UNCORKING THE CHARACTER
OF WHITE WINE
There are two basic distinctions of white wine when comparing it to red wine: different color and less tannins. White wines are generally made from grapes with a lighter skin pigmentation and these skins are not left in the fermentation process, unlike the skins of red wine grapes. For this reason, color is rarely imparted into the juices that will make the wine. White wines can also be made from dark skinned grape whose skins are removed almost immediately in the fermentation process in order to refrain from releasing red coloring into the wine. For these reason, color is rarely imparted into the juices that will make the wine. Because the skins are light and not left to ferment with the juices, tannins are not released into the wines either. This is not to say that white wines never possess any tannins. Oak aging a white will impart into it some tannins from the oak wood. Because of this lesser amount of tannins, white wines are often less bitter and puckering in nature and less spicy in nature. Tannins are a preservative so white wines rarely age well with the lack of tannins and when they do, the longevity is shorter lived than reds. White wines often contain more acids than reds do giving them a more crisp, fruitier and lighter feel.
White wines can best be divided based on a three characteristics: full-bodied or light-bodied, dryness or sweetness, oaked and unoaked. For this reason, wines below have been divided into 6main categories: Full-bodied dry, full-bodied sweet, medium body dry, medium body sweet, light-bodied dry, light-bodied sweet. Subsections under these heading will indicate oaking
Below you can find general descriptions on the character of a specific wine made from a specific grape variety or blends of grape varieties as well as the characteristics of common grape varieties. This can only serve as a loose guideline to the character of that wine you are thinking about purchasing. Many factors effect the character of a wine. Aspects that distinguish and make one wine unique from the next on the shelf are the variety of aromas, flavors and finishes that each variety contributes to the final product as well as the climate and region the grapes are grown in, growing conditions of that season, vineyard practices, winery processes and practices, as well as aging practices and storage. For more information on these influence that effect character click HERE.
White wines can best be divided based on a three characteristics: full-bodied or light-bodied, dryness or sweetness, oaked and unoaked. For this reason, wines below have been divided into 6main categories: Full-bodied dry, full-bodied sweet, medium body dry, medium body sweet, light-bodied dry, light-bodied sweet. Subsections under these heading will indicate oaking
Below you can find general descriptions on the character of a specific wine made from a specific grape variety or blends of grape varieties as well as the characteristics of common grape varieties. This can only serve as a loose guideline to the character of that wine you are thinking about purchasing. Many factors effect the character of a wine. Aspects that distinguish and make one wine unique from the next on the shelf are the variety of aromas, flavors and finishes that each variety contributes to the final product as well as the climate and region the grapes are grown in, growing conditions of that season, vineyard practices, winery processes and practices, as well as aging practices and storage. For more information on these influence that effect character click HERE.