A Primer on White Wine Varietals

I've researched Associated Content and have found that many individuals write articles about a specific Chardonnay or a specific Pinot Grigio, and never have really spoken of the grape itself except maybe briefly. Whether they did not find this important or this may not have been the essence of their story I think it is something everyone should know more about. If you know more about the grape then you will know more about the wine. Its almost as if this article is a prequel to all other mentioning various wines.

Before we get started you must realize I do not want to overload your brain with information on substantial amounts of grapes. However, I will list 5 of the most common grapes that produce the most popular white wines so that these will be easy to remember. If you read my first article about How To Sound Like A Wine Connoisseur I gave you some basic terms to understand when reading the back of a wine bottle to get a better understanding of all the fancy words and then integrate them into conversation. Here I am going to do the same except we are going to get a little more in depth about each categorized wine and grape. It will not only help you sound like a Connoisseur, but you can pass it on to your friends that either enjoy or want to enjoy the fascination of wine.

Chardonnay: The most popular grape grown in the United States is Chardonnay which is a green skinned grape. You will find most Chardonnay wines to have an aroma of tropical fruits, apples or pears, and even occasionally lemons. To find out how each Chardonnay differentiates there are three main terms that are used when describing Chardonnay; Crisp, Desserts, Fruit Driven, and Rich and Complex.

Crisp: If you are not a fan of oaky flavors then Crisp is the way to go. Although the driest of Chardonnays there are only minimal hints of oak if any at all. These particular grapes are produced in cooler climates to give off a more citrus flavor than others.

Fruit Driven: You will find the Chardonnay grapes that produce the best fruity flavors will be grown in warmer climate areas which portray the apple, pear, lemon, and tropical fruit characteristics and tend to be the sweeter versions of the Chardonnays.

Rich and Complex: If you ever hear anyone explaining how their Chardonnay has a buttery texture to it you will place it under the Rich and Complex category. This area provides more distinct characteristics such as nutmeg or butterscotch. You will find it interesting that they are aged longer than those of Crisp and Fruit Driven flavors and will provide a darker color which is very noticeable placed next to the others. If you are working on a budget and would like to enjoy a more Rich and Complex wine just keep in mind these will most likely be the higher priced Chardonnays.

Riesling: This is a white skinned grape ripened with sweeter flavors. If you are new to the tastes of wine getting started with a good Riesling is usually the best option. While occasionally it can be dry, most Rieslings are made with a beginning sweeter fruit flavor. As time passes the taste of fruit subsides and it takes on a more distinguished tart characteristic. Riesling grapes were predominantly made in Germany and Alsace, France to enhance the grapes with cooler climates. The popularity in the United States is once again rising so there should be various bottles to try in your local area that sells wine. If you see a screw cap on the bottle do not be fooled into thinking this is a cheap wine as it was one of the first to use these in place of corks.

Sauvignon Blanc: Introduced into America in the 1880s this green skinned grape grows better within warmer regions with cooler areas such as valleys in California. This is due in part to the buds on the vine coming late, but being able to ripen early to weather such roller coaster climates. Depending on what country your Sauvignon Blanc is made in it can have different aromas and tastes. You will find most in the United States can have a grassy yet aggressive aroma with hints of melon while others around the world will produce tropical fruit sensations. While some of the taste could be overwhelming alone the addition of the Semillion grape balance out the Sauvignon Blanc into a delicious treat. If you are a sushi fan Sauvignon Blanc is one of the few wines that pair well with it.

White Zinfandel: When most people are afraid to try different types of wines or are new to tasting wine at all White Zinfandel is usually the first choice. Why many don't understand much about the different White Zinfandels other than it is sweet and has a more fruit punch flavor to it the Zinfandel grape is not white at all, its red. The pinkish color that is produced in the bottle comes from separation from the skin and using fermentation for minimal amounts of time that will leave this wine looking blush. It is a great starter wine, but many venture out and try other wines simply because this taste is extremely familiar. A great story to tell your friends while enjoying White Zinfandel is that it came to be merely by accident. Sutter Home's had come acrossed a problem called stuck fermentation in 1975 and had taken this wine and set it aside only to find that after a few weeks the taste was much better than the original and they began selling it as such with the pinkish color. If you go to a store that sells wine you find this one to be one of the inexpensive ones.

Pinot Grigio: This grape also of color as the Zinfandel grape is made to make this white wine primarily with its juices. Pinot Grigio in the United States is made in Oregon where aromas of pear, melon, and apples are present along with production in California which gives off a more crisp peppery feel. You will find the majority of Pinot Grigio to be of sweeter value as the levels of sugar are very high which occurs to its early maturing throughout cooler climates. With over 3500 acres of land between Oregon and California it is expected to overtake White Zinfandel as the 4th best selling wine varietal in the United States by the end of 2007.

Keep in mind these are only basic facts that coincide with each grape varietal, and to keep this article from becoming drawn out I instead gave you some simple information that will be easy to remember. Next lesson we will go through five of the red wine grape varietals Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Red Zinfandel. If you are new to wine I hope you are learning little by little as I will continue to bring helpful articles along the way. Until Next Time........................