Different Types of White Wine You Need to Try

White wines are perfect for those moments when you just want to sip something delightful without overthinking it. A crisp, refreshing glass of white wine is the ultimate companion to relax and unwind after a long day. What makes white wine even more exciting is that each style and variety has its own unique personality. From rich and creamy textures to light and subtly sweet notes, white wines come in a spectrum of flavors that can charm every kind of palate.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the main types of white wines that everyone should try. Whether you’re just starting your white wine journey or you’re a seasoned connoisseur, these grape varieties are your gateway to discovering the refreshing, fruity, and elegant world of white wine. But before we dive into the iconic styles, let’s cover a few essentials about white wine that every wine lover should know, no matter your level of expertise.

What is White Wine?

White wine is an alcoholic beverage made from white or yellow-colored grapes through fermentation in steel or wooden casks. It offers primary notes of citrus, stone fruits, and floral aromas depending on the grape variety. The fermentation process occurs without grape skins, resulting in its pale golden to light yellow color.

White wines range from dry to sweet and are typically served chilled at 45-50°F. Popular varieties include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling. The flavour profiles vary widely based on the grape type, terroir, and winemaking techniques. White wine pairs excellently with seafood, poultry, light pasta dishes, and soft cheeses, making it a versatile choice for various cuisines.

8 Main Types and Varieties of White Wines

White wines come in a wide range of varieties, each reflecting the best of its origin, grape quality, terroir, and the winemaker’s craft. Every variety has its own distinct personality and flavour profile, giving wine lovers the chance to discover something new and delicious. Whether you prefer something light and crisp or rich and full-bodied, you can buy white wine online that suits every palate and occasion.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular white wines, loved for its versatility and elegance. Originating in France and now thriving in regions like Australia and California, this grape produces wines that range from crisp and fresh to rich and creamy, depending on the style and winemaking approach. This white wine can range from medium to full-bodied and appears in many styles, including unoaked, oaked, and even sparkling versions.

What Does It Taste Like: Chardonnay offers flavours that range from crisp apple and citrus in unoaked styles to creamy notes of vanilla, butter, and tropical fruits in oaked versions, often finishing with a smooth, elegant touch.

Popular Wine Regions: Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley, Burgundy(France), Chablis (France), and Margaret River

Perfect Food Pairings: Roasted Chicken, Lobster, Seafood, Vegetable Salads, and Cheese.

Serving Tip: Enjoy chilled at 45-50°F (7-10°C) and keep the whit wine in dry and cool, dark conditions.

Recommended: Buy Chardonnay Wines

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a refreshing, zesty white wine celebrated for its vibrant acidity and aromatic profile. Originating in the Loire Valley of France and Bordeaux, it has found remarkable success in Adelaide Hills of South Australia and New Zealand’s Marlborough, producing intensely flavoured wines. This grape thrives in cool climates and is known for its crisp, light to medium-bodied character that makes it incredibly food-friendly and perfect for warm-weather sipping.

What Does It Taste Like: Sauvignon Blanc bursts with herbaceous notes of freshly cut grass, bell pepper, and gooseberry, complemented by zesty citrus, lime, grapefruit, and tropical hints of passion fruit, often with a mineral, flinty finish.

Popular Wine Regions: Marlborough (New Zealand), Adelaide Hills, Bordeaux(France), Chile, and South Africa

Perfect Food Pairings: Goat Cheese, Fresh Oysters, Grilled Fish, Green Salads, Asparagus, and Sushi

Serving Tip: Serve well-chilled at 42-48°F (6-9°C) and store in a cool, dark place to keep the vibrant, fresh characteristics intact.

Pinot Gris/Grigio

Pinot Gris (France) and Pinot Grigio (Italy) are the same grape variety but produce distinctly different wine styles depending on the region. Italian Pinot Grigio tends to be light, crisp, and refreshing, while Pinot Gris is richer and more full-bodied with deeper flavours. This versatile grape has become a global favourite, offering easy-drinking wines that appeal to a wide range of palates. It's a versatile choice for both casual gatherings and everyday enjoyment.

What Does It Taste Like: Pinot Grigio delivers crisp notes of green apple, pear, and citrus with a light body, while Pinot Gris offers richer flavours of stone fruits, honey, and subtle spice with a fuller texture.

Popular Wine Regions: Alto Adige (Italy), Friuli, Alsace (France), Oregon, and  Adelaide Hills.

Perfect Food Pairings: Light Pasta Dishes, Grilled Vegetables, Seafood Risotto, Chicken Salad, and Soft Cheeses

Serving Tip: Chill to 45-50°F (7-10°C) for Pinot Grigio and slightly warmer for Pinot Gris to enhance its richer flavors.

Riesling

Riesling is an aromatic white wine grape that produces some of the world's most age-worthy and versatile wines. Originating in Germany's Rhine region, Riesling ranges from bone-dry to lusciously sweet, making it a great choice to pair with various kinds of dishes. Its high acidity and lower alcohol content make it refreshing and balanced. Riesling is often misunderstood as always sweet, but modern styles include many dry versions that showcase the grape's mineral complexity and pure fruit character.

What Does It Taste Like: Riesling offers vibrant flavours of green apple, lime, peach, and apricot with floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle, often accompanied by an earthy or mineral character in aged wines.

Popular Wine Regions: Mosel and Rheingau (Germany), Alsace (France),Barossa Valley, Clare Valley and Eden Valley (Australia)

Perfect Food Pairings: Spicy Asian Cuisine, Pork Dishes, Duck, Smoked Fish, Thai Food, and Apple Desserts

Serving Tip: Serve chilled at 45-50°F (7-10°C) and store carefully as Riesling ages beautifully for decades in well-maintained conditions.

