(Wine) White Varietals Flashcards
Albariño
Loved for its rich stone fruit flavors, a hint of salinity, and zippy acidity.
Lemon Zest • Grapefruit • Honeydew • Nectarine • Saline
Dry • Light Bodied • No Tannins • High Acidity
Grüner Veltliner
Austria’s most important wine. The most popular production styles are lean, herbaceous, and peppery wines with mouth-watering acidity.
Starfruit • Gooseberry • Asparagus • White Pepper • Crushed Gravel
Dry • Medium-light Bodied • No Tannins • High Acidity
Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet)
Known for its lean, mineral, and saline driven white wines that pair famously with seafood.
Lime • Seashell • Green Apple • Pear • Bread Dough
Bone-dry • Light Bodied • No Tannins • High Acidity
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris (aka Pinot Grigio) is a pinkish grape mutation of Pinot Noir. It’s famously known for zesty white wines, but can also be used for rosé.
White Peach • Lemon Zest • Cantaloupe • Raw Almond • Crushed Gravel
Dry • Medium-light Bodied • No Tannins. Medium-High Acidity
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc grows nearly everywhere and is produced in a variety of methods resulting in a wide that range from lean to bountiful.
Gooseberry • Honeydew • Grapefruit • White Peach • Passion Fruit
Dry • Medium-light Bodied • No Tannins. High Acidity
Garganega
An important Italian white that’s loved for its lean, dry style that gains rich tangerine and toasted almond notes as it ages. Garganega is the main grape of Soave (swah-vay.)
Peach • Honeydew • Tangerine • Marjoram • Saline
Dry • Medium-light Bodied • No Tannins. Medium-High Acidity
Vermentino
Vermentino is an important white of Sardinia and Tuscany where producers offer both oaked and unoaked styles.
Lime • Grapefruit • Green Apple • Almond • Daffodil
Dry • Medium-light Bodied • No Tannins. Medium-High Acidity
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean, sparkling Blanc de Blancs to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak.
Yellow Apple • Starfruit • Pineapple • Vanilla • Butter
Dry • Medium Bodied • No Tannins. Medium Acidity
Sémillon
An important white grape of Bordeaux, including the prized dessert wine, Sauternes. Wines can be surprisingly rich and when oaked, can taste similar to Chardonnay.
Lemon • Beeswax • Yellow Peach • Chamomile • Saline
Dry • Medium Body • No Tannins • Medium Acidity
Viognier
Viognier (“Vee-own-yay”) is a full-bodied white wine that originated in southern France. Most loved for its perfumed aromas of peach, tangerine and honeysuckle, Viognier can also be oak-aged to add a rich creamy taste with hints of vanilla.
Tangerine • Peach • Mango • Honeysuckle • Rose
Dry • Medium-light Bodied • No Tannins. Medium Acidity
Chenin Blanc
It’s hard not to love Chenin Blanc; given its diversity of styles from lean, dry whites and aromatic sparklers, to sweet golden nectars as well as rich brandies.
Quince • Yellow Apple • Pear • Chamomile • Honey
Dry • Medium-light Bodied • No Tannins. High Acidity
Gewürztraminer (ga-vurtz-tra-me-ner)
Treasured for its intense floral aromas, Gewürztraminer has thrived for centuries around Germany. Quality examples are ageworthy, but most are best enjoyed in their youth to preserve acidity.
Lychee • Rose • Grapefruit • Tangerine • Ginger
Off-dry • Medium Bodied • No Tannins. Low Acidity
Muscat Blanc
An ancient aromatic white variety originally from Greece that’s available in many styles, from dry to sweet to still, sparkling, and fortified.
Orange Blossom • Meyer Lemon • Mandarin Orange • Pear • Honeysuckle
Off-dry • Light Bodied • No Tannins. Medium-high
Riesling
An aromatic white variety that can produce white wines ranging in style from bone-dry to very sweet. Germany is the world’s most important producer of Riesling.
Lime • Green Apple • Beeswax • Jasmine • Petroleum
Off-dry • Light Bodied • No Tannins. High Acidity
