A Guide to the Types of White Wine
White wine is generally a lighter drinking wine than red. It’s often enjoyed before a meal, but also pairs well with chicken and fish. Most sweet and dessert wines are white. However, white wines can have a variety of flavors ranging between very dry and very sweet.
There are many, many types of white wines, each of which is produced through unique ingredients and processes — some are even produced in select areas. Each type also typically displays trademark characteristics.
However, there’s variety even within these types. Depending on the individual winemaker and the specific product, the same type of wine can run the gamut in terms of taste and quality. This means it’s important to not assume the flavor profile of a wine based on type alone.
When winemakers and wine enthusiasts discuss types of wine, they may use the term “varietal,” which is essentially just another word for “type,” but specifically refers to categorization based on the grape variety that was used to make the wine. The following are some of the most common categories of white wines, as well as their common varietals.
Dry White Wines
Dry wines are made by fermenting grapes until little to no sugar remains. This process results in a higher alcohol content and allows the drinker to appreciate the complexity of the underlying flavors without overpowering sweetness. Popular types of dry white wines include:
Catarratto Bianco Comune;
Grenache Gris;
Grüner Veltliner;
Orange wines;
Petite Arvine;
Pinot Blanc;
Sauvignon Gris;
Torrontes;
Trebbiano Bianco;
Vermentino;
White Pinot Noir.
Dry wines can also be off-dry, which means that a small amount of sugar remains in the final product, providing a subtle sweet flavor.
Sweet White Wines
Sweet wines feature a significant amount of residual sugar after the production process is complete — in many cases, this sugar is added in later. Most sweet wines are white. Sweet white wines are also known for their high acidity compared to other types of wine. Popular types include:
Moscato;
Sweet wines can also be semi-sweet, which means that though the wine is still decidedly sweet, its sugar content is lower than is typical of sweet wines.
Dessert Wines
The terms dessert wine and sweet wine are sometimes used interchangeably, even though there are factors that differentiate the two. Most notably, dessert wines are usually naturally flavored through the process of selecting and cultivating grapes, while sweet wines are often produced like dry wines and then have sugar added at a later stage. Additionally, dessert wines typically have a higher alcohol content than sweet wines. Popular types of dessert wines include:
Ice wines;
Late-harvest wines;
Sauternes;
Vin Doux Naturel;
Vouvray Demi-sec.
As the name implies, these wines are typically served after a meal and are meant to be slowly sipped and savored.
Sparkling White Wines
Sparkling wines are wines that are carbonated. Typically, this carbonation is naturally produced through the fermentation process and preserved through careful bottling. These wines are most often white and pair well with rich foods such as smoked salmon and flavorful cheeses. Popular kinds of sparkling white wine include:
Asti;
Champagne;
Crémant;
Prosecco;
Sekt.
Sparkling wines are well-known for their use in celebrations, but they can also liven up a brunch or complement an appetizer.
White Wines for Cooking
Some white wines are used in cooking. A white wine can add acidity and a variety of fruity flavors to a dish, as well as cut the overpowering richness of some cream sauces. They’re also often used to deglaze cooking juices and soften meats. Typically, dry wines are used for cooking, but a sweeter variety may be called for in a dessert.
Popular white wines used for cooking include:
Brut sparkling wines;
Chardonnay;
Pinot Blanc;
Pinot Grigio;
Sauvignon Blanc;
Sherry.
Though some products are specifically marketed as cooking wine, it is perfectly acceptable to choose a drinking wine to use in your recipe. In this case, however, it’s all the more important to choose a white wine that is otherwise to your taste, as you may find yourself needing to finish up the bottle after using the wine in your dish. However, some wines will keep for quite some time if stored properly.
Other White Wine Varietals
Some popular white wines feature so much variety between individual products that they cannot be definitively categorized as sweet or dry. These include:
Macabeu;
Müller-Thurgau;
The flavors of these wines can vary dramatically depending on the winemaking process, despite nearly identical base ingredients.
White wines are versatile drinks that can be used for a variety of occasions to showcase and complement a wide range of flavors. This may seem overwhelming for the burgeoning wine enthusiast, but a great place to start is sampling a variety of white wines so you can find out what you like. You can do so through many avenues, including attending wine tasting events, hosting banquets, and subscribing to wine club delivery services.
