To all of the white wine connoisseurs (lol)...help, please?!
To all of the white wine connoisseurs (lol)...help, please?
I really love Chardonnay, and I've tasted Riesling, but I've always wondered about Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. I've even heard that there is White Cabernet and White Bordeaux (as you can tell, I love am really a fan of white wine). Do they resemble in taste? Do they all taste great with the same foods? What is the REAL difference? I've tried to read, but I need someone who can give it to me easier than the book. Thanks!
Answers:
Try chardonnays from different places, different climates and winemaking techniques. Try one that is unoaked or made with organic grapes. For Sauvignon Blanc is crisp refreshing and dry, most of the time stainless steel fermented. I've had one that 5% of the wine was barrel fermented and then added to the wine for complexity. Pinot Grigio, is a nice crisp white wine from Italy, try a "Grillo" a grape from Sicily that seems like a cross between Pinot Grigio and Sauv Blanc. From anywhere else it is called Pinot Gris. Try one from Washington, they are delicious. Try a Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, France they also come semi-sweet. Try it from South Africa, it is their most planted white grape. There are a lot of options for white wine drinkers.
Source(s):
wine store owner
White Cabernets and White Bordeaux are not white wines, anymore than White Zinfandel is. They're blush.
Pinot Grigio tend to be very light bodied. They're supposedly good with seafood or dishes with a light cream sauce. I've honestly never found one that I like . . . the ones I've had tend to be a bit thin and acidic.
Sauvignon Blanc is similar to Chardonnay, but the aroma has more tropical fruits. It's usually dry. I think it's great with a fruit and cheese plate, and perhaps with chicken (depending on how it's prepared).
Actually there are white Bordeaux wines made from all white grapes.(most notably dessert wines) If you want the best of the best I would recommend white Burgundy (Burgundy is a region in France not a color). They are typically Chardonnay and sometimes blended with a small amount of other grapes. Because of the climate and terroir they are like no other. Downside they are rather expensive,(although it is possible to find good inexpensive ..$15-20) My other suggestion would be try some Alsatian white wines. That is another region in NE France near the German border. They use several different Pinot grapes and the Pinot Grigio there is quite different from that found in Italy. BTW I managed a wine store for 5 yrs. Good luck and happy drinking!
White Bordeaux is made from Sauvignon Blanc. I have a very nice one sitting in my fridge right now. It's a 2005 Chateau Tour de Mirambeau Sauvignon Blanc and it cost about $10. Take a trip to your local wine shop (small local ones), make friends with the owner and tell him you want to try some old world, food friendly whites. He'll probably be happy to help you.
White Bordeaux and White Burgundy (Chardonnay) are typically drunk with shellfish. White Rhone wines are made with Viognier and will stand up to heavier foods like chicken, halibut, and mahi mahi...even pork. It's all about how heavy the flavors are. You'll notice that white Bordeax and Burgs have flowery, fruity flavors and the white Rhones have a denser, heavier, stronger taste and mouthfeel. Pinot Gris (Grigio) is an Alsatian varietal and that will also stand up to denser white meats. You can find good Alsatian wines for around $20 like Zind-Humbrecht.
Wine pairing is all about experience. When you find a good combination, you'll notice. Eventually, you'll be able to pick them out for yourself. It's a great talent for impressing dates, so stick with it.
White Cabernet comes from red cabernet grapes.I have heard that they seperate the grapes skins just like they do with white zinfandel and thats how they taste a little sweeter by seperating the grapes skin.White bordeaux is a french white wine.
Not only do all the varietals have different flavors and aromas....but different wineries producing the same type of wine will have vastly different tastes. Not all Chardonnay taste the same for example.
The good news is that you get to sample lots of different wines to see which ones are your favorites for each of the varietals.
Learn about the typical flavors and tastes of the different types of white wine at this site: http://www.cheers2wine.com/food-and-wine...