It's all About the Grape - Part II, the Whites
Carl Bird One of the most important components in determining whether or not we will like a wine is the grape from which it is made - the varietal.Let's talk about the classic whites. Sauvignon Blanc is a pale straw coloured wine with hints of green. It can be difficult to appreciate for its strong aromas. If you have ever smelled a grape with the aroma of a cat box, then you were drinking a Sauvignon Blanc. It can also exhibit some very pleasant aromas as well. Freshly mown hay, asparagus, lemons, gooseberries and apples are the most common aromas associated with this classic white grape. In the mouth you can expect to experience crisp lemony acids with an herbal finish. Sauvignon Blanc is present in most of the great white Bordeaux wines, usually blended with Semillon. In addition to the Loire, Sancerre and the Pouilly Fume regions of France, Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown in Northern Italy, Eastern Europe, California, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In New Zealand, it has gained a great following and the Sauvignon Blanc of New Zealand of incredibly good quality. Chardonnay is an easy to grow grape in warm or cool climates. Chablis wines of Burgundy were the first wines made from Chardonnay that made a name for themselves. It is a varietal admired them for its complexity and ageworthyness. Its colour ranges from pale straw to burnished gold. In warm climates, winemakers add oak aging which results in a buttery flavour. On the nose you will experience citrus, pineapple, apple, pear and steeliness. If oaked, you can add vanilla and butter. The taste is crisp and acidic from cold climates, unctuous, ripe and tropical from warmer climates. In addition to Chablis, the Chardonnay is the most widely planted varietal in the world and can be found in Italy, Eastern Europe, England, Australia, New Zealand California, South America and South Africa. The third classic grape amongst the whites is the Riesling. Best known in Germany, it is best grown in cool climates to great results. It makes very long-lived wines. It has the appearance of light straw with green highlights, to medium gold if it is of the sweeter variety. Peaches, apricots and honey are the predominate aromas but Riesling is also known for exhibiting strangely reminiscent of rubber tires or diesel fuel. While it is commonly known as a sweet wine, Riesling can be very successful as a dry wine as well. It is elegant, complex and is know for fresh, crisp acidity. Riesling has been successfully grown in Germany, Alsace, Austria, Northern Italy, England, Australia, Canada, California, South Africa and New Zealand. A grape that is as widely known as the three classic grapes is the Pinot Blanc. It can sometimes be mistaken for a light Chardonnay with a pale straw to medium gold colour. Pinot Blanc is often quite mild but can also be very floral smelling. It is typically rich tasting wines with an unctuous, elegant mouth-feel and can have a lingering aftertaste of dried roses. Pinot Blanc is equally successful as a dry or sweet wine and is often used as a blend with Pinot Noir to make Champagne or on its own in other sparkling wines. It is well known in Alsace, Burgundy, Austria, Canada, Eastern Europe and California.
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