Learning more about the styles of wines you like makes finding new wines easier and less likely to disappoint. Do you prefer wine that is crisp and dry, with racing acidity, rich and creamy, or soft and sweet? Identifying these preferences will help you find more grape varietals, styles and regions you may enjoy.
It's important to understand when building on your preferences that just because your favorite wine is a single grape, not all wines from that grape will be the same. A grape's expression can come in many different styles depending on many factors including the climate where it was grown and how it was processed by the winemaker.
This week, let's explore the summer white wine grapes.
CHARDONNAY
The chardonnay grape is versatile and its wines are varied. It can be treated with oak, no oak, undergo malolactic fermentation, stirred on its lees or even blended with other grapes all revealing a different face. But behind these ever changing disguises there are many style similarities in this grape. Most tasting notes are of soft, creamy, buttery, melons, tropical fruits, vanilla and even baked bread. If you prefer chardonnay without the oaky, buttery tastes consider Chablis. If you prefer racy, refreshing acidity look for chardonnay from northern Italy or New Zealand. And if rich and buttery are the chardonnay you dream about, California and Australia will most likely be the fit.
THE VALUE
2018 Bogle Chardonnay, California (about $11)
THE SPLURGE
2018 Roland Lavantureux Chablis, France (about $27)
SAUVIGNON BLANC
The sauvignon blanc grape is perhaps the most identifiable white grape variety. Its main attribute is its piercing refreshing aromas. It most likely will have aromas and tastes of green fruit, citrus, green apple, grass and gooseberries. If you prefer the zesty, aromatic style of this grape, New Zealand and most notably the Marlborough region could be your preference in taste. If you prefer wines with lower acidity and a more full-bodied style, consider the warmer growing regions of California.
THE VALUE
2018 Dashwood Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand (about $16)
THE SPLURGE
2018 Decoy Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, California (about $23)
RIESLING
The Riesling grape is made into many wine styles that can vary from bone dry, a little sweet to lusciously sweet. German Spätlese is a sweet, medium-bodied wine with exotic flowery aromas while the German Auslese is sweet but with more honeyed aromas than Spätlese. Even with the range in styles most have lower alcohol, high acidity with aromas and taste of limes, petrol and fresh flowers. If sweet is not your style, look to the dry styles of many Alsace, Washington and Australia wines.
THE VALUE
2018 Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling, Washington (about $10)
THE SPLURGE
2018 Trimbach Riesling, Germany (about $24)
Lorri Hambuchen is a member of London's Institute of Wines and Spirits. Email:
uncorked@thewinecenter.com