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White Wine
Popular and Versatile

As our mission is to give you as much information as possible without the "wine snob" attitude, we have listed some basic information for the most popular white wines, along with food pairing suggestions to help with your selections when you are preparing for your wine tastings.

There are so many white grape varieties that the number of white wines are many. Listed here are the white wines that are most often requested in restaurants and are most familiar.

The King of White Wine

Chardonnay is known as the king of white wines. It is a very versatile grape that is grown in both warm and cool climates. The flavors and aromas of Chardonnay are influenced by the climate in which it is grown and how the wine is made.

The fruit flavors in Chardonnay range from green apple and lime when grown in cooler climates to tropical fruits such as melon when grown in warm climates.

When Chardonnay is fermented in oak barrels it has a richness that is characterized by honey and butter flavors. When it is fermented in stainless steel it often has more mineral flavors and is crisp and fresh on the palate.

Food Pairing: Chardonnay is paired with seafood and shellfish as well as chicken, pork, and turkey. Pair softer cheeses such as brie and camembert with Chardonnay.

Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris is a popular variety grown in many wine regions around the world. It is a white wine that may be labeled as either Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio.

The pinot gris grape produces different styles of wine depending on the region where it's grown and how it's made. The wines produced from this grape also vary in color from a deep golden yellow to a light copper color.

glass of white wine The pinot gris grape is widely grown in Italy and is known as Pinot Grigio which is light in color and body. Flavors associated with Pinot Grigio are lemons, oranges and melons. Pinot Grigio is a popular aperitif served with nuts, crostini, or light cheese courses in Italy.

From the regions of Alsace France, Oregon and New Zealand you will find a Pinot Gris that is rich and will have more acidity.

Food Pairing: Seafood and simple pasta and vegetable dishes; roasted chicken.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc has moved up in popularity since the late '90's. In California, Sauvignon Blanc has become known and is labeled as Fumé Blanc.

Food Friendly
Sauvignon Blanc can handle strong and pungent flavors that would otherwise clash with or overpower almost all other dry white wines.

In the Bordeaux region Sauvignon Blanc is often blended with Semillon grapes. This popular blend adds a richness to the wine and gives it an extra element of figs to the aroma which softens the sometimes abrasive character of Sauvignon Blanc.

Other popular growing regions are New Zealand and South Africa.

Some of the flavors in Sauvignon Blanc are apples, lemons, limes, grapefruit, melons, peaches, mangos, herbs, bell peppers, minerals, and grass. The phrase "cat's pee" was used to identify sauvignon blanc, however, in recent years this phrase is not used as often.

Food pairing: with dry-style Sauvignon Blanc or Fumé Blanc chicken, light or delicate types of fish. Pair acidic style cheeses such as feta and goat cheese.

Riesling

Riesling grapes are considered one of the greatest white wine grapes in Europe. It can make dry, off dry, and sweet wines with tangy acidity and notes of mineral, floral and citrus with flavors of green apple, pear and lime making it crisp and refreshing. Rieslings are always unoaked allowing lots of pure fruit to shine through.

How Do You Know if Reisling is Sweet or Dry?
The Alcohol content can help.

SWEET -- Alcohol is 10% or under

OFF-DRY (Slightly Sweet) -- Alcohol is 10 to 12%

DRY -- Alcohol is 12.5% or higher

The best Rieslings come from cool climates such as Germany and the Alsace region of France. California Rieslings are softer and with more of a fuller body than the European wines.

Riesling is also grown in Washington State, Finger Lakes in New York, and in parts of Australia.

Intense fruit flavors in Riesling are balanced by the strong acidity which allow Rieslings to age well. Some aged Rieslings take on honey flavors.

Food Pairing: ham, poultry, pork, Thai food, and popular take-out Chinese food.

Gewürztraminer

Gewürztraminer is an aromatic variety of German origin, and is grown in the Alsace region of France as well as in some "new world" winemaking regions.

It is a medium to full-body wine, and has very distinct characteristics. It's sometimes golden color is from the tinted skin of the grapes making it slightly darker than that most other white wines. It is fruity and crisp with floral flavors of honeysuckle, peaches, apricots, grapefruit, gingerbread, vanilla, clove, nutmeg and allspice. And it has powerful aromas of litchi, rosewood, gingerbread and citrus zest.

It can range in style from dry to sweet. When left on the vines for late harvest, it becomes rich and complex making an excellent dessert wine.

Food Pairing: Ham, pork, and also spicy Asian dishes

Viognier

Viognier has long been cultivated in the Northern Rhone region of France. It has increased in popularity since the 1980's.

Though it is not easy to grow, and its yields are low, Viognier's exceptional aromas have won over many winemakers around the globe.

Viognier is characterized by its heady aromas of white flowers and spice, and generous fruit flavors of melon, apricot and white peach and is low in acidity.

It is produced as both a single varietal and as a blend with Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.

Food Pairing: shellfish and simple chicken dishes

Appetizers with White Wine
Matching Food and Wine Help
Vegetarian Wine Pairing Tips
Glossary of Grapes

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