White Wine Basics
Wine is everywhere. Movies and TV shows feature it as a way to unwind or enjoy a chic night out. Restaurants boast robust lists of varieties to pair with their dishes. And stores have literal walls of bottles to choose between. The wine section process is a beast. There are so many choices in each variety. How do you know which to choose? What does it all mean? Don’t worry, I have you covered. I worked at a vineyard for a year and also am an avid wine drinker. In this article, I am going to break down the basics of typical white wines you will find in an American store or an average restaurant as well as two others to up your wine game. These include:
· Moscato
· Reisling
· Pinto Grigio
· Chardonnay
· Sauvingnon Blanc
Others:
· Pinto Gris
· Gewurztraminer
Before we get into the types of wine, I want to cover some wine basics. This will help build a strong foundation:
Serving: White wine is traditionally served chilled. That is why it is such a great summer wine! Keep it in the fridge prior to serving.
Sweet vs dry: A wine is typically described based off of its sweetness or dryness. Sweet wines are simple, they are sweet and often compared to a fruit juice. These are great wines to start with if you are working your way into the wine world. Dry wines have more of a tartness to them. A good semi-sweet is typically easy to drink while not being drastic in any direction.
“Corked” wine: If someone says a wine is “corked”, it does not mean that it has a cork in it to keep it sealed. A wine is considered corked if it has gone bad. Typically, this is due to oxygenation. It will have a bitter, not-great taste.
Food pairings: White wine is normally paired with seafood or chicken. If you are at a restaurant, ask your waiter what the best pairing is; however, they may choose a pricier option that they are taught to sell. Choosing a seafood or chicken option is a very safe bet when drinking white wine.
Moscato: Poster child of Sweet; entry level wine
A lot of people have strong feelings about Moscato. It is a very, very sweet wine. This is typically what people start drinking in college or at the beginning of their white wine journey. The brand Barefoot has a Moscato that is an easy starting point and with a low price point. If you are drinking Barefoot Moscato, do not be surprised if you wake up with a hangover if you drink too much. Drink a glass of water between each glass of wine if you are concerned. Typically, Moscato wines are lower in ABV than their dryer counterparts.
Riesling: German Semi-sweet. Easy drinker
Hands down one of the easiest wines to drink. It is of a German variety. If you are in a store, it will have a smaller section than the more popular varieties on this list. It is worth the hunt for it. Some folks say that it is too sweet, but if you are bringing it to a dinner or to share with friends, it is a safer best than some of the polarizing styles on this list.
Pinto Grigio: Italian, semi-sweet to dry
This is an Italian wine that is very common. I personally have not met a Pinot Grigio I enjoy, but I will drink them in a pinch. They are more dry than a Riesling but not nearly as dry as a Sauvignon Blanc.
Chardonnay: Dry
Chardonnay is a tricky variety because there are three types: oaked, unoaked, and semi oaked. Each have a wildly different taste and notes . So, if you try a chardonnay and do not like it, try to identify the type you have tried for future reference and try the other.
Oaked: An oaked Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels. Some vineyards use either French or American oak. This wine is said to have a more “buttery” flavor and typically will have notes of toasty notes
Unoaked: An unoaked Chardonnay is put in steel vats instead of the oak barrels. This makes the wine have a crisper, more fruit-forward flavor.
Semi-oaked: Some vineyards will get the best of both worlds by shortening the oak-barrel aging time and finishing it off in stainless steel vats. This allows the wine to have a less “toasted” taste.
Sauvignon blanc: Dry
This wine can be quite jarring if you are not used to dry wines. When trying wines, I always recommend people start with sweet or semi-sweet and work their way up to a Sauvignon Blanc. It is traditionally paired with seafood. It also has a higher ABV than a moscato will. A lot of white sangria recipes will call for this type of wine as well.
Pinto Gris: French. Dry
At the vineyard I worked at, we described the Pinot Gris the French version of Pinto Grigio. This wine is going to be much more dry than the other varieties on this list. The only other wine here that is dryer would be the Sauvignon Blanc. I prefer this wine to a Pinot Grigio due to its dryness and flavor. This is also a less common varietal.
Gewurztraminer: German. Semi-Sweet Amazing.
A gewürztraminer is a semi-sweet white wine that is more difficult to find than a Riesling. They are often found with the Rieslings; however, if you are in a robust wine store, it could also be featured in the German wine section. It is a fruit-forward easy drinker. This is my favorite type of white wine.
Wine tasting tips:
If you’re at a vineyard or winery and want to taste wine, be prepared that the serving of each wine is an ounce or less. The point is to taste the wine to later purchase a glass or bottle of one that you enjoy. Remember to have a good time. If you cannot taste all of the notes that the tasting room host is explaining, that’s okay! There is a learning curve to wine. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself.
Note: Some vineyards have a “spit bucket” others have a discard bucket that is not meant to be spit into. If you are unsure, please ask your tasting room specialist and they will be more than happy to explain it.
Conclusion
White wine is a great beverage to enjoy, especially during the hot summer months! It is traditionally served chilled and pairs well with seafood or chicken dishes. As with most new adventures, you may run into varieties you may not enjoy and that is okay! Ask questions and have a good time.