ALBARINO
Albarino is a white grape variety originating in Galicia, Spain. The grape is noted for its distinctive floral aromas and has been compared to Viognier and Gewurztraminer giving lovely peach and apricot tones. Due to the grapes thick skins, lots of pips and high acidity, there is a residual bitterness aftertaste which may not suit everyone’s taste.
ARNEIS
Arneis is a white grape variety originating from Piedmont, Italy. The wines made from this grape are crisp and have floral notes and they tend to be full bodied and a bit dry. With extended ripening periods the wines have the potential to produce aromas of almonds, apricots, peaches, pears and hops.
CHARDONNAY
Chardonnay is a green skinned grape variety used to produce white wine. It originated in Burgundy, but is grown all over the world where wine is made. The Chardonnay grape itself is neutral but Chardonnay wines tend to be light to medium in body with noticeable flavours of green plums, apples, and pears in cooler climates. The wines have tropical fruit citrus flavours, such as melons and peach from warm climates and in places like California, figs, bananas and Mango notes come through the wines. One thing all Chardonnay wines tend to exhibit is a buttery mouthfeel and hazelnut notes. Chardonnay is a vital component in sparkling wines around the world, including Champagne!
CHENIN BLANC
Chenin Blanc is a white grape variety from the Loire Valley, France. It has a high acidity meaning it’s used for sparkling wines all the way through to dessert wines. The aromas and flavours often include descriptions of mineral, green grass, apple, peaches, pineapples, pears and honey.
FIANO
Fiano is a white grape variety that is primarily from Campania in southern Italy and also on the island of Sicily. A young Fiano wine has intense flavours and aromas of honey and given time to develop it becomes more spicy and nutty.
GEWURZTRAMINER
Gewurztraminer traces its origins to the border of France and Germany in the Alsace region. Gewurztraminer is an interesting variety of grape in that it is a pinkish red skin colour making it a “white” wine grape, as opposed to the blue to black skins of traditionally “red” wine grapes”. The wines are white and usually dry, with aromas of roses and passion fruit.
GRUNER VELTLINER
Gruner Veltliner is a white grape variety originating in Austria but grown in other countries such as Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The predominantly green grapes are neutral, however allowed to ripen, fruit flavours such as lime, lemon and grapefruit appear. Gruner Veltliner wine is unique as the acidity in the wine gives a delicate tingly aftertaste.
MARSANNE
Marsanne is a white grape variety originating in the Northern Rhone region. Marsanne grapes produce wines deep in colour which are rich, medium bodied and nutty, with hints of spice and pear. The wines can often be high in alcohol content and subsequently can be aged in oak barrels to develop even more character.
MUSCAT(MOSCATO)
Moscato is the Italian word for Muscat which are ancient groups of grape varieties of various colours and characteristics probably originating in Oman. Muscat grapes are one of the worlds most commonly grown grapes and they are used in wine and also for raisin production. Fortified Muscats have a rich nose of dried fruits, raisins and oranges.
PETIT MANSENG
Petit Manseng is a white grape variety that is grown primarily in south west France’s Basque country. It’s wines exhibit a rich sweetness with stonefruit characters like peach and apricot along with notes of citrus and sweet spice.
PINOT GRIS/GRIGIO
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are the same grape variety just made differently. Pinot Gris hails from the Burgundy region and the variety is a white mutation of the Pinot Noir grape. The spiritual home of Pinot Gris, however, is France’s Alsace region. Pinot Gris are usually quite rich and full bodied, while the slightly different wine style of Pinot Grigio is crisp and full of zest.
RIESLING
Riesling is a white grape variety originating in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling grapes make wines giving off flowery, perfumed aromas and are used to make a whole range of dry to sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling shows citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavours and with ageing the wines soften and develop toast and honey characters.
ROUSSANNE
Roussanne is a white grape grown originally in the Rhone region of France. The Roussanne berries are distinguished by their reddish brown colour with aromas often reminiscent of herbal tea. Roussanne grapes produce wines rich in flavours of honey and pear.
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Sauvignon Blanc is a green skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. Sauvignon Blanc is suggested to have descended from the Savagnin grape. It is planted in most of the wine regions throughout the world with New Zealand’s Marlborough region getting alot of accolades for their crisp, refreshing wines. The wines commonly have a whole host of flavours from green grass and asparagus to more tropical like grapefruit, guava, passion fruit and mango.
SAVAGNIN
Savagnin is a variety of white grape with green skinned berries. It is grown mostly in the Jura region of France and is a popular synonym for the variety called Traminer. The wines form Savagnin are gold in colour with aromas of peaches, apricots, honey, melon and flowers. On the taste buds, the wine is medium bodied with flavours of lemon, grapefruit, apricot and apples.
SEMILLON
Semillon is a gold skinned grape used to make dry and sweet white wine and is native to the Bordeaux region of France. Semillon gives off aromas consistent with green apples, lemons and blossoms. Its quite tart on the palate from the lime juice, green pear, green apple and the tropical fruits. Aged Semillon are golden in colour and almost smell like lightly toasted bread.
TREBBIANO
Trebbiano is a white grape and one of the most planted grape varieties in the world but has unknown origins. About a third of all the wines in Italy are Trebbiano. In the Abruzzo region of Italy’s mountainous ranges the Trebbiano grape is found across the entire region. Trebbiano grapes make crisp light bodied white wine that has very little aroma but has hints of lemon and stone mineral on the palate.
VERDELHO
Verdelho is a white grape variety grown throughout Portugal, but mostly associated with the island of Madeira off the Portuguese coast. The aromas and flavours of Verdelho are crisp, leafy green and slightly spicey, along with stonefruits such as apricots on wines which have ripened past the usual picking date.
VERMENTINO
Vermentino is a pale skin white grape, widely planted in Italy. The aromas of Vermentino wines are a blending of floral notes of lime blossom with fresh pear and with a hint of lemon or melon. Vermentino makes white wines of high quality, as they are intensely aromatic and quite silky on the palate. As well, the wines are a pale, crystalline colour which is easy on the eye.
VIOGNIER
Viognier is a white grape variety with unknown origins. Even though the Rhone Valley has solid claims to its history, there have been grape varieties closely related from Croatia also. Viognier wines are commonly known for their flower and fruit aromas. Viognier wines are dry with low acidity and are frequently used to soften wines predominantly with Shiraz grapes.