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There
are over
2500 different
wine grape
varieties.
Here are
a few that
are the
most important
white wine
varietals:
Chardonnay
(SHAR-don-nay)
Chardonnay
is considered
the finest
white wine
grape variety
in the worked.
Responsible
in France
for all
the great
white Burgundies:
Chablis,
Meursault,
Pouilly-Fuissé,
Puligny-Montrachet
are the
basis for
Champagne.
It has become
the most
successful
white grape
grown in
California,
yielding
a wine of
tremendous
character
and magnificent
flavor.
We now have
excellent
Chardonnay’s
appearing
on our wine
list from
all over
the world,
especially
Australia
and New
Zealand.
Some tasters
associate
Chardonnay
with apples,
citrus fruits,
roasted
nuts, ripe
figs, or
melon, while
others describe
the wines
as creamy
or buttery.
Winemakers
play a particularly
important
role in
the style
of Chardonnay
which can
range from
clean, crisp
bottling
with a hint
of varietal
fruit to
rich, complex,
oak-aged
examples
that need
several
years of
bottle age
to fully
display
their qualities.
Chenin
Blanc (SHEN-ihn
BLAHNK)
A fresh,
light, fragrant
and fruity
wine which
is very
attractive
and exceptionally
versatile.
It is one
of the most
widely planted
grapes in
the Loire
Valley of
France where
Vouvray
and Savenierres
are produced.
Fine examples
are made
in California
and Washington
and it is
the most
widely planted
grape in
South Africa.
Chenin Blanc
can be finished
sweet, semi-sweet
or even
dry.
Pinot
Grigio/
Pinot Gris
(PEE-no
GREE-gee-o
/ PEE-no
GREE)
This
almost red-colored
grape variety,
depending
on the place
of origin,
can be made
in remarkably
different
styles.
In Italy,
it is crisp,
dry, fruity,
generally
light-bodied,
and refreshingly
pleasant.
In Alsace
(Eastern
France)
and in Oregon
it can be
richly flavored
and full-bodied.
Many producers
in Oregon
ferment
it in oak
barrels
rounding
out the
flavors
of the wine.
Light straw
in color,
it is almost
always very
dry, but
few detect
it as dry
since the
fruitiness
of the grape
causes it
to appear
slightly
sweet. Notes
of citrus,
green apple,
and sometimes
a little
spice enliven
the wine
and with
its pleasant
fruitiness
and lively
acidity
make it
excellent
with food.
Gewürztraminer
(Guh-VURTZ
–tra-mee-ner)
Gewürz
means “spicy”
and is an
excellent
and unusual
grape that
produces
lush wines
with a delicate
spicy character.
Widely grown
in the Alsace
region of
France where
it makes
a spicy,
dry wine
and in Germany
where it
tends toward
sweetness.
In California
and Washington,
the finish
can range
between
sweet and
dry.
Sauvignon
Blanc /
Fumé Blanc
(So-veen-yawn
BLAHNK/
FOO- may
BLAHNK)
These
terms are
synonymous.
Generally
this is
an aromatic
Grape variety
that can
offer a
very wide
range of
flavor differences.
The flavor
styles range
from herbaceous,
and sometimes
“grassy”,
to grapefruit,
melon, and
passion
fruit. Some
have had
the varietal
aromas softened
by barrel
fermentation
and aging.
Often classically
blended
with the
less aromatic
but soft
and fruity
variety
Semillon.
Sometimes
labeled
Fumé Blanc
in California
and Washington,
this is
an important
white grape
in France
where it
is blended
with the
grape Semillon
to produce
all of Bordeaux’s
white wines
from the
dry Graves
to the sweet
dessert
wines of
Sauternes.
It is also
the grape
of Sancerre
and Pouilly
– Fumé in
the eastern
Loire Valley
of France.
Popular,
intense,
very assertive,
versions
of this
varietal
are now
being imported
from New
Zealand
and Australia.
Johannisberg
Riesling
(JO-han-is-berg
REES-ling)
This
grape produces
wines of
distinct
varietal
character
(like granny
smith apple)
in styles
ranging
from dry
to very
sweet “
late harvest”
dessert-style
wines. Also
referred
to as “White
Riesling”
or just
“ Riesling”,
it is responsible
for the
finest wines
of the Rhein
and Mosel
regions
in Germany.
At its finest,
the nose
of Johannisberg
Riesling
is flowery,
fragrant,
and fruity.
Excellent
examples
are being
made in
California
and Washington
State.
Pinot
Blanc (PEE-no
BLAHNK)
Pinot
Blanc is
closely
related
in taste
and aroma
to Chardonnay,
although
subtler,
usually
firmer and
slightly
more tart.
This grape
is grown
mostly in
Alsace region
of France,
in southern
Germany
where it
is know
as Weissburgunder
and Italy
where it
is called
Pinot Bianco.
There is
a small
amount grown
in Oregon.
You find
wines from
California
labeled
Pinot Blanc
but there
are disputes
if these
vines are
really Pinot
Blanc. The
California
debate continues.
Semillon
(SEM-mee-yawn)
This
grape generally
makes a
rather soft-textured
and fruity
white wine.
Its aroma
has been
compared
to figs;
its flavor
has been
associated
with pears
and melon.
Semillon
is blended
in France
with Sauvignon
Blanc for
the white
wines of
Bordeaux
especially
the sweet
dessert
wine Sauternes.
It is sometimes
blended
with Chardonnay
in Australia
and Washington
and Labeled
Semillon
– Chardonnay.
Viognier
(VEE-own-yay)
The
grape Viognier
is extremely
difficult
to grow
with small,
unreliable
yields.
Until recently,
it was only
planted
in the Northern
Rhone Valley
of France
where it
is used
to produce
the wine
Condrieu,
and blended
into Côte-Rôtie.
Now, adventuresome
wine makers
around the
world have
discovered
it. It has
the aroma
and flavor
of peaches,
apricot,
honeysuckle,
mineral
and pear.
It can be
made medium-bodied,
but the
best examples
are very
full-bodied,
seductive,
rich and
exotic.
Some wines
made from
this grape
variety
have been
called,
“The greatest
white wines
you’ve never
heard of.”
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