Moscato (Muscat)

One of the world's oldest and most aromatic grape varieties is Moscato, or generally Muscat. Italian Moscato d'Asti, well known for its sweet, lightly sparkling, low-alcohol wines, has gained enormous popularity due to its dessert-like, approachable characteristics. A wide range of fortified wines, from dry to extremely sweet, are part of the Muscat family. Its sweet taste appeals to people who are unfamiliar with wine or who prefer dessert-style drinks, and its strong grapey aroma makes it instantly recognisable.

What Does It Taste Like: Moscato delivers intensely sweet flavours of orange blossom, peach, honeysuckle, and fresh grapes with a slightly fizzy, candy-like character and low alcohol content.

Popular Wine Regions: Asti (Italy), Rutherglen, Clare Valley, Eden Valley (Australia), Alsace (France), and Greece

Perfect Food Pairings: Fresh Fruit, Light Desserts, Spicy Asian Food, Blue Cheese, Panna Cotta, and Fruit Tarts

Serving Tip: Serve well-chilled at 40-45°F (4-7°C) and consume young to enjoy its fresh, fruity character at its best.

Semillon

Semillon is an underrated white wine grape that produces rich, full-bodied wines capable of extraordinary ageing. While often overshadowed by more popular varieties, Semillon shines in Bordeaux's sweet Sauternes wines and Australia's Hunter Valley, where it develops unique honeyed complexity with age. Young Semillon tends to be modest and meticulous, while mature bottles have remarkable depth. It is typically blended with Sauvignon Blanc to provide body and texture, resulting in some of the world's most exquisite white wine combinations.

What Does It Taste Like: Semillon offers flavors of lemon, fig, and chamomile when young, developing into rich notes of honey, beeswax, toast, and lanolin with age, accompanied by a waxy, full-bodied texture.

Popular Wine Regions: Hunter Valley (Australia), Bordeaux and Sauternes (France), Washington State, and South Africa

Perfect Food Pairings: Roasted Poultry, Creamy Sauces, Lobster, Gruyere Cheese, Rich Fish Dishes, and Crème Brûlée

Serving Tip: Serve at 48-52°F (9-11°C), slightly warmer than crisp whites, to appreciate its fuller body and complex flavors.

Viognier

The unique, scented white grape known as Viognier originated in the Rhône Valley of France, specifically in the Condrieu appellation. Rich, aromatic wines with a high alcohol content and little acidity are produced by this full-bodied wine. After almost going extinct in the 1960s, Viognier has made a spectacular turnaround, finding success in South America, Australia, and California. Its exotic, luscious character sets it apart from other white wines, offering distinctive floral scents and a rich drinking experience.

What Does It Taste Like: Viognier bursts with perfumed aromas of apricot, peach, honeysuckle, and tangerine, complemented by hints of mango and violet, with a rich, oily, full-bodied palate.

Popular Wine Regions: Condrieu (Rhône Valley, France), California, Australia, and Argentina

Perfect Food Pairings: Lobster with Butter, Coconut Curry, Roasted Pork, Moroccan Tagine, Creamy Cheeses, and Spiced Dishes

Serving Tip: Serve at 50-55°F (10-13°C), slightly warmer than typical whites, to fully appreciate its aromatic intensity and rich texture.

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is one of the world's most versatile white grapes, capable of producing wines ranging from bone-dry to intensely sweet, as well as sparkling wines. Originating in France's Loire Valley, it has found a second home in South Africa, where it's the most planted variety. Chenin Blanc's high acidity gives it excellent aging potential, and it can develop incredible complexity over decades. Often undervalued, it offers an exceptional quality-to-price ratio and remarkable food pairing versatility.

What Does It Taste Like: Chenin Blanc offers flavours of quince, chamomile, pear, and honey in dry styles, while sweet versions develop notes of apricot, ginger, and marmalade, always with vibrant, refreshing acidity.

Popular Wine Regions: Loire Valley (France), South Africa, and California

Perfect Food Pairings: Pork Chops, Fried Chicken, Sushi, Mild Curries, Fresh Goat Cheese, and Apple Tart

Serving Tip: Serve at 45-50°F (7-10°C) for dry styles and slightly warmer for sweet versions; age-worthy examples benefit from cellaring.

FAQs

1. What is dry white wine?

Dry white wine contains minimal to no residual sugar, resulting in a crisp, non-sweet taste. The fermentation process converts most of the grape sugars into alcohol. Examples include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and unoaked Chardonnay.

2. What is a white blend?

A white blend is a wine made by combining two or more white grape varieties, either during fermentation or after. Classic examples include SBS OR SSB white blends, Bordeaux Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon), and Rhône blends (Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne), creating more complex flavour profiles.

3. Can white wines age?

Yes! While most white wines are best enjoyed young, certain varieties age beautifully for decades. Riesling, Chenin Blanc, high-quality Chardonnay, and Semillon develop complex, honeyed, nutty flavors with proper cellaring. High acidity and quality are key aging factors.

4. What white wine variety is sweet?

Moscato is the most popular sweet white wine variety, known for its low alcohol and fruity character. Other sweet varieties include late-harvest Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and dessert wines like Sauternes and Ice Wine.

5. What is the best white wine in Australia?

Australia is well-known in  the world for creating top-quality white wines. Chardonnay from Margaret River and Yarra Valley, and aged Hunter Valley Semillon, are widely popular among wine lovers from around the world. Riesling from Clare Valley and Eden Valley is also recognised for its finest taste and quality globally.

6. What is the best region for white wines in Australia?

Adelaide Hills and Margaret River in Australia are widely considered the best overall white wine regions, particularly for Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blends. Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley, and Hunter Valley are also exceptional for specific varieties.