Different Types of White Wine

White wines pair well with fish and poultry.

Lovers of white wine can easily find a favorite to suit their tastes. Created from white grapes, white wines range from very dry to quite sweet and have a wide variety of notes and flavors. White wines are made from vineyards in several countries throughout the world. Factors, such as climate and ripening times, affect the grapes and help differentiate types of white wine.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is arguably one of the world's best loved white wines due in large part to its versatility. Chardonnay varies depending on where in the world its grapes are grown. It is produced in several places and is commonly associated with the Burgundy region of France where it is the primary white wine. Chardonnay is also produced in California, Oregon, Australia and South Africa. It has a velvety texture and complex layering of flavors that often contain tastes of citrus fruits, nuts or vanilla.

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is so named for the region of Italy from which it hails. In America, it is sometimes referred to as Pinot Gris. In America it is grown in California and the Northwestern states, while in Europe it's grown in Germany and the Alsace region of France. It is a crisp, light white wine that tends to be more acidic tasting in Europe and more full-bodied in the U.S. It has a fruity, slightly spicy and overall dry taste.

Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is also called Fume Blanc and comes from the Bordeaux region of France. It is also grown in France's Loire Valley as well as in New Zealand and California. It is a dry wine with smoky notes and a flavor sometimes compared to freshly-mown grass or hay. Chenin Blanc is another white wine that hails from the Loire Valley in France. It is also grown in California where it is commonly used in less expensive table wines. Chenin Blanc is high in acidity and has a light, somewhat fruity taste.

Riesling and Gewurztraminer

Riesling is Germany's best known white wine variety. It is grown in the Rhine region of Germany, in France and in areas of the Eastern portion of the U.S., such as New York's Finger Lake district. Riesling has a nice balance of sweetness and acidity. Gewurztraminer is another white wine grown in Germany and France's Alsace region. Its name means "spicy" in German. It is a bold, aromatic wine that smells of spices like nutmeg and clove, and tastes quite crisp.

Semillon and Viognier

Semillon is a white wine that comes from the Bordeaux region in France. On its own, Semillon can be quite rich, sometimes too rich, so it is most often combined with Sauvignon Blanc to cut its rich flavor reminiscent of figs. Viognier is another French wine and comes from the Rhone region of France. It is also sometimes too sweet or fruity on its own and is blended with other wines, such as the red wine Syrah to create Cote Rotie.

References

• Basic Wine Knowledge: Types of White Wine
• French Scout: The Seven Major Types of White Wines
• Food and Beverage Underground: Types of White Wine