White Wine
White wine is the broadest category to describe pale wines made from green and yellow grapes (and vary rarely dark grapes). While not a style, white wines are going to often feature orchard fruit, white florals, or tropical flavors. They come in a range of styles; some are sparkling, some are sweet, but all of our white wines are delicious.
White wine is a huge category and only the first tranche we look to when selecting a wine. Some wine drinkers think that only reds can be serious, but they couldn't be more wrong. Some of the most sought-after wines on earth are white, and they fetch staggering prices that rival the most expensive red wine. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Viognier, and Gewurztraminer, to name but a few, all offer winemakers and wine drinkers something different. The perfect blend of acidity, fruity flavors, minerality, and tannins is unique to each wine grape, and the fun of exploring wine is discovery. Whether a wine can take you to France, California, or New Zealand with just a sip is up to fate.
What are the best White Wines?
From white Bordeaux and Burgundy to Château d'Yquem Sauternes and late harvest Riesling from Germany, many of the best wines that connoisseurs could ever hope to taste are white wines. Oak barrels have a greater impact on white wine, which is why many winemakers opt to use stainless steel. Unoaked white wine boasts delicate and delicious fruity flavors like green apple, apricot, grapefruit, and honeysuckle. This is helpful for pairing, and a Chablis that has undergone fermentation in stainless steel will pair better with shellfish than a more expensive oaked version.
What are the tasting notes of White Wine?
The thrill of discovery is what makes drinking wine fun, and with white wine, the door to adventure is a bit wider than with reds. Sweetness and texture are only two components to making fine wine; just look at Champagne for a wine that bucks all the trends. Just the two French regions of the Loire Valley and Alsace could take a lifetime to explore through wine, which says nothing of all the wines from Oregon, Greece, Argentina, Spain, New York, Italy, Chile, Austria, South Africa, Australia, and the list goes on and on. Head over to our Wine School page to learn more about specific types of white grape.
Want to learn more about White Wines?
Want to learn more about wine? Check out Wine School, where wine drinkers of all levels can learn more about their favorite wines.