Albariño (al-bar-EEN-yoh)

Having its origins in Portugal, this white wine grape is grown in northwest Spain, northwest Portugal, as well as California. It is used primarily to make varietal wines, meaning wines which are made from a single type of grape as opposed to a mix of grapes. If you find yourself in Australia, be cautious as wrongly labeled Savagnin has been sold for over a decade as Albariño, and all almost all bottles of Albariño produced in Australia are subject to suspicion of counterfeit. Characteristics of this wine:

 A unique aroma suggesting peach and apricot  Very light in appearance  High acidity  Can cause residual bitterness  Alcohol percentage between 11.5% and 12.5%

Grüner Veltliner (GROO-ner velt-LEEN-er)

This white wine grape is believed to have its origins in Austria, and is grown in Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, the east and west coasts of the United States, as well as the Adelaide Hill region of Australia. Characteristics of this wine:

 Apparent citrus and peach flavors, with notes of white pepper and sometimes tobacco  Considered to be very popular among restaurants for its ease in complementing dishes  For an earthy aroma, choose an aged bottle over a relative young bottle  Has a light and fruity flavor with a distinct spicy note  Known for being easy to consume, juicy, and flavorful  Dry, meaning it lacks the perception of sweetness  Alcohol percentage between 11% and 12.5%

Müller-Thurgau (MOO-lair TOOR-gow)

This white wine grape owes its name to Dr. Müller who created the grape at the Geisenheim Grape Breeding Institute, with Thurgau, Switzerland being credited as its origin. It exploded across the German wine producing regions after its creation in the late 19th century, and became the most grown grape in Germany by the 1970’s. It is grown in a multitude of countries on every continent with the exception of South America, Africa, and of course, Antarctica. The most notable regions of popularity are in the middle and eastern European countries. Characteristics of this wine:

 Fruity flavor suggesting pineapple and mango  Low acidity  Enjoyable when served at room temperature or chilled  Recommended as a young wine as aging does not improve the quality  Easy to drink  A cheap substitute for Chardonnay  Alcohol content between 9.5% and 13.5%

Pinot Grigio (PEE-no GREEJ-e-yo)

This white wine grape is an Italian clone of the Pinot Gris grape which originated in Burgundy, France. DNA evidence has shown that this grape is extremely similar to the Pinot Noir grape, and its existence is attributed to a mutation of the Pinot Noir grape centuries ago. The two primary areas of production are Oregon and in Alsace, France. It is also produced in California, Italy, and Germany. Characteristics of this wine:

 Crisp and dry when served cold  Zesty citrus flavor with floral and peppery tones  Commonly associated with apricot and pear flavors  Very light in color  Alcohol content between 12% and 15% Sauvignon Blanc (saw-veen-yon blonk)

This green-skinned grape has its origins in southwest France, and its name comes from the French words Sauvage meaning wild and Blanc meaning white. Its popular regions of production are in New Zealand, California, Chile, Australia, and France. It is commonly sold in its dry state under the title of Fumé Blanc. Characteristics of this wine:

 High acidity  Tangy and zesty  Sharp and distinctive aroma  Commonly associated with notes of grapefruit and lime  When produced in warmer regions, fruity flavors are more pronounced  Pale yellow color  Alcohol content between 11% and 12%

White table wine

An important thing to note about table wines is that they are not prestigious, thought provoking wines. Typically, they are inexpensive and are usually for a weekend afternoon or an average meal. The term “table wine” is more of a classification of wine, such as “sparkling” or “fortified”. Almost all white wines in this course can be classified by a winery as a white table wine, but when labeled as such, it is to describe the wine as a low quality varietal wine. White table wines have a maximum alcohol content of 14%. Next we'll discuss sweet white wines.

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