White Wine at Empire WineSM

Frequently Asked Questions About White Wine

Where is white wine made?

White wine is made all around the world!

• Argentina
• Australia
• Chile
• France
• Italy
• New Zealand
• Portugal
• South Africa
• Spain
• USA

How do I pair white wine?

An easy-to-remember rule of thumb is to always try to match the food intensity and complexity with the wine.

White wine with steak. Why not?

Bold and dry wines such as an oaky Chardonnay from Napa, or a Southern France or Australian Viognier or Marsanne, can be a good idea. More complex wines such as a dry old Riesling or a White Rioja might work as well.

White wine with fish

Crisp and zesty white wines such as Pinot Grigio or Albariño are a fantastic match to lighter tasting foods like lean fishes (sea bass, black sea bass, sole, and tilapia). Fresh or roasted vegetables, and even cream and oil-based sauces, are also great choices with lighter wines.

White wine with chicken

Cooking chicken with herbs like sage or lavender? A floral and aromatic variety such as Viognier or Torrontes would make a great way complementary pairing. Alternatively, if you’re cooking white meats with green herbs, Sauvignon Blanc is the way to go.

Information About White Wine

White grapes are grown in all major wine regions of the world, and there is a huge spectrum of different styles and fun options to explore—little wonder the white wine category is gaining popularity among even the most experienced wine drinkers.

What are the advantages of white wine? They are versatile, refreshing, food-friendly, and can please a wide range of palates.

Discover Your Taste

Three significant aspects differentiate white wine styles: acidity, sweetness, and fruit character. The balance of these three elements indicates a white wine's quality.

Acidity: Crispy, bright, and refreshing are attributes commonly used to describe white wine, and each of these describes the acid levels. Cold-climate countries such as New Zealand, Germany, and Austria, for example, tend to produce wines with higher natural acidity. Warmer winemaking regions such as Southern France, Australia, and Napa tend to have moderate natural acidity.

Sweetness: White wine provides a much broader spectrum of sweetness levels than its red counterpart. The term dry (and bone dry) means the wine has no sugar. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Albarino, and Gruner Veltliner are most commonly made in a dry style. Some wines fall between dry and off-dry, including most New World Chardonnays, Rieslings, Viogniers, and Pinot Gris. Some other wines such as Sauternes and "late harvest" bottlings of grapes such as Riesling and Chenin Blanc are always very sweet.

Fruit Character: Based on the climate and grape variety, white wines can express different flavors and aromas. Wines from cold and moderate winemaking regions such as Chablis in France, Greece, Northern Italy, and Rias Baixas in Spain tend to express a citrusy or zesty character. Warmer areas such as Barrosa in Australia, Rioja, and Central Valley in California produce richer, denser, and riper fruit profiles. The grape varieties themselves are also responsible for providing different flavor profiles; aromatic grapes such as Muscat, Torrontes, and Gewürztraminer are known to display floral notes, while others like Sauvignon Blanc tend to be more herbaceous and "green."

Does any of this sound appealing to you? Let us steer you in the right direction!

The Types of White Wine

Bold and Dry

If you’re usually a red wine drinker, you might enjoy starting your journey here:

• Chardonnay Oaked
• Sémillon
• Viognier
• White Rioja

Crisp and Zesty

Looking for a refreshing drink on a sunny spring/summer afternoon?

• Albariño
• Assyrtiko
• Unoaked Chardonnay / Chablis
• Chenin Blanc
• Cortese / Gavi
• Garganega / Soave
• Pinot Blanc
• Pinot Grigio

Fresh and Herbaceous

Feel like drinking something light and fresh (normally also dry) while cooking?

• Grüner Veltliner
• Sauvignon Blanc / Sancerre
• Vermentino
• Vinho Verde

Floral and Fragrant (often slightly sweet)

Looking for a wine to chill with near the pool or while hanging around in the garden?

• Gewürztraminer
• Müller-Thurgau
• Moscato
• Riesling
• Torrontés