Get to know the grape wines
White wines add joy to the palate of any wine lover. They are crisp, fruity and refreshing and can be enjoyed alone or with a wide variety of foods. They are dry or sweet. Anyone can find a white wine that they like a lot. The challenge for any new wine lover is how to get acquainted with the different types of white wine. There are so many different labels on the market that it makes your head spin. The secret is to start with the grapes.
There are about twelve popular types of grapes used to make white wine around the world, and of those, four are the top choices for production and consumption in the United States. New wine enthusiasts should begin by familiarizing themselves with these four grapes.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is by far the most widely used grape in the United States and, most likely, the world. In the United States, more Chardonnay wine is consumed than any other type. That is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that there are some exceptional Chardonnays on the market. The curse is that many techniques have been used to produce Chardonnay for cheap and inexpensive mass markets. That produces hardly palatable wines.
Chardonnay grapes originated in the French region of Burgundy. Today, good grapes are grown in countries like Argentina, Australia, South Africa, and Chile. In the United States, they are grown in California, New York, Virginia, Oregon, Texas, and other states. Grapes produce different results depending on the specific climate and soil conditions in which they are grown. French grapes are used to produce what is known as White Burgundy, and wine critics generally consider these wines to be the best produced from the Chardonnay grape. In fact, they are often called the original Chardonnays. Additionally, there are excellent Chardonnay wines produced in California, Oregon, Australia, Chile, and Argentina.
The grape itself produces wines with fruity aromas and flavors. There are flavors of apples, tropical fruits, mushrooms, and minerals in different Chardonnays. Wines tend to have medium to high acidity, which contributes to a sour and crisp taste. Some Chardonnays, particularly inexpensive ones, can be sweet.
White sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc grapes produce highly acidic wines with very noticeable flavors of hay, grass and herbs. There are often notes of fruits and melons. Grapes are traditionally associated with France, but today New Zealand and Australia also have excellent vineyards. Generally, Sauvignon Blanc is not aged in oak.
Riesling
Riesling grapes are most closely associated with Germany, but are also grown in the Alsace region of France, Austria, and Australia. They are not widely grown in the United States and Riesling wine is much less popular in the United States than Chardonnay. Even so, many wine authorities consider it the best of the white wine grapes because it produces wines with delicate fruity flavors and lightness.
Many people think of Riesling as a very sweet wine, but in fact, Riesling can take on different levels of sweetness, from dry to very sweet. It is not oak aged and generally has a low alcohol content and high acidity. It is very fruity and floral, light and refreshing. Start discovering Riesling with Mosel or Rhein Kabinetts from Germany.
Pinot Gray
Pinot Gris is also called Pinot Grigio. Unlike the other grapes, this one is actually purplish in color. Still, they make one of the best white wines. The grapes are associated with France, but are grown in Argentia, Chile, and Oregon. Each zone produces a different grape. An underlying honey flavor is common to all. Then, depending on the growing region, the flavors of pear, floral, peach, spicy and even orange stand out.
How to start
Local wine stores, not a grocery store, are a great resource for discovering white wines. Start with Chardonnay. Select two wines made with 100% Chardonnay grapes, not blends. One must be aged in oak barrels and the other in stainless steel. Many people confuse the flavors of oak with the characteristic Chardonnay flavor. It is not. Try both types of aging to discover the difference. Start with French or California Chardonnays in the mid-price range ($ 15- $ 25 per bottle). Next, move on to Riesling. Start with a wine from Germany and Alsace. Wine store merchants can help you find wines with the right sweetness. Try a sweet and dry Riesling. Next, discover Sauvignon Blanc. Try a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc first. Finally, explore Pinot Gris.
This approach makes it easy to discover personal tastes in white wines. Explore the four most popular grapes first, then discover the other 8 popular grape types and blends. Find out how barrel aging brings its own distinctive flavors to white wine. Experiment with the differences in sweetness and acidity. In the meantime, use wine tasting sheets to record impressions for each wine.
