White Wine - The Basics And Types
Friday, July 30th, 2010White wine is a favorite for many people because it is light and can be consumed with many different foods. It also makes a nice relaxing drink among friends and gatherings such as weddings, dinner parties, and a quiet evening for two. The truth is, white wine is hugely popular in all areas of the world. With that in mind, it is important to know the seven major types of white wines, even though they may fall under various brand names, knowing each one helps when selecting various wine selections.
First, there is the popular Chardonnay, this was immensely popular in the 1990’s and continues to be a favorite for many gatherings. The wine originated in France and has a wider-bodied or velvety taste than red or dry wines. The wine characteristics includes citrus including grapefruit and lemon.
Sauvignon Blanc is also of French origin white wine, very versatile and perfect for salads or seafood. This type of white wine is also fruity in flavor, but centers more on pears, gooseberries, sour apples, and tropical fruits, with an aftertaste that’s herbal.
Semillon wine is a great wine to have with fish. Its fig-flavored overtones make it a favorite, and it can also be mixed with Sauvignon for a wonderful combination.
Muscat wine is best all by itself, and not drunk with food. This sweet, fruity wine has a musky aroma. Many consider this wine to be too sweet, but others enjoy this characteristic, such that this wine’s popularity is all based on preference and taste.
Pinot Grigio originates in Italy and is an extremely versatile wine when it comes to food pairings. Typical tastes include crisp, clean with a fruity taste, and intensely aromatic.
Riesling is a variety of wine that goes well with chicken, pork or fish. It comes from Germany and is light and sweet, fresh tasting. It gets better as it ages.
The last wine on our list, Gewurztraminer, also hails from Germany. It has a light taste perfect for sipping. Its flavor is fruit-based, coming from peaches or rose petals. Some think it’s not as refreshing as some types of white wine, but it truly has a unique flavor.
White wine is very popular because it’s so versatile and light. It’s semi sweet to sweet taste makes it very popular among those who have just started drinking wines; they may then move on to drier versions as they develop their tastes. Other people like white wines because they’re so versatile, and because they go so well with different occasions; they can also be perfectly paired with different types of food. Most white wines are served chilled and not at room temperature, as some drier wines or as some red wine varieties are. Many people like this cold, refreshing presentation, because it’s attractive to their taste buds; warmer versions of dry wines may not be so appealing. White wines are refreshing and are great served chilled because of this characteristic.
Written by Robin Saunders, a proficient writer that tackles different topics that are not limited to alcohol, DUI, alcohol tester etc. The author personally uses Alcohawk, find out why it’s one of the best testers out there.