There are around six major types of white wines that are produced today and this article aims to provide information on these different types of white wine.
The different wines featured on this page have gained a high popularity among wine lovers across the globe for their individual tastes and characteristics.
The key types of white wines are:
- Chardonnay
- Chenin Blanc
- Pinot Grigio
- Riesling
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Sémillon
These different varieties of white wine are explained below. Information on the origin of the grapes is also shown below. The majority of grapes originate in France yet can be found growing in vineyards across the globe. As wine is a historic product, there have been many years where grape vines have been moved to other countries.
Chardonnay is arguably the most popular variety of wine available today. Known for a slight hint of Oak, Chardonnay grapes provide a clean and crisp character that’s loved by many. This type of wine originated in the Burgundy region of France but nowadays is found all over the world in a number of different vineyards and wineries.
Chenin Blanc originated in the Loire Valley in France which has a strong wine making history. A high acidity is present in Chenin Blanc grapes and therefore many sparkling white wines are of the Chenin Blanc family.
Pinot Grigio is very popular among vineyards and wineries in the Venezia and Alto Adige regions of Italy. Known for producing crisp and dry wines, Pinot Grigio also has a slight acidity making it capable of producing sparkling white wine.
Riesling is arguably the most famous German wine variety available today. This type of wine delivers a much lighter taste than Chardonnay and is loved by many.
Sauvignon Blanc is a versatile white wine known for matching a variety of foods. It has a similar popularity to that of Chardonnay and originates in the Loire Valley, similar to that of Chenin Blanc.
Sémillon is not as popular as it has been in recent years, however this type of wine is still found across the globe and provides a different character to the other major wines.
With each of the above wines having a different character, there is plenty of choice out there for everyone. Some wines may be too dry for some and too crisp for others. Sampling a selection of wines over time is the best way to find the wine that suits your personal taste. Willamette Valley wine tours