An Introduction to White Wine
The majority people have enjoyed a glass of white wine at some point in their lives, however for most, that’s as far as it goes. There are actually seven main types of white wine. Below is an introduction to each of the seven - extremely useful information to help someone pick out a tasteful bottle of white the next time they pay a visit to the local off licence.
Perhaps the most popular type of wine that you’ll hear mentioned is Chardonnay. This is one of the many types of white grapes used to make white wine. If an individual were to pick up a bottle of Chardonnay that mentions just one variety of grape, then the wine will be a ‘varietal wine’ , one that’s named after the grape; it can have a different taste depending on the variety of Chardonnay grape used to ferment the wine. This variety originally originated from the Burgundy area of France, it can be sparkling, or still. It makes for the perfect accompaniment for chicken and fish dishes.
Sauvignon Blanc – A variety of white grape that is grown in the Bordeaux area of France. The grape is commonly mixed with Semillon grapes, and the wine usually is flat, and has no fruit quality whatsoever. This type of white wine is a great accompaniment for seafood dishes, meat and salads. Another mass producer of Sauvignon Blanc Grapes is Australia. Popular products include Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc from New Zealand.
Semillon – An excellent type of white wine to accompany fish dishes. Again this is a type of white grape that can be found in the Bordeaux region of France, and is also produced in Argentina, Australia, California, and Chile.
Muscat White Wine – A great wine to drink on its own, without the accompaniment of food. It’s commonly grown in Austria and Italy. This type of white wine grape tastes extremely fruity, and has a very flavourable musk aroma.
Pinot Grigo – This type of white grape is planted a lot in Italy, and is found in the Venezia and Alto Adiege areas of the country. Austria, America, Germany and Australia also produce the tasty grape. It is known as a very versatile type of white wine, one that can be used to pair up with any type of food, or can in fact be drank alone.
Riesling- A great wine to use after eating fish, chicken and pork dishes it makes for the perfect digestion tool thanks to the acidity of the grape. This type of wine is commonly found in the Mosel, and Rhine areas of Germany. The east of the USA also sports a wide array of Riesling grapes.
Gewurztraminer white wine- Although it sounds German, this type of wine is used to accompany Asian dishes, and sausages. As the name would state, it can commonly be found in Germany, although The West Coast of the USA and New York are also mass producers of the wine.
These are the seven main types of white wine, all of them individual and unique in nature.