White wine is a wine whose colour ranges from pale yellow to almost golden. The great variety of white wines comes from the extensive methods of wine making as well as the sugar ratio used.
Some of the best-known varieties are Chardonnay, Sauvignon, and Riesling. Others are made up from several varieties combined together, such as Tokay, and Sherry.
Among the many types of white wine found today, dry white wine is the most popular choice. It is believed to be more aromatic, with a hint of tanginess to it. It is obtained by letting the fermentation process reach its end.
On the other hand, sweet wines are made by stopping the process before all the sugar in grapes turns to alcohol. This is called “Mutage”.
Sparkling wines are the ones where carbon dioxide from the fermentation process is kept in the wine. The carbon dioxide turns to gas when the bottle is opened giving a light foam drink.
White wines are mostly used with light dishes such as salads, poultry, and fish. In addition, it is served with desserts and sometimes as a drink on its own between meal courses.
When compared to red wines, whites tend to be lighter in their taste, making them best suited for summers. The golden guideline of “white wine with white meat” holds true even today. For example, Chardonnay complements triple cream cheese.
Additionally, white wine is also used as an ingredient in various food preparations. This is mainly due to its acidity, which can soften the meat and add aroma to it.
However, it is worth noting, that health benefits from white wines are significantly lower when compared to their red counterparts.
Here are some options to escape this summer’s heat.
Refreshing wines under $10
Fonte Vino Verde ($8)
A soft and aromatic blend with nut and grass tones
2010 Lindeman’s Bin 90 Muscat ($8)
Light, semi-sweet wine with green apple, peach and lime zest notes.
2010 La Vielle Fermi Cites du Auberon ($9)
Semi-sweet wine with orange and cherry taste.
2010 Elsa Bianchi Torrents ($9)
Coming from Mendoza’s San Rafael sub-region, this white wine with orange and lime zest will go perfectly with a light cheese board.
Refreshing $10 wine
2010 Marquis de Caceres White Rioja ($10)
Fermented by some of the oldest Spanish methods, this Rioja orange flavour wine will bring a new vibrant edge to any summer party.
2010 Aveda Follies Alvarinho-Loureiro ($10)
Lemon zest, green apples, and orange flavour, what more can you ask for to help beat the summer heat?
2010 Indaba Chenin Blanc ($10)
Orange blossoms and peach tones mark this refreshing white.
2010 Le Jana de Jiu Sauvignon Blanc ($10)
Sparkly and refreshing with lime and herb notes.
2010 Fontana Candida Fractal ($10)
A soft testing wine with a floral flavour.
2010 Balneal Albireo ($10)
A perfect summer drink with lime zest and a salty note.
2010 Luis Pate Maria Gomes White Beira’s ($10)
Fragrant green apple and grapefruit flavour make this wine a hit.
NV Segura Vida’s Brut Reserve ($10)
A low priced gem packed with prune, and orange tones.
2009 Hogue Riesling ($11)
Infused with Lime and mint, and a hint of orange note, this one’s a zesty summer drink.
2010 Santa Carolina Reserve Chardonnay ($11)
Ripe apricot and rich peach taste.
2009 Macula Pine & Toi ($11)
Fruitful blend with floral tones.
2010 Alumna The Y Series Viognier ($12)
Orange, lime, herb and peach flavours shine in this exotic mixture.
2010 Santa Rita Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($12)
A perfect blend of tropical flavours, and herbs.
2010 Veramonte Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($12)
Bold lime flavour with soft orange tone.
2010 Mas Carlota Cottiers de Nimes Cottiers de Nimes ($12)
A refreshing drink with fragrant white rose flavour.
2009 Dancing Bull Chardonnay ($12)
Great drink for every day with hints of yellow apple and prune.
2009 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc ($12)
Made with grapes from a vineyard located in Taormina, this drink carries floral tones.
2009 Edna Valley Vineyard Paragon Chardonnay ($12)
A great everyday white wine with bursting lime and apricot flavour.
2009 Geyser Peak Winery Sauvignon Blanc ($12)
This great wine offers melon, orange, and lime flavour.
2009 A to Z Pinot Gris ($12)
Great bargain with peach and lemon tones.
2009 Acrobat Pinot Gris ($12)
Full of exotic flavours such as lemon, orange, grapefruit, and mint.
2009 Columbia Winery Cellar master’s Riesling ($12)
This white’s taste is smooth with subtle hints of white rose blended perfectly well.
2010 Trumpeter Torrents ($12)
With an aromatic tea rose flavour, this one shines high.
2008 Barossa Valley Estate E Minor Chardonnay ($13)
A perfect balance between oak tones and orange flavour.
2010 Valentin Bianchi Sauvignon Blanc ($13)
A beautiful combination of lime and lavender flavour.
2009 François Chicane Sauvignon Touraine ($13)
Great wine with smooth texture and grapefruit flavour
2010 Little James’ Basket Press Vin de Pays do’s ($13)
Due to the presence of Soave, this one enjoys a unusual, crisp flavour, also making it unique in taste.
