White Wine Grape Varieties
The current trend is for marketing wines according to their grape varieties. This practice is particularly common for wines from regions that do not have a long history of commercial wine making.
Chardonnay:
This classic French white burgundy grape is also used in the production of champagne. Because it is relatively easy to grow and yields good quality wine successfully, it is grown in a number of other European countries including Spain and Italy and widely in Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It is often aged in oak casks or with oak chips in an attempt to mimic the authentic flavor of white burgundy.
Chenin Blanc
Originally from the Vouvray area of the Loire Valley in France, this grape can be used to make both dry and sweet wines and is also grown in many New World wine regions, including Australia, United States and South Africa.
Colombard
A fruity, sharp grape that is particularly popular with wine makers in Australia, South Africa and California.
Gewürztraminer
A spicy, distinctive grape used to make high quality wines in Alsace, France. It is also grown in Germany, Hungary, Australia and New Zealand.
Grüner Veltliner
Probably the best known Austrian grape. It produces a fresh tasting, light, dry wine and is also grown in Moravia, in the Czech Republic.
Müller-Thurgau
A cross between the Riesling and Sylvaner varieties, this grape is grown widely in the Rhine valley of Germany. It ripens early but the flavor of this light wine is often disappointing.
Muscadet
Used to make very dry white wines, this grape is grown around the town of Nantes in France.
Muscat
Grown in many countries, this grape has a pungent flavor and is often used for producing sweet wines. However, excellent quality dry wines are produced in Alsace, Hungary and Australia.
Riesling
Germany's best quality grape gives wine with a good balance between sweetness and acidity. It is also grown in Alsace, Austria, Australia, California, New Zealand and South Africa. It is sometimes called Rhine Riesling to distinguish it from the inferior Welschriesling that is grown widely in Eastern Europe and Italian Tyrol.
Sauvignon Blanc
This grape has a distinctive, aromatic flavor and is used to make dry wine in the upper Loire valley and Bordeaux and sweet wine in Sauternes. It is also being grown very successfully in Chile, Argentina and New Zealand.
Sémillon
This grape is an essential constituent of Sauternes, Graves and dry white Bordeaux wines.
Sylvaner
A common German grape variety, often blended with other grapes to make table wines. In Alsace and Northern Italy it is used to make good quality, fresh tasting wines.
Trebbiano
An indifferent Italian grape used in the production of Orvieto, Soave and white Chianti. In France, the grape is known as Ugni Blanc and is grown in the Cognac region.