Many wine enthusiasts and those with a passing interest have a preference for white wine. Generally sweeter and less dry and acidic than most reds, whites have a proud place in the world of wine.
If you are someone who is interested in white wines, but perhaps are unsure of exactly what your tastes are, there are many online services which can help you. Online clubs offer advice, tastings, trials and many other deals to help connect you with that perfect bottle that you are seeking out.
White wines are never truly white when poured into a glass and instead are usually somewhere along the color spectrum from a very light greenish-yellow to a deep golden yellow. These different colors that we can see in white wines come from the specific grape varietal which was used to make the wine. White wine comes from both the juice and the skin of green or yellow grapes, hence the color, and these varieties of grapes give us a wide range of tastes that these wines are known for.
Below are the top three main types of grapes for white wine, and some general information.
Chardonnay
Without a doubt, Chardonnay is one of, if not the most, well-known white grape variety on earth, and it produces one of the best white wines available. Originating in France, Chardonnay is noteworthy for its ability to adapt to many different soils and climates. This means that it is able to grow in abundance with consistency in most areas of the world. In modern times, Chardonnay grapes are cultivated across Europe, California, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as other regions.
These different climates give certain features to the wines produced, depending on a variety of factors. These features play a role in the taste, smell, color, and acidity of a wine. With such a diverse range of results, Chardonnay is an incredibly versatile grape that often gives fantastic results.
Sauvignon Blanc
Another very popular white grape varietal across the world is Sauvignon Blanc. Originating around the Bordeaux region of France, the Sauvignon Blanc grapes are now prevalent across most of the wine regions in Europe, the Americas, and Oceania.
As with Chardonnay, the versatility of this grape allows for a wide range of flavors, dependent on where and how it is produced. However, Sauvignon Blanc grapes have some undeniable characteristics which make it easily recognizable, regardless of the location of production.
Riesling
Riesling, after the previous two, is the most popular and common variety of white wine grape. Originally from Germany, this grape is usually grown in colder climates, although there are successful variants being grown in Australia and Argentina.
One of the Riesling’s main strengths is that these wines it produces have brilliant resistance to the aging process, making it one of the best older whites in the world. Most Rieslings will have a distinctive mineral taste to them.
The Bottom Line
If these varieties are familiar and appealing to you, you could consider joining an online wine club to taste more of these varieties. If you are unsure about them, you could also join a tasting club, where you receive small amounts of various wines in order to explore and understand which are more suited to your tastes.