20 Popular Types of White Wine

People recognized white wine as a staple beverage at the dinner table. The truth is there are so many different types of white wines across the globe. However, knowing the best white wine could be challenging if one is new to the world of wine.

In this write-up, we tried to cover the most famous white wine types, their origins, flavors, tastes, and excellent food pairings. So, let’s set the record straight. Here are the 20 Popular Types of White Wine you should try.

What is White Wine?

Winemakers produce white wine without skin contact. One can find white wine colors, usually yellow-gold, yellow-green, and straw yellow. Historically, people believed that white wine existed for 4,000 years.

Health Benefits of White Wine

The great thing about white wine is its potent health benefits. Experts say that white wine can help lower cholesterol. In addition, white wine contains antioxidants that protect the heart, boost brain function, balance blood sugar levels, and fight colds.

Here’s how white wine works in improving one’s overall health:

• Drinking white wine in moderation can help in losing weight.
• White wine prevents some forms of cancer, most specifically, bowel cancer.
• White wine has powerful antioxidants that help strengthen the heart.
• White wine contains valuable nutrients keeping the lung tissues working well.

Since white wine is such a good thing, let’s dive in and take a closer look at the 20 Popular Types of White Wine.

1. Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a medium to full-bodied type of dry white wine. People believed that you could trace back the home of Chardonnay to Burgundy, France. The taste of Chardonnay widely ranges from fruit flavors such as apple and lemon to papaya and pineapple.

But the wonderful thing about Chardonnay is its versatility. It works with various food flavors. A classic match for this white wine would be shellfish like prawns, crab, and lobster or white fish such as halibut.

2. Pinot Gris or Grigio

Here’s a white wine that has been entirely popularized in Italy. Originating from Burgundy, France, Pinot Gris is a light-bodied wine featuring fresh and floral aromas.

Pinot Gris can differ in flavor and be dry or sweet depending on where it was harvested. Usually, flavors will execute citrus, pear, and white peach taste. Its additional flavors would be grapefruit, honeysuckle, and green apple. Pinot Gris would work well with pasta, vegetarian, and seafood dishes.

3. Sauvignon Blanc

Recognized as Australia’s favorite white Wine, Sauvignon Blanc is famous in different regions worldwide. While this white wine was initially crafted in Bordeaux, France, you can now find Sauvignon Blanc in the United States, South Africa, and Europe.

Sauvignon Blanc is enriched with many flavors, but it varies depending on the climate where it grows. In cold regions, this white wine has a blend of grassy taste. Still, it has floral and fruity aromas in warmer areas.

If you like to try Sauvignon Blanc, it would be fantastic to pair it with lighter meats like turkey and chicken.

4. Riesling

While most white wines come from France, Riesling originates from the region of the Rhine in Germany. When it comes to its typical taste, Rieslings are much lighter compared to Chardonnay wines. It has a sweet flavor profile containing lower alcohol content.

Riesling white wines range from dry to sweet, with the sweet being the crowd’s favorite. At most, people use Riesling as a dessert wine.

However, because of its sweetness, it would be a perfect match with spicy dishes. You can also try this white wine with a delicate dish, duck, pork, and chicken.

5. Viognier

Gaining its wide reputation of being classy and aromatic, Viognier is classified as a full-bodied white wine. Do you like to have this white wine for dinner? It would be an excellent match for grilled and roasted meat.

If you are a passionate lover of Chardonnay, you will most likely enjoy a cold glass of Viognier. While this white wine has less acidity than Chardonnay, Viognier has bold flavors.

You can taste a blend of tangerine, mango, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla once you take a sip.

6. Torrontes

Torrontes is a famous white wine from Argentina ideal for the drinker who loves floral, fruity aromas like roses and peaches. You can find the most excellent Torrontes wines from vineyards in Salta, Argentina.

This dry, aromatic wine has a smooth texture and moderate acidity. Due to its dry style and sweet aroma, this white wine is perfect to pair with light Asian dishes such as Indian Curries or Chicken Tikka Masala.

7. Vermentino

Vermentino is a white wine grape that has its roots in the Mediterranean. With its broad and fresh taste, Vermentino provides wine lovers of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay with a unique flavor.

Usually, on its palate, Vermentino is dry with a bit of oily citrus and grapefruit flavors. Since this white wine has a crispness and oily character, it’s perfect to pair with seafood, vegetables, pasta, and meals with rich spices and herbs.

8. Verdicchio

Known as one of the best and finest, Verdicchio is one of Italy’s longest-lived dry white wines. Wine enthusiasts love Verdicchio because of its peachy aroma and sweet and oily texture.

A full-bodied wine, Verdicchio will indeed pair beautifully with delicious truffle dishes. Because of its mild oil texture, you would love this white wine with herby pasta sauces such as pesto, vegetable dishes, and white fish.

9. Moscato

Do you enjoy and prefer the sweeter side when it comes to wine? Then Moscato would be your ultimate go-to. A rising star among white wines, Moscato is known for its sweet flavors such as peach, pear, orange, and blossom.

Because of its low alcohol content, Moscato is a wine that works exquisitely with appetizers. It will also pair well with desserts like vanilla, caramel, coconut, fruit tarts, and butterscotch.

But if you love to try this white wine over a full meal, it would be best to pair it with chicken, fish, or Chinese food.

10. Gewurztraminer

Gewurztraminer is a white wine famous in Europe, the United States, and Australia. The origin of this off-dry or semi-dry white wine hails back from Alsace, France. Traditionally, this white wine is known for its sweet, intense taste.

