The Most Popular White Wines To Try This Year
White wines are some of the most popular wines in the world, alongside red and sparkling wines. They are known for their fresh, bright flavour profiles which is a direct contrast to the deep, rich red wines of the world. White wines are usually associated with warm summer days and light, fresh foods. People who found that they tend to prefer lighter, more delicate flavours, will generally enjoy a decent bottle of white wine.
Whether you prefer dry wines, a sweet white, or something in the middle, you will be able to take your pick from a variety of wines that have a unique and flavourful character. Some types of white wine are more popular than others, and there are of course some true classics that everyone seems to enjoy such as Chardonnay, but there are in fact more than 20 varieties of grape that are used to produce white wine.
Not only does the specific grape variety have a bearing on the eventual flavour of the wine, subtle variations in climate, average amount of rainfall, and the mineral content of the soil will all have an impact on the flavour produced within the wine during the fermentation process. Furthermore, when a specific variety of grape has been grown in a specific place for several generations it will become accustomed to the growing conditions within that location, becoming naturalised.
Diverse and delicious white wine grapes
As mentioned, the most famous type of white wine grape in the world is the Chardonnay grape. Wines made using chardonnay are produced all over the world so they originally hail from the iconic Burgundy wine region in France. Having said this, spectacular white Chardonnay wines are also produced in regions such as California and Australia. Have been cultivated outside the Burgundy region of France since about the 1960s, and since then techniques have been perfected to the degree that you will struggle to tell them apart from traditional Burgundy wines made using Chardonnay.
Riesling is known as one of the most unique and delicious types of white wine grape that you will be able to find on the market today. In terms of global wine production volumes, Riesling is among the top three white wine grape varieties alongside chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. This grape variety is traditionally grown in the Rhine region of Germany and the resulting wines are aromatic and high in acidity, with bright floral notes and a hint of tropical fruit. This very traditional grape variety is hardly ever blended with other grape varieties to produce wine because it is outstanding all by itself.
Chenin Blanc is a white grape variety that is native to France so it is a very popular grape variety grown in South Africa. In fact, today South African wineries produce higher volumes of Chenin Blanc than French regions do. It is used to produce dry white wines that have hints of apple when dry, and sweeter versions of Chenin Blanc wines will have notes of honey and floral flavours. This is a delightful grape variety to try at any time of year, but it is particularly succulent and delicious when enjoyed during the warm summer months and paired with light foods.
The Muscat grape is one of the oldest domesticated grape varieties in the world and it has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Originally grown by the ancient Egyptians and Persians there are, in fact, more than 200 different types of Muscat grape though they all have very similar characteristics. Muscat wines are best enjoyed when they are young, and they will be bursting with citrus, rose and peach flavours that delight the palate. Muscat grape wines are popular enough to be sold by select retailers on the high street, but if you prefer a rarer and more refined vintage then you will be better served by looking online.
If you are looking for something extra special, many of these white wine grapes are used to produce deliciously sparkling wines that are perfect for celebrations as well as everyday drinking. A bottle of Champagne, cava or prosecco makes a wonderful addition to any meal, and can be the perfect gift idea for someone you love.