Wonderful White Wine

Since you are on this page, I assume you are looking to know more about white wine. You’ve come to the right place.

Welcome.

You may already know some of these but here are some basic traits of white wine:

They are more casual aperitif type wines.

They are served chilled and are more refreshing especially in hot weather.

They run the gamut from very sweet to very dry. Thus, there is something for everyone - including you.

They are not aged as long. Most are meant to be drunk young.

They are best paired with lighter dishes such as fish and chicken.

They tend to be less expensive than red wines, especially in the high end.

Now, it's time to savor these most common whites:

Chardonnay

The granddaddy of white wines. Chardonnays can run from very sweet to very oaky. Oaky is the heavy buttery taste you get from storing the wine in oak barrels. Over time, the oak from the barrels gets absorbed into the wine. The sweet chardonnays are stored in steel barrels.

Can’t tell if it’s oaky before tasting it? A definite tip-off is the color. Sweet chardonnays will have a light greenish tint to them. The oaky chardonnays will be golden in color.

By the way, oaked is the formal terminology but we wine folks like the colloquial oaky better. So oaky it is.

For a great selection of chardonnays (and other wines), please check out Wine.com.

Chablis

This is a chardonnay that comes from the northern Burgundy region in France. This is a lighter and sweeter wine stored in steel barrels.

Chenin Blanc

This one comes from the Loire region of France. This highly versatile grape can make white wines, sparkling wines, dessert wines, and even brandy. It widely ranges from sweet to dry.

Gewürztraminer

This wine is a cooler climate wine known for it’s strong aroma of florals and spices. It usually has high natural sugar and thus is sweeter. Incidentally, I for a long time assumed that this was a German wine. While made there, it is really produced all over - even in Israel. Want some?

Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio)

This is another cooler climate wine. Most of these tend to be tart and dry. Some wine aficionados tend to dismiss this wine because they feel it lacks something but I personally like it. Goes well with shrimp and turkey. My mouth is watering already. Getting thirsty?

Riesling

Riesling is mainly from Germany. Most of it is sweet but not always. Its universal sweetness is a myth that many people believe. I once did myself until I tasted one in a blind tasting. When told it was Riesling, I couldn’t believe it. Anyway, it is a lighter wine with low alcohol. This lends itself very well as an aperitif or for sipping on your patio. Sound good? Then check out these Rieslings.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon blanc is a classic sweet and fruity wine with some tartness. It can also be dry. It is among my favorites because its crispness attacks the tongue. Now grown all over the world, it originated in the Bordeaux region in France. Sauvignon blanc does not age well so it is meant to drink young. So why wait? Open a bottle and enjoy. Don't have a bottle yet? Sorry to hear that. So... Please check these out.

Viognier

This one is an increasingly popular wine mainly because many acres of it have been grown in California in recent years. It is noted for strong floral and fruity aromas which tend to dissipate with age. So this wine is also meant to drink young. Older viogniers will often taste good but have no aroma. Some viogniers are very sweet and can be drunk as dessert wines.

White Zinfandel

The granddaddy of the American rosé wines. Typically, rosés are more popular in Europe but this wine is the exception here. A very casual non-wine lovers wine, it is sweet with low alcohol. And yes, it is made from the zinfandel grape. But it’s the juice that it is made from - not the skins. Hugely popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s, it has waned a bit but it still sells well.

The average wine lover will cringe and avoid white zinfandel like the plague. This is because they feel there are so many better wines to enjoy. But, as I have said, if it floats your boat, go for it.

However, since you are on this site, I presume you are looking to branch out into different wines. I suspect that when you do, white zinfandel will be a thing of the past.

Some Tidbits

By the way. here is a misnomer for you. White wine is not white! Never has been. It is yellow, light, green, gold, or pink.

So what’s up with that?

It’s merely a classification of wine that distinguishes it from darker red wine. I’ve seen that pink wines like white zinfandel and other rosé wines have been classified as both white and red by different sources.

They are not white because they are made from white grapes that are not really white. Thoroughly confused? The grapes are green, yellowish, golden, pinkish. So that’s where the color comes from.

The only and major exception is champagne. Champagne is made in part from pinot noir grapes which are dark red. But it’s the juice and not the skins that are used.

Personally, I would classify them as whites or maybe non-red is more accurate. But “Would you like some non-red wine with your sea bass?” doesn’t sound good, does it? At tastings, they are always grouped with the whites. So white wines, they are.

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