White Wine

White wines come in many style and varietals. The body, flavor, and color of white wine can vary because of the type of grape and if oak is used.  Generally speaking the more golden the color the longer the wine has been in oak.  If a wine is not aged in oak, the flavor will be lighter and an crisper.  Below are some of the most popular varietals.
Chardonnay- Chardonnay grows all across the globe and is the most popular white grape varietal. Depending on the style, Chardonnay can exhibit buttery aromas, with hints of toasty, creamy vanilla or be drier with hints of apples and tropical richness. Some of the regions that Chardonnay is produced are: Burgundy France, Australia, New Zealand, and Washington State, California, Canada. Chardonnay is found in many Champagnes as well. Ideal soil conditions include chalky, limestone soil. Some characteristics of Chardonnay are lean, crisp, with high acidity.
Pinot Gris/ Pinot Grigio- Thought to be a clone of Pinot Noir it is normally a grey-blue fruit. Widely found produced in Italy where it is known as Pinot Grigio. Depending on style and region, this wine can have characteristics of balanced acidity with slight sweetness, medium to full body. The grape grows best in cool climates and matures early. Meant to be consumed early, Pinot Grigio/ Pinot Gris is found in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, South Africa, and the U.S.

Sauvignon Blanc/ Fume Blanc- This green skinned grape variety originates from the Bordeaux region and exhibits characteristics of clean, crisp, dry and refreshing. It gets it’s name from “Sauvage Blanc” which in French translates to “Wild White” and has a high acidity. This wine is generally tangy, tart and zesty with citrus notes. Depending on the climate the flavor can range from grassy to sweet tropical. Sauvignon Blanc is also found in areas like South Africa, Italy, Australia, France, Chile and Brazil, and New Zealand.
Riesling- Riesling’s are very aromatic and sweet. This varietal originated in Germany. Some of these wines can be categorized under dessert wines. These wines go well with seafood and pork because of their high acidity and sugar content. Some Riesling’s can be dry, neat and well balanced. Found in regions of Germany, Alsace, France, Australia, New Zealand, Washington State, and California.
Viognier- Presumed to have a long history, this grape was brought to the Rhone region by the Romans. Well known for their floral fruit aromas. This wine should be consumed young although some of the late harvested wines are suitable for aging. Predominately dry with low acidity and sometimes used to soften wines, Viognier goes well with spicy foods and Thai cuisine. This grape is also grown in California, France and Australia.
Chenin Blanc- Chenin Blanc originated from the Loire valley of France. This grape has high acidity and has been used in everything from Sparkling wines to Dessert wines. The flavors vary depending on climate. In cool climate areas the grapes exhibit sweet, full-bodied, with high acidity. In dry climates it can be dry, light-bodied with flavors of apples. If harvested late and if the vines develop noble rot, Chenin Blanc can produce an intense, viscous dessert wine with aging capabilities. This grape is also found in Australia, South Africa, Argentina, U.S. and Canada.