White Grape Varieties

Where it started

Chardonnay is a cross of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc and takes its name from a village in Burgundy's Haut-Mâconnais.¹² Riesling's name first appears on 13 March 1435.³ Pinot Gris came from Burgundy, per Wines of Germany,⁴ or from Alsace, per the Wine Institute;⁷ in Germany it took the name Ruländer after a merchant who propagated it in Speyer in 1711.⁴ Marlborough planted its first Sauvignon Blanc in 1975.⁵

Where and how it's made

• Chardonnay — from Burgundy; Chablis lean, Côte de Beaune rich; California's most planted white.²¹
• Sauvignon Blanc — Loire and Bordeaux; New Zealand's most planted grape.⁶⁵
• Riesling — Germany grows about 45 percent of the world's Riesling.³
• Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio — a pinkish-grey mutation of Pinot Noir; Germany's Grauburgunder.⁷⁴
• Chenin Blanc — native to the Loire, Pineau de la Loire; Steen, most planted in the Cape.⁶⁸
• Sémillon — Bordeaux's partner to Sauvignon Blanc, adding honey.⁹¹⁰
• Melon B — the Muscadet grape.⁶
• Muscat Blanc — may be the world's oldest wine grape.¹¹
• Palomino (Listán) — the sherry grape.¹²
• Glera — the Prosecco grape.¹³
• Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada — the classic Cava trio.¹⁴
• Alvarinho, Arinto, Encruzado — leading Portuguese whites.¹⁵
• Furmint — one of Tokaj's six permitted grapes.¹⁶

Many whites carry regional names. Chenin is Pineau de la Loire in its home valley and Steen in South Africa.⁶⁸ Macabeo is called Viura in Rioja.¹⁴ Palomino is Listán.¹² Germany's Riesling is sometimes labeled Klingelberger in Baden, and has nothing to do with Welschriesling.³ Champagne also allows rare whites such as Arbane, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, together about 0.3 percent of its vines.¹⁷ California's first Sauvignon Blanc vines went into the Livermore Valley in the 19th century, and Sauvignon Blanc is now the state's fourth-leading white.¹⁰ Pinot Grigio is California's third-leading white, behind Chardonnay and French Colombard.⁷ In South Africa, Chenin covers the whole spectrum from dry to sweet, plus sherry-style and sparkling wine, and is also used for distilling brandy.⁸ Germany grows more than 100 varieties, two-thirds of them white.¹⁸

How to taste it

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc shows red capsicum, gooseberry and passionfruit.⁵ Riesling is pale, peachy, racy, and with age can show petrol.³ Chardonnay gives green apple, fig and citrus, plus vanilla if oaked.¹ Pinot Grigio offers stone fruit, apple, pear and citrus.⁷

Styles and what the label means

• Varietal — a U.S. label needs 75 percent of the named grape.[^cfr4.23]
• Fumé Blanc — a name sometimes used for Sauvignon Blanc in California.¹⁰
• Pinot Grigio vs Pinot Gris — same grape; Grigio usually lighter.
• The wines — how whites are made. white-wine →