We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Best White Wine For Every Occasion, From Dinner Parties To Christmas Celebrations
ELLE UK's expert picks, including buttery chardonnays and thirst-quenching sauvignon blancs
As the seasons start to shift, so too do our tastes. But don't think you have to switch to heavy reds. The right white wine will easily see you through winter — if you know what to look out for.
Whether you're on the hunt for dinner party recommendations or a special bottle to serve at Christmas, our expert guide to the best white wines for 2023 should point you in the right direction.
Best white wine 2023
Where are the best white wines from?
Fast becoming the nation’s go-to wine order, Marlborough sauvignon blanc is revered around the world, and rightly so. Full of thirst-quenching acidity, lashings of gooseberry and freshly cut grass, it’s perfect with food, generally fairly priced and consistently delicious.
However, France is still the ‘home’ of sauvignon blanc, and our testers enjoyed excellent examples from the Loire Valley, highlighting some standout Sancerres.
Alternatively, rich, creamy white wines, such as chardonnay, can be a great choice for the cooler months, pairing well with comforting, creamy dishes and roast chicken. For these, we tested bottles from both the New and Old World regions, finding the best varieties from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and France.
How we test white wine
Our panel — made up of 10 WSET-accredited experts and consumers — sipped their way through 44 bottles to find the very best white wines for 2023.
Served blind to avoid brand bias, each was assessed on its aroma, complexity, balance of flavour and finish.
Stacey is our Senior Food and Drink Editor, looking after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila.
Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine.
Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings.
Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business.
You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Millie is our food, wine and spirits writer, with five years’ experience writing product reviews, buying guides, breaking news and about the latest trends.
Millie has also reviewed countless restaurants and written travel features for British GQ, The Telegraph and the Independent, and has interviewed a number of leading chefs, including Jamie Oliver, Heston Blumenthal and Raymond Blanc.
Founder of creative catering brand @grazeandgorge, Millie also spends her time creating seasonal recipes and tablescape content, as well as planning her next golden retriever-friendly getaway and rearranging her own home bar cart (... again).
Watch Next
These Are The Best Shows To Watch Right Now
The Ins And Outs of Charli XCX's 360
'Shōgun' Has Been Renewed For Two More Seasons
SJP Dropped Major News About Aidan In ‘AJLT’