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.

Glass Bottles and More

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 ...

Recommended Glass Bottles Items

Laguiole Steak Knives Palissander Wood (Set of 6)


These exceptional knives are still made by hand in Theirs France where the original Laguiole knife was crafted by ironsmiths in 1829. Both the fine palissander wood handle and the razor sharp 9' stainless steel blade are ergonomically curved for perfect balance and performance. Lifetime warranty.


Price: 109.95 USD



Headlines on Glass Bottles

Physics: Don’t Wine About It

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:03:20 PDT
You can use NMR to tell you if it’s still good, and now you can tell how old the bottles are by hitting them with an ion beam. Nuclear Physicists Fight Wine Fraud The beams, which are directed at the glass, not the wine, can distinguish how old the bottles are and where they might originate. …] To prevent counterfeiters from filling authentic old bottles with ordinary wine, Williams intends to combine the ion beam test with another established method that checks for levels of a radioactive

Ten Ways to Make Your House Look Better

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:33:26 PDT
Paint Jobs Need an Opinion If your deciding to paint the room, pick a color that your whole family agrees on. If it's someone's room, make sure to check with your 14 year old daughter about that light shade of pink, or your son about that deep navy blue that your about to paint his wall with. Once you and your family have decided on what color your going to paint a particular room, it's time to choose a shade. If you are positive that you are going to paint the room, then buy very small bottles

From Overweight Bottles to Naked Grapes, Wine Nonsense Thrives (Bloomberg.com)

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:34:36 PDT
Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The ever-rising tide of wine nonsense shows no signs of receding. Allow me to vent. First up: the growing number of bodybuilder bottles that egotistical producers use to persuade us that the wine inside is oh-so-serious and deserves that $50-plus price tag.

A Power Walk (Israel National News)

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:28:36 PDT
This would be money well spent. June 2008 Shards of glass litter the sidewalk. Plastic cups, empty soda bottles and bits of food clinging to paper plates have found refuge in the open ditches. Candy wrappers swirl in the wind.


Barefoot Wine
Liquor Cabinet | Make Wine

Labels: Wine Opener | Wine Pairing

&type=page">