White Wine to Try at Least Once in Your Lifetime
White wine is a broad category. Just like red wine, the best white wines can be made in any wine region and with white varietals. There are over 600 white wine varieties in the world, so you can try a different white wine every day for the rest of your life without having to repeat it.
Depending on the grape variety and its origin, white wine also has a distinct taste and set of aromas. Acidity is typical in all white wines, but although some bottles are zesty and offer scents of green apple, grapefruit, stone fruit, and minerality, others are medium-bodied and offer tropical fruit, apricot, honeysuckle, and vanilla.
Most white wine is unoaked, but Grand Cru white Burgundies and fine white wines from Napa, for example, spend a few months in cask. Every winemaker has a white wine style, and every drinker has a preference. Dry white wine might be the most common, but sweet wines and even sparkling wines are also fantastic.
Let’s talk about the best white wine from the world’s finest cellars and start in the old continent — Europe.
The Best White wine in the Old World
France is home to some of the most popular white wines, and it’s because the most common grapes used worldwide are French.
Chardonnay is the main variety in Burgundy, where every Domaine has its unique way of making the versatile grape express itself, from Northern Chablis to the Côte d’Or.
Sauvignon Blanc is more common in the Central Loire Valley, while Chenin Blanc is more typical near the Atlantic Coast. Sauvignon is also popular in Bordeaux, where it’s often blended with Semillon for spectacular dry and sweet wines.
Alsace is a French appellation specializing in white wine. Here Dry Riesling, Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio), and others make food-friendly wines for all occasions. And if you travel south to the warm Rhone Valley, you’ll find aromatic wines made with Viognier.
Italy is also a white wine powerhouse, and Italian producers champion at least a hundred white grapes. Spain has its Albariño, and Austria has its peppery Grüner Veltliner. There’s no doubt Europe has a lovely selection of white wines.
The Best White wine in the New World
The United States is one of the most important wine-producing countries in the new world, and white wine is well represented. California is home to the oaky California Chardonnay, and the best come from Napa Valley. Still, there are many other surprises in every corner of the country.
Oregon has become a source of refreshing Pinot Gris, and even New York State produces a large amount of white wine, mainly made with Riesling. Washington, on the other side of the country, is your go-to source for fine Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.
South Africa adopted Chenin Blanc as its signature white varietal, and Marlborough, New Zealand, produces some of the most intensely aromatic wines with Sauvignon Blanc.
Australia is an immense country and source of white wine of all styles, from floral Rieslings to robust Chardonnay; they even have their version of the French Semillon — and the wine is excellent.
Then we have South America, where Chile has made headlines with a lovely Sauvignon Blanc. With one of the best quality-price ratios, Chile is becoming a must for every wine lover looking for a good wine at an even better price.
There is a White Waiting for You
With so many types of white wine, there’s undoubtedly one tailored to your taste and palate. If you don’t know where to start your journey, try Mai Vino Sauvignon Blanc from Chile or the Columbia Valley. Crisp, bright, and refreshing, our 100% organically grown Sauvignon Blanc with a splash of Riesling is guaranteed to make you smile.
And there’s more. All our wines are made with indigenous yeast and packaged in an eco-friendly pouch with an air-tight spout. Drink at your own pace. Our wine stays fresh for up to thirty days.