White Varieties of French Origin

White Varietals
From crisp and grassy to fruity and full, white varietals run the
gamut. Whatever your taste, there's a white varietal out there to
suit your palate. Here a some of the most favored.

Albariño

Grown In: Spain; Portugal
Descriptors: Light, fruity
Popular Pairings: Poultry, fish, game, Spanish tapas

Grown mostly in northwest Spain and Portugal (where it is sometimes called,
Alvarinho), Albariño is thought to be a Riesling clone. Usually used to make a
varietal, it is Spain's leading white grape. Albariño is known for its distinctive
aroma, very similar to that of Viognier or Gewurztraminer, often with hints of
apricot and other orchard fruit. The wine produced is unusually light and
generally high in acidity.

Arneis

Grown In: Piedmont, Italy
Descriptors: Slightly effervescent, pears, almonds
Popular Pairings: Shelfish, fish, poultry, light pasta

Arneis means “little rascal” in the Piedmont dialect of northern Italy, where it is
grown. Sold as a varietal, Arneis is sometimes referred to as Barolo Bianco.
It's nice, light to medium bodied wine that can sometimes feel as if its slightly
effervescent.

Chardonnay

Grown In: All over
Descriptors: Oakie, buttery, chalkie, flowery, fruity, citrus, mineral
Popular Pairings: Chicken, pork, lamb, pasta, cheese

The mother of all white grapes, Chardonnay, a native of Burgundy, can grow
almost anywhere. It is highly popular in California, where more than a quarter
of all wine shipped is Chardonnay. Chardonnay varies greatly from region to
region. California wine-makers tend to produce Chardonnays that are very
"oaky" and "buttery," while back in France Chardonnays tend to be much more
austere, bringing forth mineral flavors.

Chenin Blanc

Grown In: Loire Valley; South Africa; California
Descriptors: Crisp, flowery, citrus, creamy, mineral
Popular Pairings: Fish, pasta, salad, fruit, cheese and crackers

First grown in the Loire valley of France, Chenin Blanc is also now found in
California and South Africa (where it is known as "Steen"). This grape makes
light dry wines that pair well with equally light fare.

Gewurztraminer

Grown In: Alsace, France; Germany
Descriptors: Lychee-like, roses, spicy
Popular Pairings: Asian food, sausages, vegetables

Named after Gewurz, the german word for "spice," Gewurztraminer is grown
mostly grown in Alsace, France and the Pfalz region of Germany. Spicy is the
word that best describes the wines made from this grape. Most
Gewurtztraminers are naturally dry, but so rich in aroma and sharp in flavor that
they can sometimes seem sweet, which is why they go well with spicy foods.

Gruner Veltliner

Grown In: Austria
Descriptors: Fruity, peppery, vegetal
Popular Pairings: Asian food, fish, poultry, salads

Gruner Veltliner is the most widely planted grape in Arustria. Gruner is German
for "green." The wine is not itself green-tinted but is best drunk fresh and young
-- i.e., "green." Gruner Veltliner has a "perfumy" aroma, with notes of fresh fruit
and pepper, for which it is best known. These wines are usually light, dry and
highly acidic. The high acid helps Gruner Veltliner wines go easily with food.

Pinot Blanc

Grown In: Alsace, France; Italy; Oregon
Descriptors: Subdued, austere, apples, nutty, light, dry
Popular Pairings: Fish, pasta, pork, salad, fruit, cheese

Hailing from the Alsance region of France, near the German border, Pinot
Blanc is used both in blends and sold as a varietal. It's also found in Italy,
where it's called Pinot Bianco. Pinot Blanc makes full bodied but aromatically
austere wines that tend to be fairly straightforward. Its fairly high acidity makes
Pinot Blanc pair well with many foods.

Pinot Gris

Grown In: Alsace, France; Italy, California; Oregon
Descriptors: Peaches, pears, flowery, citrus
Popular Pairings: Fish, chicken, pork, fruit, cheese, picnic faire

Also hailing from the Alsace region of France -- it is the region's most popular
wine -- the Pinot Gris grape makes rich, fruity wines with medium acidity. It's
also grown in Italy, where it's called Pinot Grigio, as well as California and
Oregon. Pinot Gris tends to be very "perfumy" and aromatic with hints of peach
and pear.

Riesling

Grown In: Germany; Alsace, France; Austria, Australia, New Zealand;
Washington
Descriptors: Dry -- Fish, poultry; Sweet -- Asian food, sharp cheeses
Popular Pairings: Citrus, flowery, steely, mineral

The Riesling grape can make a broad range of wines, from the crisp and dry to
flowery and sweet. What most Rieslings have in common is high acidity and
an intense aroma. Grown best on cooler climates, German Riesling is almost
always sold as a sole varietal, while a few in Alsace are used in blends.
German Rieslings are often lusciously sweet, while those of Alsace are most

Müller-Thurgau

Grown In: Germany; Australia; Northern Italy; England
Descriptors: Fruity, sweet, loamie, citrus
Popular Pairings: Bleu cheeses, nuts, after dinner specialties

This white grape was first produced by a clever grape breeder by the name of
Dr. Hermann Müller in 1882, and is a cross between Riesling and Madeleine
Royale. It produces relatively inexpensive, light medium-sweet wines such as
Liebfraumilch.

Semillon

Grown In: Bordeaux, France; Australia, California
Descriptors: Lemony, fruity, grassy
Popular Pairings: Poultry, fish, pork, veal, lamb, pasta

The best dry white wines from Bordeaux are made from Semillon. What more
is there to say? In Australia, Semillon is blended with Sauvignon Blanc. It is
also used produce sweet desert wines such as Sauternes and Barsac.

Silvaner

Grown In: Germany; Austria; Alsace, France
Descriptors: Crisp, light, fruity, dry
Popular Pairings: Quiche, fondue, poultry, white fish

Also called Grüner Silvaner, Sylvaner or Oesterreicher , Silvaner is grown
mainly in Franconia but also Austria, Switzerland and Alsace. The wines have a
fine fruit, are light in acid and have a delicate bouquet. Silvaners are often fine,
elegant dry wines. I particularly enjoy this rare wine when I can find it.

Vernaccia

Grown In: Tuscany, Italy
Descriptors: Crisp, full bodied, dry
Popular Pairings: Bruschetta, white fish, light pasta

The Vernaccia grape produces crisp and full-bodied whites. It has a long
history and may have been cultivated as far back as Etruscan times. Since the
Renaissance it has been considered one of Italy's finest white wines. In 1966,
Vernaccia was the first Italian wine to receive the Denominazione di Origine
Controllata. Vernaccias are really excellent wines.

Viognier

Grown In: Northern Rhone, France; Australia, California
Descriptors: Intense fruit, aromatic, apricots, peachy
Popular Pairings: Shellfish, heavy cream pastas, pork, roasted game
meats, stinky cheese

Viognier is the chief white grape of the Northern Rhône, and its wines fetch
good prices. It is also now grown in Australia and California. It is a highly
aromatic grape with scents of tropical fruits and peaches. Viognier is one of
those few whites that pair well with a heavy meal. It's also one of my faves.