White Wine Varieties

What is a Chardonnay?

A Chardonnay is probably the most widely grown grape variety in the world.The home of Chardonnay is in Burgundy in France, where it makes famous wines such as Le Montrachet, Meursault, and Puligny Montrachet. But Chardonnay is grown in countries such as China, Australia, America.Chardonnay is grown absolutely everywhere. It's a very hardy grape. And Chardonnay is also used to make champagne in northern France.

What is a Sauvignon Blanc?

A Sauvignon Blanc is another of the classic grape varieties whose home is in the Loire Valley in France. People probably don't realise that Sauvignon Blanc is the grape that is used to make wine such as Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, but has found new fame in areas such as Marlboro and New Zealand.

What is a Semillion?

A Semillon is one of the lesser known classic grape varieties whose home is in Bordeaux, France. Semillon is used to make light, dry wines and is blended with Sauvignon Blanc. It is also used to make some of the classic sweet wines of the world such as Sauternes. Semillon is also famously grown in the Hunter Valley in Australia and can age for a very long time.

What is a Chenin Blanc?

Chenin Blanc is a white grape variety that originates from the Loire Valley in France. Chenin Blanc famously makes the wines of Vouvray, Savennière and Quarts de Chaume. It can make wines from bone-dry to super-sweet, but has also found a new home in South Africa, where it's the most widely planted white grape.

What is a Viognier?

Viognier is one of the more aromatic white grape varieties whose home is in the northern Rhone in France, in particular, the Appellation contrôlée called Condrieu. Viognier makes wines with lovely peachy, apricoty flavours, with a little bit of spice on the finish.

What is a Gewurztraminer?

A Gewurztraminer is probably the most aromatic of the white grape varieties, "gewurzt" actually meaning "spice" and "Traminer" being a town in Italy where the grapes had originated from. But Gewurztraminer is more famously grown in Alzet in Northern France.

What is a Riesling?

Riesling is probably the most austere and age worthy white grape variety that is famously grown in Germany and Alsace, in northern France. The Rieslings can come in various styles from bone dry to very sweet ice wines, and they can age for a very long time indeed.