The best dry white wine

Date:   September 24, 2010

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The best dry white wines are not just for beginning wine drinkers. Some of the most celebrated wines in the world are dry white wines. What are we talking about when we say “dry white wines”? Simple…any white wine varietal that has residual sugar well under 1 percent. It can be a Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and on and on. There are so many to talk about.

Riesling

When you talk to sommeliers, you will find they all have a dry, crisp white that they love: Riesling. A dry Riesling has the crisp acidity, but with so much more in the nose of the glass and palate! These wines are best from cool climate areas such as Claire Valley Australia, Austria, the Alsace region of France, and Germany. The nose of the glass on these wines delivers notes of petrol, lemon, minerality, and citrus aromas. If you’re looking for a dry Riesling make sure it says “Kabinett” to signify dry. Try to shoot for a price of about $20 a bottle if this is your first Riesling experience.

Sauvignon Blanc

When you think of dry white wine who could leave out Sauvignon Blanc? Frequently inexpensive, this varietal provides the crisp citrus acidity, yet offers great fruit as well without hurting your wallet too much. Sauvignon Blancs tend to offer the citrus flavors (mostly grapefruit, lemon, and lime), but you can get some that throw a little bit of jalapeno and gooseberry aromas, too such as those from New Zealand). Keep a bottle or two in your fridge during the summer months.

What about Pinot Gris? It’s the #2 selling white wine. No one can argue it’s gaining popularity, for sure, but for some wine drinkers, they’ve never heard of it. It’s actually related to Pinot Noir as far as lineage of the grape goes. It’s a white wine, but with a little more body than you’d find in Sauv Blanc. On the nose it offers up minerality and pear notes. It’s a bigger wine, so the finish seems to permeate and stick around longer than lighter white wines.

Chardonnay

Of course, the king of all white wine is Chardonnay. It’s still the most planted and produced varietal in the United States. There are so many styles and types to choose from that you can find one you like. They can range from the 100 percent malo-lactic and new oak butter style to the lighter, fruitier style that may have been fermented in stainless steel. White Burgundy is literally Chardonnay. There are some Grand Cru’s and Premier Cru’s that can go for over $1000 from some producers, But you can find some great wines from $25-$50 from this area that are really delicious. American Chardonnay tends to be more creamy, showing baked apple and spice through the nose to the palate. White Burgundies tend to show more minerality and leaner acidity, so frequently it takes years of aging to be able to open the wine and enjoy.

Try Some More

There are more, and even highly obscure whites that can be added to your tasting such as Viognier, Pinot Blanc and Gewurztraminer to name but a few. Always take a chance and try some dry whites that a sommelier or wine shop owner recommends — even if you have never heard of the varietal! It’s fun to explore.

Best Dry White Wine – Recommendations

Riesling

* Dr. Loosen, Germany—There are many different types of Rieslings this producer offers, but they are all very good.

* J. Prum, Germany—This family has been making Riesling for a very long time, and again, the entire lineup is quite tasty!

* Domaine WeinbachAlsace, France – Amazing. (About $30 or so).

Sauvignon Blanc

* Geyser Peak Winery, California—These guys do it all the time: winning awards. Their Sauvignon Blanc always gets awards left and right. Very acidic, with flavors of zesty lemon and grapefruit.

* Kim Crawford, New Zealand—Wines from down under in New Zealand are a huge hit here in the states. These NZ wines show more of the fresh gooseberry and intense citrus and herbal aromas. This style is not for everyone, but if you have not tried it, you’re missing out!

Pinot Gris

* J Vineyards and Winery, California—Although this winery is known for its sparkling wine, they make a wonderful Pinot Gris.

* King Estates, Oregon—One of the largest producers up in Oregon make a wonderful Pinot Gris. It’s lean and dry with an earthy tone.

Chardonnay

* Lynmar Winery, Russian River—This producer is in the heart of the Russian River Valley in California. This is a great climate for Chardonnay…this wine shows notes of lemon curd and meringue. The acidity is high, but it’s not too oaky, so the balance shows well.

* Rombauer Winery, Napa, California—This ever popular Chardonnay is a nice expression of the grape coming from Napa. Baked apple and vanilla make this a great quaffer.

* Kistler Vineyard, California—This producer does not make Chardonnay for the faint of heart. They are highly sought after, and not cheap. We’re talking $75 for a bottle! This wine is unfined and unfiltered, so it’s intense when it hits the glass. It’s big, but has lots of acidity and creaminess that really is quite satisfying. If you are a Chardonnay fan, you should splurge and try this one time.

* Vincent Girardin, France—This producer has been making great wines for a long time. They offer many levels of Chardonnay from village wine up to Grand Cru. If you are new to French wine, try something in the $20-$40 price range first. Then you can go on and try Premier Cru and Premier Grand Cru for more.

SOURCE:      http://wine.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Best_Dry_White_Win

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