Types of White Wine Grapes, Cont'd

Read on to learn more about some of the main types of white wine, Sauvignon Blanc / Fume Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and Verdejo. Allright... I do know Verdejo isn't one of the main types of white wine grapes, but it's one of my favorites, so I get to write about it. It's fun to be in charge.

Are you feeling unenthused about these grapes and want to go back to the last page? Go to White Wine Types Page 1 to keep reading about Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Riesling.

Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh, crisp, and versatile wine that can be paired with almost any meal. Originating in the Bordeaux region of France, Sauvignon Blanc is now grown all over the world. Fumé Blanc is simply another name for Sauvignon Blanc, and generally refers to a dry Sauvignon Blanc-- it's only used for American wines. Sauvignon Blanc is also sometimes aged in oak barrels.

What to expect from a Sauvignon Blanc: This is an interesting wine with wonderful undertones of green pepper or mown grass. The flavors in the wine itself range from tangy fruit flavors like apple and pear to richer fruits such as mango, melon, and black currants. Unoaked (that is, not aged in oak barrels) Sauvignon Blanc can be smokey.

Serve Sauvignon Blanc with: Nearly anything. This versatile wine is great with a whole range of foods, from Asian dishes to smoked fish and cheeses. It nicely balances foods with raw garlic, and is a good choice for salads and other vegetarian dishes.

Like Rieslings, Gewürztraminer wines can range from quite sweet to dry. In German, the word Gewürz means "spice," and the name Gewürztraminer refers to the spicy flavor characteristic of this wine. This is a very aromatic wine whose intese flavors make it a bit less refreshing than some white wines. Gewürztraminer wines are almost never aged, and are best when drunk young.

What to expect from a Gewürztraminer: This wine is slighly spicy, and is famous for a strong aroma of lychees. It has fruity flavors and aromas of dried roses, apricots, and spice.

Serve Gewürztraminer with: This is one of the few types of white wine that can really hold up to spicy foods, especially spicy Asian foods. It's also commonly combined with Munster cheese, fish (smoked salmon in particular), and wild game.

No, Verdejo isn't one of the "main" types of white wine... but it is one of my favorites. And since I'm writing this, I get to choose to include it. If you're looking to offer your dinner party guests a great white wine that they haven't tried before, pick up a white Verdejo wine from Spain's Rueda region. One of the only truly interesting native Spanish whites, this wine is dry, crisp, and refreshing. This wonderful wine always goes over well.

What to expect from a Verdejo: Verdejo isn't very high in alcohol compared with some other wines, and combines a lovely green-grass flavor with intense fruits, such as peaches, pears, and melon. A wonderful wine for a hot summer day.

Serve Verdejo with: Somewhat similar to a Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo is a good wine to balance sharp foods such as garlic and spice. It's a versitile wine and is nicely paired with mild cheeses and smoked trout and salmon.