The best white wine worth stocking up on now

Score: 95/100

Our winning wine is a truly unique white. For starters it’s made using the “appassimento” method, where the grapes are dried, resulting in a more concentrated flavour. Normally reserved for rich reds such as amarone, here it results in an intense, bold tropical wine, with fresh citrus and a touch of creamy oak.

Team with roast chicken for a match made in heaven.

Score: 94/100

The vibrant, fruity wine speaks for itself, appealing to our panel with its zesty citrus notes and saline edge. Team with olives for a refreshing aperitif or buy by the 1.5L box (£23) if hosting larger gatherings.

Score: 90/100

Albariño is more often associated with Portugal, however this zesty white from South Africa’s Stellenbosch region impressed testers with tart gooseberry, apricot and long-lasting salinity. Its zesty, mineral quality means that it’s ideal with seafood.

Like this sound of this? Read on for more top-rated South African wine.

Score: 89/100

This show-stopping chenin blanc is made from grapes that are hand-picked from old bush-vines, meaning the flavour — think, creamy vanilla, peach and tropical fruit — is more concentrated. The richness, and contrasting acidity, make this the perfect partner for roast pork.

Score: 87/100

English wine still often comes at a premium; however, our testers felt this decadent barrel-fermented cool climate chardonnay from Gusbourne was worth the splurge.

The beautiful buttery nose hints at the complexity, while the palate dishes up candied citrus peel, ripe apricot and smokey minerality. Team with fish in lemon butter at your next dinner party and wait for the compliments to roll in.

Score: 86/100

This bold French wine has all the elements you want from a sauvignon blanc with the aromas and flavours of tropical fruit and melon. Initially sweet and juicy, expect a pleasingly dry and long-lasting mineral finish. Pair with seafood or creamy pasta dishes.

Score: 82/100

With notes of honeysuckle, elderflower and lashings of citrus zest, this easy drinking white is perfectly refreshing at the end of a long day. Our testers felt there was plenty of complexity given the price and would recommend serving it as an aperitif or with shellfish.

Score: 82/100

With delicate notes of citrus, grapefruit, white blossom and gooseberry, this is a great example of a Marlborough sauvignon blanc.

It scored highly thanks to its complexity, delicious minerality and well-integrated acidity. Soft and velvety, our testers felt this would pair well with fish or Asian cuisine.

Score: 81/100

Fresh and crisp with thirst-quenching acidity, Portugal’s vinho verde is the perfect pairing for salad and seafood, and the naturally low ABV makes it particularly well suited to long, lazy lunches in the sun.

Score: 81/100

Testers loved this creamy chardonnay from the Languedoc region and felt it would pair perfectly with roast chicken. There’s a little oak, although it’s well-integrated, adding a rich mouthfeel without overpowering.

Score: 81/100

Juicy passionfruit comes to the fore in this classic sauvignon blanc from M&S. The tropical notes give an impression of sweetness, which is nicely balanced with light acidity. Exceptionally quaffable and smooth, try serving it with a goat’s cheese salad.

Score: 80/100

Majestic’s brief for this wine was to highlight the best examples of key regions and core grape varietals – at wallet-friendly prices. We think the team has nailed it with this crisp and refreshing blend.

Like sunshine in a glass, you can expect a subtle effervescence, juicy stone fruit and aromatic blossom.

Score: 80/100

This white wine from the Douro should appeal to those who like a creamy chardonnay, or a weighty white rioja. The herbaceous nose displays refreshing coastal salinity, with plenty of acidity, followed by a richly textured, long finish. We’ll be surprised if you can resist a second glass...

Score: 80/100

Not only did this chardonnay impress the panel with its easy drinking nature, light floral note and satisfying vanilla oak finish, but it's a sustainable choice too.

The striking bottle is made with recycled materials, which we think also makes it a great talking point on the dinner table.

Score: 79/100

For a different take on French sauvignon blanc, this builds on the Loire’s flinty minerality, but has a more well-rounded mouthfeel, thanks to a buttery quality and whiff of smoke. It’s an excellent example of Pouilly-Fumé, pairing equally well with seafood and spicy food.

Score: 79/100

Opening up with a thwack of white peach, underscored with delicate elderflower, our winning pinot grigio is rich and fruity — and a fantastic example of this grape variety.

It comes from Romania (rather than the more traditional Italian vineyard you might expect), and is super smooth, with a slight blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spritz on the finish. A great everyday wine at a very good price.

Score: 78/100

Here's another juicy Marlborough that’s packed with passionfruit, alongside characteristic gooseberry and honeyed melon notes. Testers felt this wine had an impressive depth and complexity, which they found refreshing and smooth.

Score: 77/100

A reminder that great sauvignon blanc can come from outside of New Zealand, this South African white has more of a savoury edge. Displaying green bell pepper, asparagus and a herbaceous hint of cut grass, we’d pair this with chicken or light pasta dishes.

Score: 77/100

This is a classic example of albariño (and 100% organic, too), with a citrus-forward profile bringing lemon, lime and grapefruit to your glass. A hint of stone fruit sweetness brings balance, making this zesty drop a perfect aperitif for sun-dappled days, or for pairing with everything from seared tuna and Greek salad laden with salty feta.

Score: 77/100

Smooth, creamy and buttery, this chardonnay is a steal. It hails from Australia, and displays the typical tropical fruit you'd expect from this region, alongside a touch of oak. Try it with creamy pasta or roast chicken.