There is more to white wines than being a spritzer or a taste satisfaction sweet drink. Fruity white wine, crisp, expressive dry white wine, tart, and many other different types of white wine are liked by millions worldwide. But still, there are classes of people that believe that all varieties of white wines are too sweet; hence, not to be compared with red wines.
Only if they knew that all the different types of white wine are cultivated in any wine-growing environment across the globe for a better reason.
With numerous numbers of varietals, each of the different kinds of white wine depicts an amazing range of taste, sights, smell, and unmatched attributes by other drinks.
Types of White Wine Varieties
Though it may look outdated, white wine varieties like Chardonnay are still one of the most patronized white vine grapes in Australia and some top European countries.
The success of these white grapes means people are now taking aromatic white wine of similar style, regardless of whether they are blend type or straight varietals.
The most famous white wine varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Rieslings, Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Verdelho, Pinot Grigio, etc. These white wine varietals shall be discussed in detail below.
The Different Types of White Wine
For the doubting Thomas’s, these different types of white wine overview should be able to convince them and as such, change their misconceptions.
These famous white wines ranged from favorite picks down to the dazzling niche varietals that are not even known to some white wine experts. Among them are:
Here are the 30 Different Types of White Wine
1. Chardonnay
The moment any white wine fanatic thinks of taking one, the first name to come to mind is Chardonnay. This can be better pronounced as “shar-duh-nay”. This type of white wine has some incredible smells and flavors that’ll make one hunger for more.
Chardonnays as a top model varietal on this kind of white wine list is a spot well deserved. Its origin could be traced back to the Burgundy part of France.
One of its ingredients, the green-hued grape can grow and survive anywhere today but it’ll be better off in a colder society like New Zealand, South Africa, and the likes.
2. Riesling
Next on the list of the popular types of white wine that are highly patronized around the world is Rieslings; being pronounced better as “Reece-ling”, this leading white wine offer variants collection of flavor that suit and fit for any kind of drinker’s tastes.
This is so because Rieslings varietal is unleashed in different forms as it ranges from the sweet Mosel Valley cultivars down to the Washington State and Crisper French Riesling pendants.
However, Riesling grapes have a lot of fragrance and they can be held for a more alloyed refined, and age-longed finish on the vine. Whatever it is, Rieslings kind of white wine maintains a fresh and high acidity body for either sweet or dry variation.
3. Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris
When talking about the texture level of the different types of white wine, pinot grigios’ texture is heavier compared to any other kinds of white wine on this list. Although its heavier body has nothing to do with the drink, albeit grigios and Gris still have in them the light and bright notes that all white wines are notoriously known for.
4. Pinot Blanc
Pinot Blanc is a semi-sweet white wine that is very common in the Alsace region of France, and some neighboring countries like Italy, Austria, and Germany. This type of white wine is one of the most round-bodied and naturally driest in the family.
Although grigios/Gris varietals get applauded for their isolated flavors, pinot blanc on the other hand takes its time with the expressive pops with a medium level of presentation that is indistinct between smoky, flavor, and sweet. However, due to the stable acidity levels of pinots Blancs, it often finishes on a lightly sour mark.
5. Sauvignon Blanc
Better pronounced as “sah-vihn-yohn blahnk”, this type of white wine is one of the most planted in the world. It has various smells and sips that are earthy in nature with the highest acidity level. It equally has various tastes ranging from grapefruit, fresh grass, elderflowers, green pepper, tomatillo down to marjoram; all in one sip that finishes dry.
In the same vein, this type of white wine has imitated the cooler ratio of New Zealand’s vineyards. However, be enlightened that the younger the blanc, the more weight the herbaceous notes will gain with no recourse to the vineyard’s place of origin.
6. Gewürztraminer
One thing about this sweet white wine is that you may never get to pronounce its name correctly in 15 attempts, but the kind of succulents taste it does leaves behind is unimaginable — an abundantly flavorful that’ll keep the tongue-tied — Thus, it can be better pronounced as “guh-veerts-trah-meenor”. Very German, isn’t it?
Moreover, it’s understandable that all the different types of white wine taste sweet and good but only a few of them are as floral, tangy, and flavored as Gewürztraminers. In fact, the most fervently celebrated white wines known for their sweetness can’t stand the juiciness and garden-like fragrance that a sip of this French-German stately grape produces.