2010 Mas Carlota Claudette de Belgrade ($13)
Perfect white wine with soft texture and smooth flavours.
2009 Allergenic Soave ($13)
Citrusy flavour adds a specific edge to this white.
2009 Alamos Chardonnay ($13)
A comfortable blend of oak and vanilla flavour.
2010 Los Viscos Sauvignon Blanc ($13)
Refreshing summer drink with subtle grass flavour and a note of vanilla.
2010 Paul Culver Gewürztraminer ($13)
Aromatic, smooth-textured wine with the flavours of fig and cinnamon.
2009 Tascam d’Almerita Regaleali Bianco ($14)
A superb blend of three grapes with floral-edged tones.
2009 Pierre Spar Reserve Pinot Blanc ($14)
A “go to” white, this one compliments almost everything due to its light, sweet taste.
2009 Fonterra Riesling ($14)
Sweet peach-infused white wine for a calm evening.
2009 Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc ($14)
Straightforward notes of baked pear and lime zest, make this one stand out.
2009 Domaine Weinbach Sylvania Reserve ($14)
Sylvanus are often bland, but this great white wine has a character of its own.
2009 Luneau-Papin Pierre de la Grange Vielle’s Vines Muscadet de Sever et Maine Sur Lie ($14)
This French wine is highly rated by wine critics and is a fabulous bargain, for this region. A fresh, captivating wine, it is made with grapes from old vines and has a very classic Muscadet profile of saline minerals and citrus fruit. It feels light and crisp on the palate with just enough fruit. Overall it is a quality dry white wine and great value for money.
2009 Bodegas NE keas Vega Sendia Chardonnay ($14)
The blend of orange and lime leave a pleasant trace of sweetness
2009 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay ($14)
Straightforward fig and prune taste are sure to surprise you
2009 Cousiño-Macul Sauvignon Gris ($14)
Rich vanilla tastes with a hint of oak
2010 Vie Anent Secretor Sauvignon Blanc ($14)
Refreshing mixture of mint tones with lemon and grapefruit.
2010 Blacksburg Kosher Chardonnay ($14)
A unique blend of cinnamon and vanilla flavours
NV Monette Brut ($14)
A Great Spirit lifter with crisp lemon and lime tones.
$15 Wines
2007 Tribrach Pinot Blanc ($15)
This is a definite bargain with orange burst taking the front seat
2009 Villa Matilde Rocca die Leoni Falanghina ($15)
Great combination of nectarine notes and floral flavour
2010 CVNE Monopole Blanc Rioja Alta ($15)
Classic introduction to Rioja with rich, yet smooth citrus tones
2010 Domaine Skouras Moscofilero ($15)
Rich zesty citrus taste defines this charming, summer-perfect white.
2009 Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc ($15)
A rare mixture of vegetable and herb flavours with a hint of parsley note
2010 Villa Maria Private Bin Dry Riesling ($15)
Pleasantly affordable with green apple and peach flavour
2010 Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc ($15)
Rich in acidity and strong grass and mineral tones reflect the coolness of this 2010 gem
2009 Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc ($15)
Peach and apricot spark great perkiness on the taste pallet
2008 Domains Schlumberger Les Princes Abbes Pinot Blanc ($15)
Schlumberger’s white wines offer terrific taste at an affordable price
2009 Hugely et Fills Gentile ($15)
Aromatic blend of 5 best grapes will sure be to your liking
2010 Cantina Giorgio Lanzarotta Torre di Guano Trebbiano-Grechetto Torino ($15)
A graceful, refreshing blend with floral, pear and apple tones and a subtle effervescence.
2010 Condes de Albireo ($15)
Its clean, lemon-lime flavours are tangy and brisk.
2010 Martín Codex Albireo ($15)
This widely available bottling makes a great introduction to Albireo, with zesty lime and herb flavours and a hint of fizz.
2010 Domain Dachau Terrassa Grunter Veltliner Federspiel ($15)
Terrassa bottles come from terraced vineyards, which yield intense, focused wines, like this citrus flavoured example.
2010 Berger Grunter Veltliner ($15 for 1 liter)
Sealed with an easy-to-pop crown cap, this zesty one-litter bottling makes a great summer white.
2009 Foxglove Chardonnay ($15)
Rich in nectarine flavour
2010 Cape Mengele Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon ($15)
A grassy, crisp white with lime and lanolin notes.
Chardonnay, the most Popular grape
In conclusion, here is a brief note on the most common types of grape used.
Wine with Chardonnay grapes
Flavours: Apples, Peach, and Papaya
Chardonnay grows all around the world. It reaches its peak in Burgundy, reaches its tropical best in California and Australia.
It is best known for obtaining vanilla notes from aging in wooden barrels. On its own, Chardonnay is rich in green apple flavour.
Depending on the methods used, it can be made to be smooth textured or crisp with green apple notes and nectarine flavour.
