| White wine owes its light coloring to the color of | | | | Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio comes in two distinct |
| the grape used-golden, green, and white being the | | | | types: Italian and French. The Italian version tends |
| most common. However, some wineries produce | | | | to be less full-bodied than that produced in other |
| white wine by using only the flesh of a red grape. | | | | countries. Gewürztraminer, coming from a |
| White wine usually accompanies lighter meals and | | | | German root word indicating spiciness, pairs well |
| often pairs well with light meat or seafood. | | | | with Asian foods and can have a rose-like flavor. |
| Generally speaking, white wine has eight different | | | | It is produced in a variety of countries. |
| varietals; these are often called "The Big Eight." | | | | Riesling wines are known for their versatility; they |
| These are: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon | | | | can be paired with almost anything. The dryness |
| Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, | | | | of the wine is often indicated in German on the |
| Sémillon, Viognier, and Chenin Blanc. All of | | | | bottle. New Zealand and France are the major |
| these wines take their name from the type of | | | | producers of Sauvignon Blanc wine, and the |
| grape used in their production. | | | | difference in geography shows in the wide variety |
| Chardonnay is the number one selling white wine | | | | of flavors that a Sauvignon Blanc wine can display. |
| varietal in America, and is extremely versatile in | | | | Sémillon and Viognier are lesser-known |
| its pairings. Most Chardonnays come from either | | | | varietals that hail from specific regions of France: |
| California or France. People often describe the | | | | the Sémillon grape often is grown in |
| flavor as "buttery" with a fruity impression. The | | | | Bordeaux and Côtes de Gascoigne, and the |
| Loire Valley in France produces most of the | | | | Viognier in the northern Rhône regions. |
| Chenin Blanc on the market, although vineyards in | | | | These grapes often figure in blends, and so, as |
| California and Argentina also produce this varietal. | | | | stand-alone wines, they are much more rare and |
| Its flavor and acidity can vary wildly depending | | | | more expensive. |
| upon the time of the grape harvest. | | | | |