White wine is made from the grape juice and skins of “white” grapes, or simply the juice and not the skins of red grapes. In reality though, the skins of “white” grapes range in color from green, to straw, to greenish-pink. Check out our article How to White Wine is Made to get a more in depth view of the production process.
White wine is generally thought to be more refreshing than red, and is often consumed in the hot summer months. When pairing whites with food there is an old saying, “white wine with white meats”. Lobster, shrimp, mussels, clams and chicken are among the most popular foods pairings.
Popular White Wine Varietals
There are many white wine varietals however the most popular include Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc, Muscat. Check out our White Wine Varietals page for an in-depth breakdown of each of the key varietals.
Drinking methods
White wine are usually served from a smaller bowled glass, whereas reds are best served from a large bowled glass. They are usually recommended to be served in the 42.8°-50°F temperature range, however, as with all wines, the colder the temperature of the wine the less aromatic they become.
White Wine Facts
- White wines can be produced from both red and white grapes.
- A standard glass of white wine contains around 80-110 calories.
- The most expensive white wine is Domaine La Romanee Conti Montrachet, found in Burgundy, France that on release sells for $2000+ per bottle. A lot of seven bottles from the 1978 vintage fetched $167,500.