White Wine
Some grapes can get used in the making of different types of wine, no matter the colour you want to achieve in the end. Why is this? Well, it all comes down to skin contact. If a wine-maker can use the non-coloured flesh of grapes while avoiding staining throughout the separation process, they can easily use a dark-coloured grape in the making of white wine. The resultant colour ranges from straw-yellow to yellow-green all the way to yellow-gold. The skin can be any colour, but the fruit pulp should be devoid of colour. Studies show that white wine has been in existence for about 25 centuries, indicating that it came to be long after red wine came into existence.
You will notice that there is a lot of variety when it comes to this wine. This variation stems from the different techniques in play as well as the different grape varieties grown, coupled with alterations in residual sugar ratios. The bottom line is that as long as staining does not take place; one can end up with an excellent white wine upon following the stages of production.
White wines come in handy as refreshers when having meals, as meat softeners and desserts. They are thus quite versatile.
Types of White Wine
There are seven main types at present. They are:
Chardonnay
This variety also goes by the name Shiraz, and it does well in California, Rhone Valley, and Australia. Its main notes are blackcurrant with a hint of meat and spices in the aftertaste. It is also notable for its gripping tannins which make it quite sensational. Some of the suitable pairings include meat dishes.
Sauvignon Blanc
Merlot is quite interesting as it pairs with very many delicacies. This variety does well in many regions including Washington State, Italy, Australia, Romania, and California, among others. Notes featured include black cherry, herbs, and plums. People love it for its round texture.
Semillon
If you have red meat on your table, then this wine will do you right when it comes to pairing. This variety does well in red wine appellations, except the Northern fringes. This full-bodied wine has a firm and gripping taste with rich currant notes.
Moscato
This wine variety does well in the Bordeaux region, and it features notes of spice, plums, and berries. As for food pairings, foie gras and meat-based meals will do.
Pinot Grigio
It is quite hard to grow this grape variety which features a delicate and fresh structure. With soft tannins in play as well as fruity aromas, it pairs great with grilled chicken and salmon.
Gewurztraminer
This versatile grape variety mainly grows in California. Its zesty flavour makes it suitable for pairings with grilled meat, pasta, and pizza.
Riesling
This medium-bodied wine does well when it comes to pairings with Italian and Mediterranean cuisines. Its fresh berry and plum aromas are quite distinctive.
Production
You can use either black or white grapes, as long as the flesh is non-coloured. Once you harvest the grapes, you subject them topressing to remain with the juice, which is also known as the wort. You then place the wort in tanks for the fermentation process to take place. Yeast present on the grapes works on the sugar to produce alcohol, heat and carbon dioxide. If you wish to have dry white wine, you should allow for the process to take place without any interruptions so that there is no residual sugar. If you want to have a sweet wine, it is essential that you interrupt the process so that there is some sugar in the end. Sparkling wines require that the carbon dioxide does not escape. For this reason, the process should take place in the bottle as opposed to the barrel.
White Wine Options
Dry White Wine
This wine has no sugar as the sugar ration is about four grams per litre or less. It is quite hard to make the wine as you have to strike a balance between acidity and alcohol.
Sweet Wine
The sweetness present in this wine comes from the grape variety used in production. However, there must be an interruption in production to achieve this.
Sparkling Wine
The thing with this type of wine is that it contains dissolved carbon dioxide which thus results in bubbles.
Fortified Wine
This variety has added alcohol to it. The types of fortified wine vary based on when the fortification process took place during fermentation.
For some refreshment, white wine is the way to go as you try out different pairings.