru Praelatenberg 2020
• Giovanni Rosso Roero Arneis 2022

To go off the beaten track

• Mas de Lavail Carignan Blanc Vieilles Vignes
• The Llama Torrontés
• Riesling Grand Cru Praelatenberg

The star grape varieties of floral white wines

Gewurztraminer - Rose, jasmine, lychee: Alsace

Torrontés - Orange blossom, jasmine: Salta

Viognier - Honeysuckle, jasmine: Condrieu, Stellenbosch

Riesling - Lime blossom, acacia: Alsace, Australia

Arneis - White flowers, hawthorn: Piedmont

Sauvignon Blanc - Elderflower, white flowers: Marlborough

Carignan Blanc - White flowers, garrigue: Roussillon

Floral white wine and food pairing

Thai cuisine: Gewurztraminer, Torrontés

Mild Indian cuisine: Gewurztraminer

Ceviche: Torrontés

Sushi: Riesling

Preserved lemon tagine: Viognier

Goat's cheese: Sauvignon Blanc

Poultry with gentle spices: Viognier

Aperitif: Arneis, Torrontés

Mediterranean cuisine: Arneis, Carignan Blanc

Floral white wine or fruity white wine?

The two styles often overlap, but they do not answer exactly the same expectation. A fruity white wine primarily foregrounds aromas of citrus, white fruit or exotic fruit. A floral white wine prioritises flower aromas: rose, jasmine, orange blossom, acacia or honeysuckle. Some grape varieties such as Torrontés or Gewurztraminer actually combine both dimensions perfectly.

FAQ: Everything you need to know about floral white wines

Which is the most floral grape variety?

Gewurztraminer is generally considered the most floral grape variety thanks to its characteristic aromas of rose, lychee and gentle spices.

Which white wine has orange blossom aromas?

Argentine Torrontés, certain Viogniers and several Muscats frequently develop notes of orange blossom.

Which floral wine with Asian cuisine?

Gewurztraminer, Torrontés and Viognier pair particularly well with Thai, Vietnamese or Indian cuisine.

Is Riesling a floral wine?

Yes. Depending on its origin and age, it can develop notes of lime blossom, acacia, honeysuckle or white flowers.

Which floral white wine to choose for an aperitif?

Torrontés, Arneis and certain aromatic Sauvignon Blancs are excellent choices thanks to their freshness and expressiveness.

What is the difference between a floral wine and a fruity wine?

A floral wine primarily evokes flowers while a fruity wine puts greater emphasis on fruit. Some wines combine both dimensions perfectly.

Which floral white wine to give as a gift?

An Alsatian Gewurztraminer, a Torrontés from Salta, a Viognier from Condrieu or a Grand Cru Riesling all make excellent gifts for lovers of original and aromatic wines.