Classic White Wine Grapes
Chardonnay Spiritual home: Burgundy, important in Champagne.
Grown elsewhere: Ubiquitous.
Keywords: Buttery, Tropical fruits..
Profile: The seemingly ubiquitous Chardonnay seems to be planted everywhere. There are multiple reasons for this, but they include the grapes ability to cope with varied climes, its fame as the grape behind great wines such as Chablis and other white Burgundy, and also the wines produced have a great aptitude for taking on flavours from oak. Other than Burgundy and Champagne, the grape has found fame on the labels of wine from Australia, New Zealand, California, South Africa, South America, Eastern Europe, Southern France and even Italy. It would have been quicker to list where the grape isn't extensively cultivated! The characteristics of the wines produced vary considerably, and many aromas an flavours to be found are often down to oak ageing rather than the grape variety. These include, butter, vanilla, spice, toast and mealiness. In its unoaked versions the grape can also give rise to flavours of apples, lemons, melon, pineapple and other tropical fruits, particularly from warm, New World climes. Other characteristics include minerals and flint (especially Chablis).
Sauvignon Blanc Spiritual home: Loire Valley, Bordeaux.
Grown elsewhere: Has found massive fame in New Zealand.
Keywords: Green fruits, tropical fruits.
Profile: This grape is responsible for some of the fine wines of the Loire Valley, with such well-known names as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. To the modern wine drinker, however, it is probably better known as the grape behind the richly flavoured wines that have put New Zealand on the wine map. It also, however, has an important role to play in Bordeaux where, together with Semillon, it is used to produce Sauternes, the fine botrytis-influenced dessert wine of the region). Characteristics of the grape when used to produce a dry wine include cut grass, minerals (especially Sancerre), gunflint and cordite (especially Pouilly), gooseberries, tropical fruits (especially new Zealand).
Riesling Spiritual home: Germany.
Grown elsewhere: Widely planted in Alsace, also Australia.
Keywords: Limes, minerals.
Profile: This grape, which will grow in a wide range of conditions, is most famous for producing some of the finest white wines in the world when it is grown on the steep, slate vineyards that lie on the banks of the Mosel in Germany. This is still the case today, although thanks to the marketing of sickly sweet, non-Riesling derived, fruitless sugar-water concoctions under such fine German names as Piesporter and Niersteiner, German wine is not high in terms of public regard. Seek out wines from top producers to find fine Rieslings from Germany often at a bargain price. This grape is also grown in Alsace, where although produced in a very different style it is also responsible for some very fine wines. Plantings in the New World are increasing, with some success in particular from New Zealand and Australia. Characteristics include floral aromas, fruit blossom, apples, limes, other citrus fruits, tropical fruits (especially New World), as well as slate, minerals (especially Germany).
Semillon Spiritual home: Bordeaux.
Grown elsewhere: Success in Australia.
Keywords: Honey and buttered toast.
Profile: One of two grapes, together with Sauvignon Blanc, that is responsible for Sauternes. Other than in Bordeaux, Semillon is little grown. Nevertheless it has found a niche in the Hunter Valley in Australia, where unoaked versions are capable of long ageing, developing fabulously rich flavours as they do so. Characteristics from dry wines include a waxy texture, butter, honey, toast, , limes and citrus fruits, lemon curd or meringue. Typical Sauternes often tastes of pineapple, quince and other rich fruits, alongside the botrytis.
Viognier Spiritual home: Condrieu (Northern Rhône).
Grown elsewhere: Plantings are increasing in Australia.
Keywords: Peaches, apricots and pine kernels.
Profile: In recent years Viognier was at risk of extinction, with just a few hectares maintained in the fine Northern Rhône appellation of Condrieu. These wines were not widely appreciated despite, in some cases, being extremely fine. In recent years though, many wine makers in Languedoc-Roussillon and the New World have latched on to this grape and plantings are increasing dramatically. These New World examples, if well made, will make a welcome alternative to the expensive Condrieu bottlings. Many have hailed the grape as the 'new Chardonnay' and I would not be surprised if it becomes as well known, even if it is more difficult to pronounce! Characteristic flavours and aromas include peaches, apricots, musk, pine nuts and kernels.
