White Wine SectionWish you knew more about White Wine, how to shop for it, and what makes White Wine different from Red Wine? Then you're in the right place!
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White Grape Varietals
Chardonnay {Chard}
Origin: France
A.K.A.: Blanc, Macon. St. Veran, Pouilly – Fuisse, Chablis (if from France), Puligny – Montrachet, Chassagne – Montrachet, and many more.
Significant in: Everywhere! Especially the US (California, Oregon, Washington), France, Australia, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and elsewhere
Characteristics: You always get two very different answers to the question, “What is the profile of the Chardonnay grape?” Winemakers who grow the grape in cool climates say that apple is the dominant fruit flavor, sometimes lemon, along with earthy aromas and mineral characteristics. Those who grow the grapes in other climates tell you that Chardonnay grape is rich in tropical fruit flavors. Pineapple, mango, papaya, as well as peach would also be correct.
The profile of the Chardonnay grape varies greatly on how it’s made as well. For instance, whether or not the wine making includes a second fermentation process (malolactic fermentation) and/or aging in oak barrels. Chardonnay tends to be medium in acidity, but full bodied and high in alcohol from ripe, sweet grapes. It also is generally broad in the mouth, and dry, with a smooth, silky texture.
Unoaked Chard
Origin: See above
Significant in: California, Washington State, Australia
Characteristics: During the 1980s and 1990s, winemakers from California went on an oak binge with their Chardonnays. These were big, toasty wines made by fermenting and aging them in wood barrels. Since then many have gone back to the basics, making food-friendly and fruity Chardonnays in stainless-steel tanks. You will notice more of the fruit flavors described above and a crisper more versatile wine.
Chenin Blanc
Where Grown: France (Loire Valley), California, South Africa, and elsewhere.
Chenin Blanc Wines from Other Names: Vouvray, Anjou, Saveunieres, Saumur, and Steen.
Characteristics: It is less common to find a wine that has the name Chenin Blanc on it than it is to drink Chenin Blanc under the name for the specific locale where the grapes grow (such as Vouvray). In France’s Loire Valley, the Chenin Blanc grape makes every kind of white wine imaginable: sparkling wine, dry wine, medium dry wine, and luscious sweet dessert wine. The type of wine depends on the quality of the vineyard and the vintage. The still (non-sparkling) wines are medium-bodied and flavorful with honey, apple, and floral nuances; their very high acidity is balanced by a rich, almost oily texture. In California, Chenin Blanc is most commonly used (often with other grapes) to make light-bodied, floral, slightly sweet wines with crisp acidity. Chenin Blanc could be a silent player in your Chardonnay. It is a very common white varietal in South Africa where it’s called Steen.
Pinot Gris {Pinot Grigio}
Origin: Burgundy, France
Significant in: France (Alsace), Northeastern Italy, Germany, Austria, US
Characteristics: Pinot Gris flavors can range from melon to pear and some even offer a subtle tropical or citrus fruit. Often there is a honey or smoky flavor component as well. It is a light, crisp white wine that is intended to be consumed young (one to three years). Pinot Gris wines from Oregon or California are typically fruitier that the Italian or French versions and sometimes are slightly oaky.
Pinot Blanc
Where Grown: France (Alsace), Italy, Germany, Austria, California, and elsewhere.
Pinot Blanc Wines With Other Names: Pinot Blanco and Weissburgunder.
Characteristics: This grape belongs to the Pinot family of grapes that originated in the Burgundy region of France. It grows all throughout northeastern Italy, where it is called Pinot Blanco; in Germany and Austria, where it is called Weissburgunder, and in California. The Pinot Blanc grape doesn’t contribute much aroma or flavor to the wines made from it, but it provides enough ripeness to give its wine a fairly high level of alcohol, and fairly high acidity too. The result is a dry, crisp, full-bodied white with neutral flavors, maybe a slight nutty character. Versions from Alsace can be slightly softer and sometimes ever so slightly off-dry.
