Wine Cellars In Houston TX: White Wine Grape Basics

There are hundreds of varieties of white wine grapes grown in every corner of the globe; but there is a small number of varieties that you’re likely to encounter in the form of your favorite white wines.  In fact, wine cellars in Houston TXmay be home to just a few types of white wine derived from these grapes:

Chardonnay.  Chardonnay flavors include citrus, green apple, pineapple and papaya.  It is a versatile and popular wine that is drunk all over the world with a variety of foods including soft cheese, fish and herbs. Young Chardonnay is full of green apple flavor; but if aged in new oak barrels, it can take on a buttery flavor and aroma.

Chenin Blanc.  Chenin Blanc flavors include apple, melon, pear and peach and it has an assertive acidity.  It is light-bodied but is an excellent pairing for hearty meat dishes and Mediterranean food.  It can be found in sweet or dry forms.

Gewürztraminer.  Gewürztraminer flavors include grapefruit, lychee and pineapple and is noted for its floral aroma.  Its acidity is relatively low and it is usually sweet, which makes it a great pairing for spicy foods including curries and dishes flavored with hot peppers.

Marsanne.  Marsanne flavors include almonds, white peaches and spiced pears.  Its flavor is intense and full-bodied but, like Chardonnay, a creamy vanilla note can be added with oak barrel aging.  In either sweet or dry form, it’s an excellent pairing for many kinds of foods like chicken, fish, pork, lobster and crab.

Muscat.  Moscato flavors include apricot, peach, nectarine, Meyer lemon and orange.  It is a sweet, sometimes sparkling, wine made from Muscat grapes and is the perfect complement to spicy, Asian food.  But like most white wines, it also works well with poultry and fish and is good with medium to firm cheeses.

Pinot Blanc.  Pinot Blanc flavors include green apple and citrus.  French Pinots tend to be creamy and musky while Italian Pinots are more citrus-y.  Both versions are a lighter, more elegant version of a Chardonnay and are delicious with soft cheeses, appetizers, chicken, fish and egg-based dishes.

Pinot Grigio.  Pinot Grigio flavors include lime, green apple, Meyer lemon and white nectarine.  Its acidity is high, which makes it zesty and refreshing and a great pairing for vegetable dishes, poultry, spicy food and cheese.

Riesling.  Riesling flavors include lime, Meyer lemon, pineapple and apricot.  It is one of the most aromatic grapes in the wine world with aromas that run the gamut from honey to gasoline.  In the 1980s, Rieslings fell out of favor but today, they are one of the more collectible wines and generally have a place of honor in most wine cellars in Houston TX.  Food pairings for Rieslings include poultry, shrimp, crab, vegetables and spicy foods.

Sauvignon Blanc.  Sauvignon Blanc flavors include lime, green apple, Asian pear, kiwi and passion fruit.  Oak barrel aging can give it the flavor of vanilla, butter or coconut.  Although it shares some flavors with Chardonnay, it differs in that it generally has more of a herbaceous flavor.  It is usually a dry wine that pairs with soft, briny, sour cheeses, herbs like mint, parsley, fennel and chives and, of course, with poultry and fish.

Although red wines are the darlings of most wine collectors, white wines are holding their own in wine cellars in Houston TX.  If you’re ready to build your own collections of delicious, white wines, call us at Vineyard Wine Cellars at (866) 615-4008.  You can also visit us online atwww.vineyardwinecellars.com to see a gallery of our completed wine cellars.

Wine Cellars in Houston TX
Vineyard Wine Cellars
15020 Beltway Dr.
Addison, Texas 75001
866-973-1100 972-712-9600