Chenin Blanc Spiritual home: Loire Valley.
Grown elsewhere: Also planted extensively in South Africa.
Keywords: Acidity.
Profile: . This grape is responsible for some of the finest dessert wines in the world, from numerous appellations in the Loire Valley, including Bonnezeaux, Quarts de Chaume, Vouvray and Coteaux du Layon. It also produces some dry wines in the Loire, and is also widely planted in South Africa, where it is known as Steen, although these wines are of much less significance. Typical characteristics of the sweet wines of the Loire include quince, honey, herbal tea and minerals.
Other White Grapes.
Gewurztraminer: A superb grape which produces fine wines in Alsace. Some love it, some hate it. There has been limited success in the New World, particularly New Zealand. Characteristics: spice, bacon, banana, floral elements..
Pinot Gris: Another of the top grapes of Alsace (where it is often called Tokay Pinot Gris), this also produces fine, spicy wines, with better acidity than Gewurztraminer. Also found in Italy (as Pinot Grigio) and Eastern Europe. Characteristics: spice, bacon, tropical fruits.
Muscat: The final variety in this trio of Alsatian grapes. Also found in the Southern Rhône where it is used for dessert wines, as well as Australia, where some exceptionally fine liqueur wines are made. Characteristics: musk, sometimes grapey, orange and citrus peel, floral and aromatic.
Pinot Grigio: Derivative of pinot gris extensively grown in Northern Italy to produce cheap and cheerful, light, fruity dry wines
Verdejo: has long been grown in theRueda region of Spain. Aromatic, fruity and full-bodied.
Viura; also called Macabeo. It is widely grown in Spain.The grape is used to make mildly acidic and young white wines mostly suitable for early consumption. It is often the main grape of white Rioja. Macabeo is traditionally blended to make a sparkling Cava, the best known sparkling wine of Spain.
Torrontes; the characteristic white wine grape of Argentina, producing fresh, aromatic white wines.
Albarino: Grown extensively in the Galicia region of Northern Spain where it produces aromatic, dry wines
Chardonnay Spiritual home: Burgundy, important in Champagne.
Grown elsewhere: Ubiquitous.
Keywords: Buttery, Tropical fruits..
Profile: The seemingly ubiquitous Chardonnay seems to be planted everywhere. There are multiple reasons for this, but they include the grapes ability to cope with varied climes, its fame as the grape behind great wines such as Chablis and other white Burgundy, and also the wines produced have a great aptitude for taking on flavours from oak. Other than Burgundy and Champagne, the grape has found fame on the labels of wine from Australia, New Zealand, California, South Africa, South America, Eastern Europe, Southern France and even Italy. It would have been quicker to list where the grape isn't extensively cultivated! The characteristics of the wines produced vary considerably, and many aromas an flavours to be found are often down to oak ageing rather than the grape variety. These include, butter, vanilla, spice, toast and mealiness. In its unoaked versions the grape can also give rise to flavours of apples, lemons, melon, pineapple and other tropical fruits, particularly from warm, New World climes. Other characteristics include minerals and flint (especially Chablis).
Sauvignon Blanc Spiritual home: Loire Valley, Bordeaux.
Grown elsewhere: Has found massive fame in New Zealand.
Keywords: Green fruits, tropical fruits.
Profile: This grape is responsible for some of the fine wines of the Loire Valley, with such well-known names as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. To the modern wine drinker, however, it is probably better known as the grape behind the richly flavoured wines that have put New Zealand on the wine map. It also, however, has an important role to play in Bordeaux where, together with Semillon, it is used to produce Sauternes, the fine botrytis-influenced dessert wine of the region). Characteristics of the grape when used to produce a dry wine include cut grass, minerals (especially Sancerre), gunflint and cordite (especially Pouilly), gooseberries, tropical fruits (especially new Zealand).
Riesling Spiritual home: Germany.
Grown elsewhere: Widely planted in Alsace, also Australia.
Keywords: Limes, minerals.
