What are the Most Popular Types of White Wine?
If I’m honest, I tend towards white wine over red. I enjoy the flavours and find it easier to drink. I also have a little more knowledge about whites than red wines, although I use the term loosely – I know what I like! But there are a lot of types of white wine to explore. Shall we start?
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White wine basics
There are hundreds of different types of white wine that come from around the world ranging from dry to sweet. Then there’s champagne and other sparkling wines which most often come in white varieties.
The varieties of grapes and the way the wine is made all impacts the taste, as does where the grapes are grown. A chardonnay wine from France, for example, will taste different to a chardonnay from Australia because there are different factors that go into how the taste is created.
Storing white wine
There are general tips that apply to storing all wines such as keeping a steady temperature and away from sunlight. Plus if it has a real cork, keep the bottle on its side so the cork doesn’t dry out and come apart.
As far as specific tips for storing white wines, the best temperature is between 45-50 F (7-10 C). Most people will tell you to put white wine in the fridge but actually, most fridges run colder than this. Plus the motor that keeps them cool causes vibrations and this isn’t great for the wine. So while cooling it down for a short time is okay in the fridge, don’t store it there longer term.
White wine glasses
Generally, white wine glasses are more of a U-shape and upright than a red wine glass. They have a slightly smaller bowl which helps to preserve the aromas of the wine while keeping the temperature right. Some examples of white wine glasses include:
- Sauvignon blanc/Viognier glasses – tall with a slender bowl ideal for light to medium fruity or floral wines such as Bordeaux, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Grigio
- Montrachet/Vintage glass – larger bowl for complex and heavier white wines to allow enough air in
- Chardonnay glass – larger opening and a balanced bowl for wines such as Chardonnay and Semillon
- Sweet white wine glasses – generally smaller with the wine guided to the centre and to stop overwhelm from the sweetness, often used for Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel as well as sweet wines
Cooking with white wine
White wine is very popular for cooking and with good reason. It works well with creamy sauces, soups, pasta dishes and you can even use sweet wines in desserts.
One of the best tips is never to cook with a wine you wouldn’t drink. That’s because if you don’t like to drink the wine, there’s a good chance you won’t like the taste of food cooked with it (and yes, this gives a good reason to sample the wine first!)
Also use the right wine for the recipe. If a dish calls for a red wine, don’t substitute a white because the effect won’t be so great. Look at the instructions too – if a dish says simmer for 10 minutes, stick with this. Any longer and the wine could start to change the taste and not for the better.
Is white wine good for you?
We often hear people talk about red wine as being good for you in small amounts but what about white wine? Can you justify a glass as being a bit on the healthy side?
For starters, white wines contain antioxidants that help to fight oxidative stress on the body. Some of the European white wines can have a similar amount of antioxidants to olive oil and studies show that they could be just as helpful to the heart and artery function as their red cousins.
So while moderation is always key, a glass of white wine can definitely help your body fight the nature effects of those nasty free radicals.
Main types of white wine
When you start shopping for wine, you will quickly notice some types of white wine that appear the most often. And they can be a good place to start when you are getting the hang of white wine. Plus the more types you try, the more you will learn about what you like.
| Wine | Flavours | Dryness | Body | Tannins | Acidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chardonnay | Yellow apple, starfruit, pineapple, vanilla, butter | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Gooseberry, honeydew melon, grapefruit, white peach, passionfruit | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Riesling | Lime, green apple, beeswax, jasmine | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Chenin Blanc | Quince, yellow apple, pear, chamomile, honey | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Muscat Blanc | Orange blossom, meyer lemon, mandarin orange, Asian pear, honeysuckle | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Semillon | Lemon, beeswax, yellow peach, chamomile, salt | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Gewürztraminer | Lychee, rose, grapefruit, tangerine, ginger | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️ |
| Viognier | Tangerine, peach, mango, honeysuckle, rose | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ |
| Chablis | Quince, starfruit, lime peel, white flowers, chalk | ⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
Sweet white wines
Sweet white wines or dessert wines can often come from the same grapes as dry wines, but the process used to make them is a little different.
Sauternes and Barsac wines come from Bordeaux in France and are two of the true dessert wines. Sauternes go from light straw to deep gold in colour and have a high sugar content that means they age well – unlike some sweet wines.
Riesling wines range from dry to sweet with the sweeter versions having a great balance, so they aren’t too sweet. Some of the best come from Germany and from Alsace in France as well as from Australia and parts of the US.
Vin Santo is an Italian sweet white wine that is made from Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes and are often known as straw wines because the grapes are put on straw maps as part of the creation process. They range from dry to very sweet and have a high sugar content.
Ice wines
Almost any white wine can be an ice wine. These are made from grapes that stay on the vine after the first frost, so they are juicier and sweeter than normal. They also have a higher residual sugar level.
Find the perfect white wine
Finding the perfect white wine is about personal taste, how much you want to spend on the bottle and also what you are doing with it. If it is just to enjoy while relaxing in the garden in a summer’s evening, then you can try almost any type of wine. Other times, the pairing with food can play a big part in your choice. But whatever you try, enjoy!
