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Seven Most Popular Types of White Wine

While red wines are made by growing and processing red grapes, white wines are made by growing and processing white grapes. A white wine’s character and flavor are often determined by the type of grape varietal used, the region where the grapes are grown and how they are processed.

Of all the hundreds of different white wine varietals available around the world, there are seven that are most popular: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay (shar-dun-NAY)

While Cabernet sauvignon is the king of red wine grapes, Chardonnay can be regarded as the king of white wine grapes. Originated from the Burgundy region of France, Chardonnay is now grown in almost all the regions where white wine grapes are grown. Chardonnay is relatively neutral in flavor. Most of its flavor is derived from its growing conditions and from the conditions of the wine production. This makes it the most complicated wine grapes of all. Most chardonnay wines are full, golden, and velvety with hints of fresh tropical fruits, citrus, melons, and an overtone of oak.



Sauvignon blanc



Sauvignon Blanc (SO-vin-yon BLAHNK)

Originated from the Bordeaux region of France, Sauvignon blanc is now widely planted in many other wine regions including California, Canada, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a green-skinned grape that produces crisp, elegant, and refreshing white wine. Depending upon the climate, the flavor of Sauvignon blanc may range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. Sauvignon blanc is usually consumed young as it does not benefit much from aging. In France, it is often blended with Semillon to produce a syrupy, full-bodied wine which may be of world class.

Riesling

Riesling (REES-ling)

Originated in the Rhine region of Germany, Riesling is an aromatic grape that displays a flowery, apple-like aroma. Riesling is highly terroir-expressive, meaning that its characteristic depends greatly upon where it is grown. Generally, it is high in acidity and low in alcohol, making it suitable to be used to make sweet and sparkling wines. Riesling can be regarded as the finest white grape in the world owing to the longevity of its wines. Unlike Chardonnay, Riesling is capable of ageing in bottle for decades or even centuries. Indeed, it taste better and better as it ages.

Chenin blanc

Chenin Blanc (SHEN’N BLAHNK)

Chenin Blanc is a white wine grape variety originated from the Loire Valley of France. It is also widely cultivated in South Africa where it is known as ‘Steen’. Chenin Blanc is one of the most versatile grapes that can be used to produce a great variety wines. Depending upon where they are grown, how they are aged and how they are processed, Chenin Blanc can be made into everything from sparkling wines to well-balanced dessert wines. It often exhibits flavors and aromas of fruit, honey, quince, and grasses. Wines made from Chenin Blanc are high in acidity and display a deep gold coloring.

Semillon

Semillon (SEM-ih-yon)

Semillon is grown mainly in the Bordeaux region of France but is also planted in virtually all the world’s wine regions. It is golden yellow at maturity and may turn amber-pink under increasing sun exposure. It is rather heavy, with low acidity and oily texture, making it the key ingredient to the production of sweet wines such as Sauternes. Semillon has been the world’s most planted white grape but has now declined in its popularity due to its lack of complexity and intensity. Although Semillon can produce good wines on its own, it is more commonly blended with Sauvignon Blanc because it lacks positive aroma while it makes up for sauvignon’s lack of body.

Pinot gris

Pinot Gris (PEE-no GREE)

It is known as Pinot Grigio (PEE-no GREE-zo) in Italy and France, and as Pinot Gris in the United States. It is thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir (a red grape varietal) and it usually has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name, Gris (meaning “grey” in French). However, the wines produced from this kind of grape can vary in color ranging from pale, straw-like yellow to deep golden yellow. Its flavor may range from melon to pear and some even exhibits a citrus aroma, making it a popular grape for orange wine. Pinot Gris has a very smooth texture, with an almost silk-like overtone that often leave an impression on the palate.



Gewürztraminer



Gewürztraminer (geh-VERTS-trah-mee-ner)

Gewürztraminer is an aromatic wine grape variety with pink to red skin color. It is chiefly grown in Germany and in the Alsace region of France. Of all the wine varietals, Gewürztraminer is perhaps the hardest wine to pronounce, yet the easiest to drink. It has fruity flavors with aromas of rose petals, peach, passion fruit and lychee, making it one of the few wines that pair nicely with Asian dishes.

Seven Most Popular Types of Red Wine

All red wines are made by growing and processing red (or black) grapes. Depending upon the type of grape used, the red wine produced may vary greatly in its color, texture, flavor, and aroma. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different red wine varietals available around the world. Among these, there are seven that are most popular and most purchased: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sangiovese, Barbera, and Zinfandel.

Cabernet sauvignon

Cabernet sauvignon (cab-er-NAY SO-vin-yon)

Cabernet sauvignon is one of the world’s best varieties and is commonly known as the king of the red wines. It can be found in almost all the regions where red wine grapes are grown. In the Bordeaux region of France, it is well known as the noblest red wine grape of all. It is also among the finest reds in California, Chile, and Australia. Cabernet sauvignon is typically dark purple or ruby in color and has a medium to full body. It exhibits a beautiful array of intense aromas that blends well with Sangiovese, Merlot, and Syrah.

 





Merlot

Merlot (mur-LO)

Merlot is the most widely grown red wine grape in the Bordeaux region of France, and is also widely planted in California. In recent years, Merlot has soared in popularity, especially in the United States, South America, Italy and Australia. This is due to the fact that it is softer, fruitier, and easier to drink. Its softness has made it the darling wine for new red wine drinkers. Merlot displays rich flavors of blackberry, plums and cherry, along with mint and tea-leaf tones. It is often a perfect accompaniment to beef and lamb dishes.

 

Pinot noir

 

Pinot noir (PEE-no NWA)

Pinot noir is grown mainly in the Burgundy region of France, Oregon, Austria, New Zealand, and some cooler regions of California. Being known as the noblest red wine grape, pinot noir is extremely difficult to grow. However, when conditions are correct it often produces an exceptional wine with great complexity and flavors. It has light to moderate body with fruity (cherry, strawberry and plum) aroma. In California, pinot noir grapes are often used to make rose style champagnes.

 

Syrah

Syrah (sih-RAH)

It is known as Shiraz (shih-RAHZ) in Australia and South Africa, and as Syrah in California and France. Syrah grows well in California, Australia, and Rhone Valley of France. Syrah is a bold, spicy wine with medium to full body and with firm tannins. It exhibits an impressive range of flavors including blackberry, black cherry, plum, black pepper, and even dark chocolate and smoked meat.

 





Sangiovese



Sangiovese (san-geeo-VEHS-eh)

Sangiovese is the signature red wine grape of the Tuscany region of Italy. It has a medium body with fresh berry and plum flavors. Although it is enjoyable as a varietal wine, it is often blended with Carbernet Sauvignon to build upon its flavor.



 

Barbera



Barbera (bar-BEHR-uh)

Though not as popular, Barbera is a classic red of Italian origin that has similar attributes with Merlot. It is chiefly grown in Piedmont region of Italy and is also widespread in California. It has a silky texture and excellent acidity, with rich flavors of juicy black cherry and plum.





 



Zinfandel

Zinfandel (ZIHM-fan-dell)

Of all the grape varieties, Zinfandel is perhaps the world’s most versatile one, making everything from blush white wines to heavy rich red wines. It is one of the oldest grapes to be grown in California, and most always in California. A red zinfandel has low to moderate acidity and medium to full body. It is known for its rich color scheme, high tannin level and high alcohol content. The typical taste of zinfandel is often a zesty flavor with berries, spice and black pepper.