Profile: This grape, which will grow in a wide range of conditions, is most famous for producing some of the finest white wines in the world when it is grown on the steep, slate vineyards that lie on the banks of the Mosel in Germany. This is still the case today, although thanks to the marketing of sickly sweet, non-Riesling derived, fruitless sugar-water concoctions under such fine German names as Piesporter and Niersteiner, German wine is not high in terms of public regard. Seek out wines from top producers to find fine Rieslings from Germany often at a bargain price. This grape is also grown in Alsace, where although produced in a very different style it is also responsible for some very fine wines. Plantings in the New World are increasing, with some success in particular from New Zealand and Australia. Characteristics include floral aromas, fruit blossom, apples, limes, other citrus fruits, tropical fruits (especially New World), as well as slate, minerals (especially Germany).
Semillon Spiritual home: Bordeaux.
Grown elsewhere: Success in Australia.
Keywords: Honey and buttered toast.
Profile: One of two grapes, together with Sauvignon Blanc, that is responsible for Sauternes. Other than in Bordeaux, Semillon is little grown. Nevertheless it has found a niche in the Hunter Valley in Australia, where unoaked versions are capable of long ageing, developing fabulously rich flavours as they do so. Characteristics from dry wines include a waxy texture, butter, honey, toast, , limes and citrus fruits, lemon curd or meringue. Typical Sauternes often tastes of pineapple, quince and other rich fruits, alongside the botrytis.
Viognier Spiritual home: Condrieu (Northern Rhône).
Grown elsewhere: Plantings are increasing in Australia.
Keywords: Peaches, apricots and pine kernels.
Profile: In recent years Viognier was at risk of extinction, with just a few hectares maintained in the fine Northern Rhône appellation of Condrieu. These wines were not widely appreciated despite, in some cases, being extremely fine. In recent years though, many wine makers in Languedoc-Roussillon and the New World have latched on to this grape and plantings are increasing dramatically. These New World examples, if well made, will make a welcome alternative to the expensive Condrieu bottlings. Many have hailed the grape as the 'new Chardonnay' and I would not be surprised if it becomes as well known, even if it is more difficult to pronounce! Characteristic flavours and aromas include peaches, apricots, musk, pine nuts and kernels.
Chenin Blanc Spiritual home: Loire Valley.
Grown elsewhere: Also planted extensively in South Africa.
Keywords: Acidity.
Profile: . This grape is responsible for some of the finest dessert wines in the world, from numerous appellations in the Loire Valley, including Bonnezeaux, Quarts de Chaume, Vouvray and Coteaux du Layon. It also produces some dry wines in the Loire, and is also widely planted in South Africa, where it is known as Steen, although these wines are of much less significance. Typical characteristics of the sweet wines of the Loire include quince, honey, herbal tea and minerals.
Other White Grapes.
Gewurztraminer: A superb grape which produces fine wines in Alsace. Some love it, some hate it. There has been limited success in the New World, particularly New Zealand. Characteristics: spice, bacon, banana, floral elements..
Pinot Gris: Another of the top grapes of Alsace (where it is often called Tokay Pinot Gris), this also produces fine, spicy wines, with better acidity than Gewurztraminer. Also found in Italy (as Pinot Grigio) and Eastern Europe. Characteristics: spice, bacon, tropical fruits.
Muscat: The final variety in this trio of Alsatian grapes. Also found in the Southern Rhône where it is used for dessert wines, as well as Australia, where some exceptionally fine liqueur wines are made. Characteristics: musk, sometimes grapey, orange and citrus peel, floral and aromatic.
Pinot Grigio: Derivative of pinot gris extensively grown in Northern Italy to produce cheap and cheerful, light, fruity dry wines
Verdejo: has long been grown in theRueda region of Spain. Aromatic, fruity and full-bodied.
Viura; also called Macabeo. It is widely grown in Spain.The grape is used to make mildly acidic and young white wines mostly suitable for early consumption. It is often the main grape of white Rioja. Macabeo is traditionally blended to make a sparkling Cava, the best known sparkling wine of Spain.
Torrontes; the characteristic white wine grape of Argentina, producing fresh, aromatic white wines.
Albarino: Grown extensively in the Galicia region of Northern Spain where it produces aromatic, dry wines
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