7. Moscato/Muscat
Muscat and Moscato is a fruity white wine that is said to be from the oldest origin of the not-modified vine wine types that are still in existence.
This kind of white wine has been growing for over 3,000 years now. Just like any other sweet white wine, the name differences are not a result of the discrepancies in vines, fruit, or bottle, but rather from the language.
Essence, Muscat varietal’s homeland can be traced to France and it depicts the sweet wines made out of the silky muscat grapes.
In a country like Italy and other places around the world, “Moscato” is the real deal. However, among all the different types of white wine, Muscat/Moscato has the lowest alcohol content.
8. Semillon
Seh-me-Yohn is the third most-planted white wine vine type in France. However, only a few people are aware of its rich flavor profile, and only a select few have taken it as a fresh vine from an uncorked bottle.
Talking of Flavor, Semillion is one of the best white wine grapes with important herbaceous or green notes — just like the sauvignon blanc — its flavors usually stay much longer in the mouth and do leave behind a nuanced aftertaste compared to the taste and feelings experienced at the earliest hour.
9. Viognier
Viognier “vee-oh-nay” is one kind of white wine that you hardly hear people talking about whereas, it’s one of the prominent white varietals prototypical. This type of white wine has natural light, lush, acidic, and a floral feature that is enjoined to white wines.
That being said, Viognier is typical heaven inside a noble glass with a perfumed-like aroma that is lush, bouncy, tasty, and airy. It also has these fruity tastes that when hits the tongue, it is relaxed in the mouth until the next sip.
10. Cortese
After a long day at work, sipping a glass of Cortese to cool the mind and body is the perfect thing to do. This white wine has crisp, tart, flavorful and rounded notes of musk, fruit, and herb alike. Yet, it’s another white wine like Voignier that people don’t give it the applaud it really deserves.
At this juncture, it’s pertinent to note that there are beautiful stories behind the different types of white wine as every sip gives a distinct definition of a new world.
Take your time to reminisce about the overview of the different types of white wine discussed above and start experiencing their taste and feelings today!
Sweet White Wine Types
Not all wine takers enjoy sweet white wine, really, and thus, there are varieties of white wines as to their taste, smell, and flavor. However, below are the most famous sweet white wines that have taken over the world.
11. Sauternes and Barsac
This sweet white wine homeland can be traced to Bordeaux, a popular region of France. It is one of the world’s famous sweet wines, and it has different varieties of color ranging from light straw down to deep gold.
According to findings, these sweet white wines are said to be fairly thick and consistent as a result of their high sugar level. The high sugar level in its content also enhances the fruity white wines to age so well and many of which still maintain their standard after many decades.
12. Riesling
While discussing the different types of white wine, Riesling wine was said to be one of the best kinds of white wine that has a second to none taste and lush flavor. This sweet white wine varies from dry wine to sweet.
Rieslings as a sweet white wine are also known for their active mineral flavors that procure its drinkers a heavy sense of terroir – such is the earthly soil on which the vine grape was grown.
13. Vin Santo
This sweet white wine comes all the way from Italy. It’s sweet, really and it stays longer on the tongue too. Hence, the most common class of Vin Santo sweet white wine is made out of the Trebbiano and Malvasia vine grapes.
Usually, Vin Santo sweet wines are also called straw wines. This is so because the winemakers are used to laying the harvested grapes flat on straw mats so that the sugar content can concentrate and the water in the grapes, too, will evaporate.
14. Tokaji Aszú (Tokay)
This is another type of sweet white wine that comes from Hungary. This varietal often comes in different levels of sweetness. Often, the noble rot does affect the Tokaji Aszu grapevine, hence adding to the flavor depth and the concentration level.
15. Ice Wine
Any kind of white grapevine can be manufactured into an Ice Wine. That is to say, the Ice Wines are usually made out of the grapes that are left on the vine during the first due.
As these vines sit firmly with the ice crystal on them, the grape’s juices and sweetness will continue to be concentrated, and as such, gives the wines a much higher sugar level compared to the one harvested during the frost.
16. Late Harvest Wine
The Late harvest white wines are also sweet because the grapes were left behind on the vine during the traditional harvest. Although this white wine is not as sweet as the ice wines compared, yet its concentrated wines are deliciously sweet.
Dry White Wine Types
In some environments, dry whites wine is favored over any different types of white wine. Therefore white wines like dry Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris/Grigio are manufactured around the world, and almost all wine consumers patronized them because of their crisp and tart flavors.
