Major White Grape Varieties And Their Wines
The most obvious difference between grapes is their skin color
. They are either a "white variety" or a "red (or black) variety." Beyond this each grape is very unique and imparts different traits and characteristics to the wine from which they are made. Such traits are acidity, the skin thickness, size of the grapes (berries) and the aromatic compounds present, such as floral, earthy, fruity or herbaceous compounds. These differences will give the finished product distinct aromas and flavors, textures, body and color.
To begin, a world- wide favorite dry, white wine is Chardonnay made from the Chardonnay grape, which is grown in every wine producing country in the world, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, California, Washington State, Oregon, New York, Virginia and Texas. Depending on where the grapes are grown this creamy, full bodied wine can have fruity flavors and aromas of green apple, lemon and pineapple. Other distinct aromas are of vanilla, butterscotch, spice, minerals and earthy mushrooms, which result when Chardonnay is fermented for a time in oak. Oak also makes it even creamier and richer. Most white wine drinkers enjoy the oak very much. The alcohol level of Chardonnay is 13% or greater. This wine is often enjoyed as an aperitif wine but also pairs excellently with many foods.
The Riesling grape is grown in South Africa, Australia, Austria, Alsace, France, Germany, New York, Virginia, California and Washington State. This grape is more temperamental about where it is grown and it prefers cooler climates, such as the Alsace region of France, Germany, Austria and New York. Unlike Chardonnay, Riesling is crisp and light in body. Many are quite sweet but there are also many dry Rieslings available. If you prefer this wine dry look for "dry" on the label of a Riesling produced in the United States and "trocken" on a label of German Riesling. It offers a lower alcohol level as low as 8% and has high acidity. Experience the aromas and flavors of melon, peach, apricots with mineral overtones. Oak is rarely used in the fermentation of Riesling. This is an excellent wine to pair with a variety of foods.
Another dry, white wine is Sauvignon Blanc. Very different from the favorite white, Chardonnay, which is creamy and buttery in the mouth, this wine is more earthy in aroma with flavors that are tart, grassy (some call this gooseberry), herbal and with high acidity. Sauvignon Blanc is medium bodied and usually un-oaked. The Loire Valley in France boasts the best in this category with its production of Sancerre and Pouilly -Fume wines. The Sauvignon Blanc grape is also grown in Austria, Chile, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Texas, Washington State and California. In California vintners often call the wines made from this grape Fume Blanc.
A major grape in Bordeaux, France is Semillon with Australia its second famous home. Semillon is low in acidity with an herbaceous aroma. Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, very different from each other, are often blended with excellent results. This is the grape used in Bordeaux to produce sweet Sauterne wines and dry white Bordeaux. Some is grown in California where it is also most often blended with Sauvignon Blanc with delicious results.
Once the most popular white grape grown in California, Chenin Blanc, it has lost first place in popularity to Chardonnay. Still produced in California in smaller amounts Chenin Blanc is a very pleasant drinking wine with softness and the fruity flavors of apricots, melons, peaches, pears and apple. The Loire Valley, France, produces the best Chenin Blanc grapes especially in the appellations (geographical areas) of Vouvray and Savennieres. The wines produced from theses grapes are named and labeled "Vouvray" and "Savennieres" after the name of the geographic area rather than the grape. In France Chenin Blanc is made from very sweet to bone dry and has high acidity. The leading white grape in South Africa is Chenin Blanc. The wine from this grape there is called "Steen."
We have many superb white wines to choose from, so experiment by trying wines made from all the classic white grapes. Head to your wine merchant and ask questions and read labels. He or she may even let you taste too. Enjoy and Cheers!
by: Harry Linzie
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