The color and characteristic of a wine is derived from the grapes used. In this article, we take a quick look at white wines commonly enjoyed by wine enthusiasts.

A Quick Guide to White Wines

When discussing white or red wines, it is always important to remember that much of the discussion falls into a bit of a fuzzy area. Why? Well, white wines are rarely white for the first thing. Second, many a winery actually mixes wines of all varieties together to produce a desired flavor and aroma. Thus, the "white" wine you are drinking may not be entirely white. Having said that, there is little reason to avoid discussing what are traditionally known as white wines.

The dominant grape in the white wines is undisputedly the Chardonnay. It is a rare day you can find any wine drinker who has not sipped more than a few Chardonnay whites. The wine is incredibly popular for a number of reasons. First, there is a lot of it because the vine can be grown practically anywhere and is! Second, the wine is known for an "oak" flavor, which is extremely popular with wine drinkers. Third, the wine is very flexible and can be produced with a wide variety of fruit aromas and flavors. Chardonnay white wines traditionally have been very dry and full bodied. With the wide range of wineries producing vintages, however, a wide variety of flavors and bodies are on the market.

Sauvignon Blanc should either be next or dead last on our list of whites. This is a take it or leave it grape. The taste is sharp and dry. This is a not a wine where you will find fruity mixes and such. It is a classic, traditional white that people either love or hate. Personally, I love it and it goes number two since I am writing this article!

Riesling white wines are next on our list. This is a German wine that is excellent if you buy from a German winery. You can find French and American wineries producing it, but it simply isn't the same. This is a light wine often described as "refreshing" although I must admit I have never understood that term. The Riesling whites take a beating by wine gurus, but you can find this dry, light white to be just the trick. It is markedly different than the Chardonnay, so give it a try.

There are a variety of other white grapes that are used to produce interesting vintages, but we are going to skip them to discuss a less-known grape that is up and coming. The Viognier grape is found in the Rhone Valley in France and is used to produce a flavorful, dry white that is excellent. It is typically a medium body wine with low acidity and often has a fruity aroma to it. It is a personal favorite that I suggest you try.

When it comes to white wines, there is no disputing Chardonnay is the king of the vine. Still, you should make an effort to move beyond the king to discover the interesting other vintages available.

About the Author

Xavier Moldini is with WineriesforYou.com - a directory of wineries.

A synopsis on Wine Varietal.

A Quick Guide to White Wines


The color and characteristic of a wine is derived from the grapes used. In this article, we take a quick look at white wines commonly enjoyed by wine ...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Featured Wine Varietal Items

The FTD Forever at Peace Arrangement - Standard


A tender sentiment expressed in a striking pink and white bouquet. This basket of flowers contains white calla lilies, pink roses, and heather. Appropriate to send to a home or to a funeral. S5-3497S


Price: 319.99 USD



Headlines on Wine Varietal

Wine blogger shares tips on getting the best (The Star)

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:32:03 PDT
Creating symphonies with spirits is what Ron Khoo does best. No, he’s not a medium, instead he is involved in wine, and lots of it.

Manhattan Software Named Leader in the 2008 Integrated Workplace Management Systems Market

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:00:00 PDT
BOSTON, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Manhattan Software is a leading provider of real estate software according to Gartner, Inc. based on their recently released Magic Quadrant. The Magic Quadrant positions Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) software companies according to their vision and ability to execute. Manhattan is at the top of the Leaders Quadrant. Gartner, Inc. says that “leaders are vendors that are performing well today, have a clear vision of market direction and are actively

Social networking: Growing pains (Canadian Business)

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:31:05 PDT
Cynthia and David Enns had a very good 2007. The co-owners of Laughing Stock Vineyards, a small premium winery based in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, won a gold medal for their 2005 Portfolio in the meritage red category at the 2007 Canadian Wine Awards.

An Interview with Pete Johnson

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:52:17 PDT
On 5/28/08 my daughter and I ventured up to Hollywood, CA to interview Pete Johnson, creator of the Tatuaje line of cigars. Located on the famous Sunset Strip, we joined Pete at his shop for an intriguing and entertaining 3 ½ hour interview! Pete is definitely a class act! Very humble, very modest. During our time together, we smoked a Tatuaje Black Robusto, and the new Tatuaje La Riqueza Lonsdale (I was only the second person to smoke a banded one!!). He even walked out several times to keep

New York Real Estate Executive Ian Levine Forms The Spandrel Group; Launches Two New Real Estate Ventures

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:45:55 PDT
New York City-based real estate executive Ian Levine has formed The Spandrel Group. The umbrella company will unite Spandrel Property Services, a boutique property management and brokerage firm Levine founded in 2000, with two newly launched real estate ventures—Spandrel Marketing Services and Spandrel Staffing Services. This new group of affiliated companies continues Levine’s plan for corporate growth. New York, NY (PRWEB) August 8, 2008 — New York City-based real estate executive Ian Lev

WEB MD Sleep Expert Explains the Reality of Sleep Disorders

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:37:48 PDT
WEB MD Sleep Expert Explains the Reality of Sleep Disorders August 8th, 2008 This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s Fountain of Youth Summit, which can be found at (http://fountainofyouthworldsummit.com) . In this excerpt, Dr. Michael Breus shares on reality of sleep and sleep disorders. The Fountain of Youth World Summit with Dr. Michael Breus, the author of Good Night and Web MD’s sleep expert. Kevin: I think it’s going to be an awesome talk. And as many people out there know a


Wine Guide
Wine Vintages | Wine Warehouse

Labels: Muscat Grape

&type=page">