User Login
White Wine
White wine, chilled to perfection, provides wine drinkers with taste sensations that are as subtle and refreshing as they are light and cheerful. While red wines offer complexity and richness, white wines are typically carefree and delicate enough to enjoy on almost any occasion.
However, don't be fooled into thinking white wine is any less of a complete tasting experience than other wine varieties - white wines can present an unparalleled sensory opportunity. Despite the attention and vigour paid to red wine, many would argue there is as much to be gained from a good bottle of white.
We have dedicated pages to some of the most popular varieties of white wine, and you can discover more about each type of white wine through their respective categories. Wine.com.au has included the following sections on white wine:
Produced from both white and red grapes, white wine is typically coloured in various shades of yellow and gold. All grape juice is clear, and wine typically gets its colour from the skin. Ros is widely considered a type of white wine, and the light red colour comes from the short time the skins are allowed to soak in the juice. Champagne is another example of transparent wine made from red grapes, but naturally Champagne fits into another category.
Regardless, most white wines are produced from green grapes, and the inherent flavour characteristics means whites are rarely aged for more than 10 years. In most cases, white wine is intended to be consumed within a few years of vintage, and most people know to serve white wine chilled.
Temperature
Chilled white almost goes without saying, but drinking an icy cold Chardonnay is not what wine connoisseurs have in mind. Similar to reds, the heavier-bodied whites should be served warmer so that the wine taster can experience the full array of flavours. This means Gewrztraminer, Viognier and Chardonnays are typically served around 8-10 degrees Celsius. Lighter Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Rieslings can be anywhere around six degrees Celsius depending on the characteristics.
Most people aren't going to bother chilling a wine to such a fine degree, but paying attention to wine that is too cold will give you an idea about the best temperature to enjoy your wine. If the fridge is too cold or you have your wine in an ice bucket, consider letting it warm for a few minutes in your glass, especially for a higher quality white wine. It's no use paying for flavour you can't experience because the bottle is too cold.
The Pleasure of White
Summery flavours that abound from fruits and berries to tangy citrus, oaks, cedars and dry notes plus any number of herbs and spices are all characteristic of white wines. For this reason, many people enjoy white wines for their refreshing qualities, light flavours and adaptability. White wines are very versatile, and they often appeal to those just beginning to enjoy wine for these reasons also.
White wine is traditionally popular with seafood, chicken and other white meats. These days, it's acceptable to drink white wine with a large variety of meals, and it's more important to understand the flavours that will complement your meal. White wine is popular with light meals and as an aperitif because the typically lighter flavours will not overpower the chosen cuisine.
Use your own palate to dictate the direction of your white wine preference, and why not check out some of the quality Semillons, Chenin Blancs and Gewrztraminers available in Australia. Alternatively, follow our white wine basic tasting guide for popular varieties that include Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc.
Wine.com.au - your online destination for white wine.
