White+Wine



__Major types of white wine __

**Riesling**
(Rees-ling) Riesling should taste fresh. If they do, then they might also prove tastier and tastier as they age.
 * [[image:http://www.guideduvin.com/pictures-of-grapes/riesling-small.jpg width="145" height="164" align="right" caption="Old Vine of riesling" link="http://www.frenchscout.com/pictures-of-grapes/riesling-old-vine-Saar"]] ||
 * [|Old Vine of riesling] ||
 * Food-wine pairing:** dry versions go well with fish, chicken and pork dishes.
 * Districts:** the classic German grape of the Rhine and Mosel, riesling grows in all wine districts. Germany's great Rieslings are usually made slightly sweet, with steely acidity for balance. Riesling from Alsace and the Eastern USA is also excellent, though usually made in a different style, equally aromatic but typically drier (not sweet). California Rieslings are much less successful, usually sweet and lacking in acidity for balance.
 * Typical taste** in varietal wine: Riesling wines are much lighter than Chardonnay wines. The aromas generally include fresh apples. The riesling variety expresses itself very differently depending on the district and the winemaking. Rieslings should taste fresh. If they do, then they might also prove tastier and tastier as they age.

**Gewürztraminer**
(Gah-vurtz-tra-meener) A very aromatic variety.
 * [[image:http://www.guideduvin.com/pictures-of-grapes/gewurztraminer-small.jpg width="178" height="182" align="left" caption="Gewürztraminer vine picture" link="http://www.frenchscout.com/pictures-of-grapes/gewurztraminer-Saar"]] ||
 * [|Gewürztraminer vine picture] ||
 * Food-wine pairing:** ideal for sipping and with Asian food, pork and grilled sausages.
 * Districts:** best-known in Alsace, Germany, the USA West Coast, and New York.
 * Typical taste** in varietal wine: fruity flavours with aromas of rose petal, peach, lychee, and allspice. A Gewürztraminer often appears not as refreshing as other kinds of dry whites.

Pinot grigio
(Pee-no gree-zo) Pinot grigio is the name of the pinot gris variety where grown in Italy.
 * Food pairings:** versatile.
 * Districts:** pinot grigio is planted extensively in the Venezia and Alto-Adige regions of Italy. It is called malvoisie in the Loire Valley. In Germany and Austria pinot gris is known as the Ruländer or Grauer Burgunder where it is used to make pleasant, young, white wines. Similar aliases are used in the german settled regions of Australia. Pinot grigio is also grown in the western coastal regions of the U.S.A.
 * Typical taste**: pinot gris can produce **crisp**, dry wines with good acid "bite". Alsace Pinot Gris shows **aromatic**, fruity flavors that improve with a couple of years in the bottle.

**Chardonnay**
(Shar-doe-nay) Chardonnay was the most popular white grape through the **1990's**. It can be made sparkling or still.
 * [[image:http://www.guideduvin.com/pictures-of-grapes/chardonnay-small.jpg width="113" height="183" align="right" caption="Picture of chardonnay vine" link="http://www.frenchscout.com/pictures-of-grapes/chardonnay"]] ||
 * [|Chardonnay vine] ||
 * Food-wine pairing:** it is a good choice for fish and chicken dishes.
 * Districts:** chardonnay makes the principle white wine of Burgundy (France), where it originated. Chardonnay is grown with success in most viticultural areas under a variety of climatic conditions.
 * Typical taste** in varietal wine: often wider-bodied (and more velvety) than other types of dry whites, with rich citrus (lemon, grapefruit) flavours. Fermenting in new oak barrels adds a buttery tone (vanilla, toast, coconut, toffee). Tasting a USD 12 Californian Chardonnay should give citrus fruit flavours, hints of melon, vanilla, some toasty character and some creaminess. [|Burgundy whites can taste very different].

**Sauvignon blanc**
[|Sauvignon blanc] (So-vee-nyon Blah)
 * Food-wine pairing:** a **versatile food wine** for seafood, poultry, and salads.
 * Districts:** New Zealand produces some excellent Sauvignon Blancs. Some Australian Sauvignon Blancs, grown in warmer areas, tends to be flat and lack fruit qualities. Of French origin, sauvignon blanc is grown in the Bordeaux district where it is blended with semillon. It is also grown extensively in the upper Loire valley where it is made as a varietal wine.
 * Typical taste** in varietal wine: generally lighter than Chardonnay — Sauvignon blanc normally shows a herbal character suggesting bell pepper or freshly mown grass. The dominating flavours range from sour green fruits of apple, pear and gooseberry through to tropical fruits of melon, mango and blackcurrant. Quality unoaked Sauvignon Blancs will display smokey qualities; they require bright aromas and a strong acid finish; they are best grown in cool climates.

Semillon
(Say-mee-yaw) From the Bordeaux region of France come the great Sauternes and Barsac. These wines are produced from overripe sémillon grapes. They are blended with sauvignon blanc to produce a syrupy, full-bodied wine that may be world class.
 * Food pairings:** Semillon goes with fish but there are many better matches. Serve dry Semillon with clams, mussels, or pasta salad.
 * Districts:** sémillon is the major white grape in the Bordeaux region of France. Sémillon is also known as Hunter (River Riesling), boal/bual of Madeira, chevrier, columbier, malaga and blanc doux. Sémillon is also grown in Chile, Argentina, Australia, and California.
 * Typical taste**: the wine varietal features distinct **fig-like** character. Sémillon is often blended with sauvignon blanc to delimit its strong berry-like flavors.

**Muscat**
(Moos-cat) More a family of grapes than a single variety, muscat bears no relationship with the Muscadet wine.
 * [[image:http://www.guideduvin.com/pictures-of-grapes/muscat-small.jpg width="164" height="190" align="right" caption="Muscat vine picture" link="http://www.frenchscout.com/pictures-of-grapes/muscat"]] ||
 * [|Muscat vine picture] ||
 * Food-wine pairing:** Muscat shows best on its own: without food.
 * Districts:** any warmer climates.
 * Typical taste**: often sweet and always fruity, with a characteristic grapefruity and musky aroma. Muscat wines are instantly recognizable to anyone who has tasted a Muscat table grape.

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Sources [|Major types of white wine]

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