Fruity white wines and any other kinds of white wines can be taken at any time of the year, but dry white wines are better refreshing during the summer when the climate will be warm. You may want to check out the different types of dry white wine.
17. Sauvignon Blanc
While Sauvignon Blanc is not new to you, you’ll agree with me that it has one of the driest and crispest vines, making it perfectly okay as a refreshment or cooking wine.
This dry white wine can be found in major regions like Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, Austria, New Zealand, California, Washington, South Africa, and more.
18. Albariño
Albariño “al-buh-reen-yo” is a popular Spanish wine with bright acid, light salty notes, and a crisp firm flavor. It tastes sweet but very delicious when taken with the seafood.
19. Chardonnay
The excellent Chardonnay wines are very famous in the Burgundy region of France. This type of dry white wine is purely made out of the vine grape. It has a fine flavor of tropical fruits, citrus, and apple.
20. Muscadet
Musk-uh-day wine is totally dry, and it is made from the rare Melon de Bourgogne grapes. Note that this dry white wine is different from the Muscat or Moscato fruity white wines, which are said to be semi-sweet or off-dry.
21. Torrontés
Torrontés “torr-on-tez” is one of the few white wines that are increasingly growing in fame and popularity. Most of this kind of dry white wine can be found in South American countries, Argentina to be precise.
22. Pinot Blanc
Pinot Blanc is a dry white wine grape that is mostly grown in areas like Italy, Germany, Austria, and France. Its flavor profile has the same semblance as Chardonnay with some zippy acidity as well as notes of almonds and apples.
23. Pinot Grigio/Gris
This wine is fondly called Pinot Grigio in Italy. It’s known as Grauburgunder in Germany. Pinot Grigio cultivated in the Alsace region of France doesn’t fit into the dry white wine category.
24. Viognier
Viognier “vee-oh-nay” is one of the prominent white varietals prototypical. This type of white wine has a natural light, lush, acidic, and floral feature that is enjoined to dry white wines.
25. Grüner Veltliner
Austria is known for its peachy wine and undertones of spice pepper that tastes deliciously good. This type of dry white wine is not that common in society.
26. Gewürtztraminer
Gewürztraminers is the most celebrated dry white wine that is known for its sweetness, juiciness, and garden-like fragrance that can’t be seen anywhere else.
27. Riesling
Rieslings thrive and grow better in Germany and Alsace, and it can be categorized into dry or sweet white wine. Riesling has a delicate smell of Apple, citrus fruits, and aroma that work out well with flaky fish dishes and elegant dessert.
28. Champagne
Champagne is famous and very popular in America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. It is yet another type of dry white wine that has a crisp flavor, and it’s deliciously sweet.
Types of White Wine for Cooking
In case you held a party in your apartment on a blissful night and you have a lot of white wine on the floor as a leftover, instead of throwing them away, you can save yourself the cost and use them for cooking.
Hence, the following types of white wines can be used for cooking irrespective of the circumstances.
29. Pinot Grigio
This white wine has a crisp and very neutral flavor making it the number one go-to white wine that is good for cooking. It’s perfectly okay for any class of Italian dishes. When next you feel like eating smoked salmon pasta, don’t forget to add Pinot Grigio.
30. Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is perfectly okay for cooking any sauce or seafood. The acidity level in its content will help balance the dish’s richness. What do you say about a chicken with mushroom paste cooked with Sauvignon Blanc?
31. Chardonnay
As rich, sweet, and as crispy as a Chardonnay white wine is while consuming it as refreshment, that is how rich in flavor it’ll be while using it to cook.
32. White Bordeaux
This white wine is one of the creamiest and richest vine wines. It has a high level of citrus and floral flavor which makes it works perfectly well with dishes like the asparagus risotto, boozy bundt cake, etc.
33. Moscato
Moscato is a popular sweet white wine with hints of nectarine. The wine can be used for cooking sugary melon salad and it can equally be used for cooking or baking any dishes galore like rhubarb galette and more.
34. Sparkling White Wine
When next you have a Sparkling white wine as a leftover from the party you had the night before, do add it into your next meal and experience what it means to cook with white wine.
Final Thoughts
Quite a handful of sweet white wines varietals like the famous Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc have caught the attention of most wine lovers.
But in reality, there are different types of white wine that are known around the world. However, it is important to know that not all wines are sweet and fruity.
