White Wine in Morocco
Among the most well-known white wines produced in Morocco, there are very good products such as Beauvallon, Château Roslane, Volubilia, Sémillant cuvée président, as well as some white bubble wines like that of the Pearl of the South.
But white wine is not the most popular. It is greatly exceeded, in terms of consumption, by red wine and rosé. It currently only represents 4% of wine consumption in Morocco. It is, however, of good quality and has greatly improved since the 1980s. Like its two competitors, it has indeed benefited from the improvement of all the winemaking processes that Morocco has experienced in recent years.
Mainly produced in the regions around Boulaouane, Meknès, Berkane, and Essaouira, Moroccan white wines are the fruit of work on noble grape varieties. Among them, Clairette, Sauvignon, Mayorquin, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, or even Vermention. There remains the Chardonnay which was introduced very recently but which makes it possible to produce high quality products such as the CB Initiales and the White Medallion. The peculiarity of all these white wines is that they are made without maceration of the parts of the bunch of grapes.
Generally dry and lively, white Moroccan wines are described by oenologists as "nervous wines", like the white Semillant produced by the Thalvin company. The color of the latter, of a particularly strong yellow, is strewn with brilliant and golden reflections. The final note that remains in the mouth after tasting it is slightly minty.
Another highly prized white wine, CB Initiales white, aged in new oak barrels. It is characterized by buttery aromas and is particularly recommended as an accompaniment to fish and crustaceans or a veal stew. In general, Moroccan white wines are light and digestible. Some, such as the white of Val d'Argan, considered top of the range, sell particularly well for export. It is true that the vineyard benefits from a privileged exposure: leaning against the desert and subject to the trade winds, it gives pride of place to the Rhône varietals. S de Siroua was Carafe d'or 2009.
It is easy to find and consume these white wines, directly from producers, in grocery stores, or at restaurant tables. Increasingly, white wine is also used to revisit the traditional recipes of the kingdom, for making pastries such as almond cigars, or fish-based dishes such as Moroccan mullet.
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