Sauvignon Blanc
Origin: France
Significant in: Bordeaux and Loire Valley France, US, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Italy
A.K.A.: Bordeaux Blanc, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume, and Fume Blanc
Characteristics: Typically a light to medium-bodied, crisp, unoaked and refreshing white wine with notable acidity, Sauvignon Blanc offers a fairly wide range of flavors. From herbal taste sensations to vegetal, and from flavors of grass, hay and mineral tones (California) to a citrus and tropical mix (New Zealand), Sauvignon Blanc displays a very food friendly character.
Riesling
Origin: Rhine region of Germany
Significant in: Austria, Germany, Northern Italy, Alsace region of France, Australia, New Zealand, California, Washington State
Characteristics: Riesling wines are often consumed young (one to three years). They make a fruity and aromatic wine which may have aromas of green or other apples, grapefruit, peach, honey, and usually a crisp taste due to the high acidity. The Riesling gape is extremely versatile. Its versatility extends from growing conditions to food pairings. Late Harvest and Dry Rieslings have become very popular as well.
Moscato {Moscato d’ Asti}
Origin: Italy
Significant in: Piedmont Italy, the town of Asti in Piedmont Italy, California
Characteristics: Moscato is known for its lower alcohol content, medium acidity, perfume-like fragrance. It is also light-bodied, semi-sparkling, and sweet. It is a fruit-forward wine with a huge sweet factor. You will find aromas of orange blossom, honeysuckle, citrus tones and ripe peach. All very appealing to new wine drinkers.
Gewürztraminer
Origin: France
Significant in: Alsace France, Germany, USA,
Characteristics: The name means "Spice Traminer" or "Perfumed Traminer". Gewurztraminer can be made in dry or sweet varieties and are generally best when they’re young. You’ll experience honey, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apricot, pear, and rose. This wine is often called “The Turkey Wine” in my store due to the ridiculous amount we sell during the holidays.
Semillon
Where Grown: France (Bordeaux), U.S., Australia, South Africa, Chile, and elsewhere.
Semillon wines with other names: Bordeaux Blanc
Characteristics: The Semillon grape is much less well known to wine drinkers than is Sauvignon Blanc, although Sauvignon Blanc wine actually relies on Semillon as a blending partner. Semillon’s lower acidity and more generous body compliment Sauvignon Blanc very well, such that the blend is usually more complex and higher in quality than either wine alone. Bordeaux’s greatest dry white wines are composed of about 50% of each grape. (And Bordeaux’s greatest dessert wines such as Sautemes are almost entirely Semillon.) In Australia, Semillon often combines Chardonnay to make a wine called SemChard; some American producers have adopted this practice as well. Australia’s Semillon, without the Chardonnay can be extraordinary, especially when they are aged. Apart from Australia, however, Semillon is not common as a varietal wine.
Trebbiano
Where Grown: Italy, France (Provence and Gascony), Portugal, South Africa, Argentina, and elsewhere.
Trebbiano wines with other names: Frascati and Orvieto
Characteristics: Trebbiano is a workhorse grape that produces large quantities of crisp, neutral-flavored white wine – just the style of white wine favored in Italy, because wines of this style are refreshing with food but do not compete with the food’s flavor. It is also used as a blending grape in Chianti, Soave, and Verdicchio wines.
Viognier
Where Grown: France (Rhone Valley, southern France) and California
Viognier wines with other names: Condrieu and Chateau Grillet
Characteristics: Wines made from the Viognier grape are rather chic these days – an ironic fact considering how little of it is grown in the world. The grape’s flavor and aroma are certainly intriguing, and the soft style of most Viognier wines is easy to enjoy. Like Gewürztraminer, Viognier adapts well to the smells-sweet-but-tastes-dry style of wine. Some producers of Condrieu wine, from the northern Rhone Valley of France are using oak to make more serious and mainstream wines based on Viognier.
White Zinfandel {It’s not a grape varietal as much as it’s a process}
Origin: A happy accident by Bob Trinchero and Sutter Home winery in 1972. Fun story to Google.
Significant in: California
Characteristics: White Zinfandel wine is made from the red Zinfandel grape, but the grape skins are quickly removed after they are crushed so there is significantly less contact time with the heavily pigmented red grape skin, resulting in a pink/rose colored wine, instead of a deep red wine. The wine is very fruity and high in residual sugar.
