What is White Wine?

White wine is wine without any red colour. Yellow wines, golden wines, and wines as pale as water are all white wines. They are typically made from green or yellow grape varieties. However, a wine can also become white when it is made using only the juice of red grapes, as the juice of most red grapes has no red pigmentation.

White wines often have a more pronounced acidity than reds, which is why they are often described as “crisp” or “tart.”

Types of White Wine

The most well-known grape varieties for white wine include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling, but there are hundreds of other grape varieties to explore.

Chardonnay

One of the great grape varieties, Chardonnay is used in the famous French white wines of Burgundy, Chablis, and Champagne, as well as excellent quality wines in Australia, the USA, and Chile.

Chardonnay is available in two main styles. Oaked Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels, giving the wine a golden colour with rich, creamy textures and flavours of buttery vanilla, toffee, and toast.

Unoaked Chardonnay is fresher, lighter, and fruitier with a zesty zing. Unoaked Chardonnay can be found in wines from the Chablis region, where the cooler climate and the use of stainless steel vats instead of oak barrels result in a dry, crisp wine often described as steely. Domaine Daniel Seguinot Chablis is a perfect example.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the oldest and most highly rated white wine grapes. The best examples originate in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux regions of France. In the Loire Valley, Sauvignon Blanc is the only permitted grape variety in wines labelled “Sancerre” or “Pouilly Fumé.”

A wonderful example of the classy Pouilly Fumé wine is Domaine Bouchie – Chatellier Pouilly Fumé “La Renardiere.” A Sauvignon Blanc from a cooler climate will have a crisp, zesty style, while one made in a warmer climate will result in riper grapes with tropical fruit flavours.

Sauvignon Blanc wines are dry, aromatic, and acidic, with recognisable notes of apple and lime and herbal flavours.

Other Popular White Wines

Chenin Blanc has a refreshing quality and is available in both oak-aged and unoaked styles.

Pinot Grigio is a light-bodied wine with a crisp, dry finish.

Riesling originates in Germany and is aromatic with intense fruit flavours.

How to Serve White Wine

Light, dry white wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc, are best served cold, between 7-10°C, to emphasise their refreshing qualities and acidity. To chill, place the wine in the fridge for at least two hours before opening. Serving in a tall, narrow wine glass helps to concentrate the fruity aromas at the top of the glass, while a longer stem helps keep the wine cool.

White wines with more body and deeper, richer flavours, such as Chardonnay, should be served lightly chilled at 10-13°C, as their aromas open up at the warmer end of the scale. If served too cold, the flavours may be masked. To chill, place the wine in the fridge for about one hour before opening.

How to Store White Wine

The ideal place for storing wine is somewhere cool, dark, quiet, and slightly damp, such as a cellar. If a cellar is not available, a spot under the stairs or in the attic could also be suitable. Strong light can adversely affect the taste of wine, particularly if the bottle is made from clear or pale glass.

The ideal storage temperature is between 10 and 15°C, though wine can be stored between 15 and 20°C as long as the temperature does not fluctuate too much. Wine should not be stored below -4°C or above 30°C, as extreme temperatures will affect its quality. The kitchen, particularly near a cooker or on top of a fridge, is one of the worst places to store wine due to frequent blasts of hot air.

Everyday wines should be consumed within a year. Once opened, they should be drunk within a couple of days. If not finished, the bottle should be stored in the fridge with a vacuum pump and stopper to remove any air, as oxygen is wine’s biggest enemy once opened.

For those investing in a large quantity of fine wine, professional storage in a specialist wine warehouse is recommended, where temperature and humidity are controlled.

Choosing White Wine for Business Gifts or Corporate Events

At Wines Select, we are passionate about wine and sharing our knowledge and experience. For advice on selecting business wine gifts, please contact us.