On top of that, Gewurztraminer presents different aromas ranging from tropical fruits to rose and apricot kernels with sweet spices and pepper. For food recommendations, this white wine will enhance the flavors of fish like tuna, salmon, halibut, and red snapper.

11. Verdelho

Showcasing guava, pineapple, and apple flavors, Verdelho is a great, fruity style of full-bodied white wine from the Portuguese island of Madeira. Overall, Verdelho is medium-dry, coming with a leafy, spicy, or crisp aroma growing in popularity in Australia.

Since this white wine has fruit-like flavors and sweetness, Verdelho would be a perfect drink for light meals. It would be an ideal beverage for people who enjoy seafood, chicken, or Asian meals.

12. Roussanne

Roussanne is a white wine that got its name after its skin color when it’s ripe, “Russet,” or reddish brown. This white wine has complex flavors of hay, pears, honey, peaches, nuts, and mineral notes. And once you open the wine bottle, you’ll realize that it has a rich floral aroma.

This dry white wine pairs wonderfully with roast chicken, pork, veal, spicy flavors, and Asian cuisine. Plus, it can be a good pair for different hard and soft cheeses.

13. Chenin Blanc

One of the most all-around white wines in the market, Chenin Blanc is available in dry and sparkling varieties. Because of its adaptability, Chenin Blanc has broad flavor profiles depending on its type.

Dry Chenin Blanc executes the flavor of ginger and chamomile. On the other hand, sweet Chenin Blanc showcases almond, orange, mango, and persimmon notes. And sparkling Chenin Blanc has yellow apple and plum.

Since this white wine has a naturally sweet flavor and acidity, it will pair well with sweet and sour meals.

14. Marsanne

Known for its prominent role in the whites of Hermitage, Marsanne is a white wine variety originating from Rhone Valley. Over the years, people recognized Marsanne as a food-friendly white wine. Usually, it would be the best combination of all types of shellfish and seafood.

For the most part, you will love to have this white wine with mussels, clams, shrimp, lobster, and crab. But of course, Marsanne would also work beautifully with pork, chicken, and veal dishes.

15. Fiano

Fiano is famous in Southern Italy, especially in Campania, and is recognized as a high-quality, top-grade white wine. The best description for this white wine is that it is nutty and textured. Its flavors range from tropical and spice fruits like pineapple to honey and floral notes.

Because of its slight spice, Fiano would be awesome to pair with salmon pasta dishes. On top of that, due to its crisp acidity, it would be best to serve it with salmon, having a richer texture than other fish.

16. Semillon

The prominent flavor of Semillon is like lemonade with mild hints of green papaya and apple juice. And since this white wine is made of lanolin, Semillon has a rich, unusual flavor.

We would say Semillon would go well with seafood, particularly shellfish, for food pairing. But of course, you can wrap pork and veal dishes with Semillon. Pairing Semillon with meat will be an excellent choice since it would bring up the spice.

While Semillon initially came from France, this white wine is growing in popularity in Chile, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.

17. Cortese

Cortese is a white wine mostly tied with crisp, lime-scented wines of Gavi. At most, this white wine is best known for its acidic taste, and it remains fresh even when harvested in warmer climates.

What’s excellent about Cortese is that it also executes peach or apple flavor blending with honeydew. This white wine has a light, herbal aroma giving it a character apart from other white wines. Cortese will perfectly blend with seafood with cheeses and citrus sauces.

18. Trebbiano

From Italy, Trebbiano is a popular type of Italian white wine that has an acidic finish with a medium body and subtle taste. This dry wine has a light aroma similar to flowers, apples, pears, acacia, and honey.

Because of its fruity and flowery notes, Trebbiano is a perfect match for white pizza, hard cheeses, and seafood. On top of that, this dry white wine greatly complements chicken dishes. And it balances out the intense flavors of pesto pasta.

19. Airén

Here’s another famous white wine initially crafted from Central, Western, and Southern parts of Spain. Airen is a dry white wine having a unique hue and light-yellow tint. This white wine smells like ripe fruit such as pineapple, banana, and grapefruit.

Wine lovers often describe this wine as unique and sweet on the tongue. Airen has a gentle taste with a bit of acidity. This white wine is the ultimate go-to for seafood dishes.

20. Gruner Veltliner

Gruner Veltliner is an Austrian, dry white wine having citrus notes, including lime, lemon, and grapefruit. Because of its intense lime and green pepper taste, people consider Gruner Veltliner an excellent alternative to Sauvignon Blanc.

The best dish combination for this white wine would be Asian dishes such as Thai or Vietnamese food. Also, it would be a lovely pair with seafood dishes like salmon.

Are you looking for a new white wine to try? We highly recommend Gruner Veltliner for being a food-friendly wine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is white wine called white?

Wine’s color depends not on the pulp but the grape’s skin. In crafting white wine, the grape’s skins are eliminated before fermentation. As a result, the clear juice produces a glass of fine white wine.

What is the most popular white wine?

It is believed that Chardonnay is the most popular white wine worldwide.

What is the difference between white wine and red wine?

White wine is made using white grapes. Usually, the winemaker separates the skin from the juice before fermentation. On the other hand, red wine is built out of black or red grapes. The skin is retained during the fermentation process.

Do you want to learn more about white wines? Watch and enjoy this video.

 

Final Thoughts

And now we’re done with the 20 Popular Types of White Wines. As you can see, all of the white wines we’ve listed have a rich flavor profile that would go well with different dishes.

Do you have a favorite white wine? What are your thoughts about our list? We would love to hear your comments.