Wine Basics: White Grape Varieties

In order to appreciate wine, it is crucial to understand the characteristics of different grapes and how they should be expressed in wines. While there are lots of grapes in the world, there are a select few that are known to be suitable for producing good wine. Here are some of the popular white grape varieties:

Chardonnay (shar-doh-nay)
Chardonnay is considered the ‘King’ of white wine grapes. It grows in several parts of the world and produces wines which are medium- to full-bodied. Depending on how it is made, or where it is grown, it can range from crisp and stony, to buttery and toasty, or fresh with green apple and citrus flavours. Chardonnay is the only white grape varietal used to make the famous Chablis wine from the Burgundy region in France. It is also an important component of many sparkling wines, especially Champagne.
Aromas: green apple, buttery, toasty, vanilla
Flavours: green apple, butter, citrus, pear, honey, pineapple, papaya
Food pairings: pork, poultry, seafood, double cream sauce dishes, mushrooms, spicy food, and mild cheeses (like Gruyere and Provolone).

Sauvignon Blanc (Saw-vee-nyon blahnk)
The Sauvignon Blanc grape grows in many parts of the world. It typically produces crisp, refreshing wines with high acidity and a distinctive herbal flavour. Depending on how and where it is grown it can take a number of guises. These range from delicate and aromatic wines in parts of Loire Valley region in France, to tropical fruit in South Africa and Australia, to green pepper in New Zealand. The grape plays a pivotal role in the famous wines of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé from the Loire Valley.
Aromas: green bell pepper, gooseberry, basil, jalapeno, grass, tarragon, celery, lemongrass
Flavours: lime, green apple, pear, kiwi, passionfruit, guava, peach, nectarine
Food pairings: prawns, calamari, grilled white fish, roasted vegetables, salads, goat’s cheese.

Chenin Blanc (shen-in blahnk)
Chenin blanc is widely considered as the world’s most versatile grape. Its high acidity means it can be used to produce quality wines of various sweetness, including dessert wines, as well as sparkling and fortified wines. It is the dominant grape variety grown in South Africa, where it is also known as steen.
Aromas: floral, fruity, honey, vanilla
Flavours: peaches, pears apple, melon, lime, pear, vanilla, honey
Food pairings: as an aperitif, appetizers, salads, mild to spicy rice dishes, sushi, seafood and white meats.

Gewurztraminer (geh-verts-trah-mee-ner)
This grape produces wine which has an aromatic, floral bouquet together with high levels of alcohol and a slightly sweet taste due to high sugar levels. Gewurztraminer is found in Alsace, France as well as Germany and Austria.
Aromas: lychee, rose petals
Flavours: lychee, peach, citrus
Food Pairings: fresh fruit, salad, cheese, spicy curries

Riesling (Rees-ling)
Riesling is an aromatic grape variety with high acidity levels. The grape produces wines that span a broad range of styles, being produced in both dry to sweet variations as well as light to full-bodied. It is grown various regions worldwide but is the dominant grape variety grown in Germany.
Aromas: floral, honey, spice
Flavours: green apple, pear, lime, lemon, apricot
Food Pairings: spicy food, poultry, pork, strongly spiced South and East Asian dishes.

Pinot Gris/Grigio (pee-noh gree/ gree-joe)
Pinot Gris, also known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, is a grape that usually produces medium- to full-bodied wine with high acidity and sometimes with an almond note. Italy produces the largest harvest of Pinot Grigio.
Aromas: almond, honey, ginger, spice
Flavours: pear, lemon, lime, apple, melon
Food Pairings: white fish, seafood, cream sauces, poultry in tomato, semi-soft cheese like Gruyere, fresh vegetables, salads

Torrontes (tor-ron-taze)
Torrontes is a grape from Argentina, producing light-bodied, aromatic wines with balanced acidity.
Aromas: floral, citrus, spice
Flavours: peach, orange, lychee
Food Pairings: smoked meats, mild- to medium-cheeses, pizza, salads, seafood, sushi, Thai, South Asian and other spicy food.

Viognier (vee-oh-nyay)
Viognier is traditionally grown in France’s northern Rhone Valley, but it has also been doing well in the New World. Viognier grapes produce medium-bodied wines with low acidity and floral aromas.
Aromas: floral, spice, pineapple, mineral, peach, apricot
Flavours: peach, apricot, apple, pear, pineapple
Food Pairings: fruit salsa, grilled fish, grilled chicken, soft cheese, Vietnamese, Thai, South Asian or other spicy foods.

Muscat/Moscato (mus-cat/mus-cato)
Muscat is grown around the world for use in light and dry wines, low-alcohol sparkling wines and sweet dessert wines.
Aromas: rose, orange blossom, perfume, jasmine, caramel, musky
Flavours: apricot, peach, nectarine, lemon, orange
Food Pairings: chicken, fish, pork, South East Asian dishes

Semillon (seh-mee-yohn)
Semillon is a golden-skinned grape used to make dry and sweet wines which are high in alcohol and have low acidity. It is mostly grown in France, Australia and South Africa. Along with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle, Semillon is one of only three approved white wine varieties in the Bordeaux region of France.
Aromas: apple, pear, apricot, vanilla
Flavours: lemon, apple, pear, grass, vanilla, honey, ginger, saffron
Food Pairings: fish, seafood, chicken, turkey, duck, sushi