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.

Thoughts about California Wines

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 California Wines Items

The FTD Fanciful Favorites Bouquet - Deluxe


This enchanting bouquet of yellow lilies and orchids is artfully designed and decorated with greens. B3-2905D


Price: 46.99 USD



News about California Wines

Think your refrigerator is cool??

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:14:12 PDT
While looking into buying a new energy efficient refrigerator I came across this website. Whoever this guy is spends way too much time learning about friges. Some of these refrigerators blew me away. I ended up buying the one with a wine rack and LED lighting . A+ energy efficiency!

Big wine bottle rack

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:37:51 PDT
Full-size wine storage unit with 78 (750 ml) bottle capacity and two refrigerator storage drawers and integrated design accepts custom wood or stainless steel door panels offered in three stainless finishes.

Care for your wine and want to add innovation and elegance to your home?

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:59:49 PDT
The Danby Silhouette DWC512BLS-1 51-Bottle Wine Refrigerator is very popular due to its high quality and extensive feature offering. The one big request our customers kept asking was for a stainless steel door.


Wine Review
Calories Foods
Fine Wines

Labels: Wine Developers

&type=page">