Best white wine for beginners

Excited to become an expert?

Already anxious to start your journey for the best white wines? Check out our fast-track cheat sheet:

• Great white wines for beginners include Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, and Riesling.

• Sparkling wines like Prosecco, Crémant, and Champagne are also a good place to start, and in that order.

• Try out the lighter, semi-sweet, and fruit-forward white wines first and work your way upwards in complexity, oakiness, and acidity.

• Understanding the wine labels will help you in the right direction.

Diving into white wines for beginners

On the one hand, white wine is one of the most delicate, elegant, and refreshing (and the list of positive adjectives could go on) beverages in the wonderful world of wine.

On the other hand, it is one of those beverages that can challenge many first-time tasters and give a bad first impression if poured in the wrong context.

But why this paradox? In this article, we will dive into the world of white wine with a combination of theory and practical examples, so that when you emerge, a whole new wine drinking experience will have been presented or reopened for you.

No need beating around the (white wine) bush

Cutting directly to the chase, two main elements often discourage aspiring white wine drinkers (and this can also apply to seasoned red wine drinkers), and that is acidity and sweetness. Too much of either can quite naturally scare many of us off, especially if the components aren’t balanced.

Ironically, extreme acidity and overwhelming sweetness rarely appear together in the same white wine. If they do, it will most often be a quality sign, since they will complement each other interchangeably without you actually noticing!

Ultimatums and exceptions

This setup may lead to the belief that if a white wine isn’t acidic or dry, then it must be sweet. This is incorrect.

Apart from acidity and sweetness, the dryness of a white wine is also a classic and recognizable characteristic. But again, just because a white wine is dry doesn’t necessarily make it sweet.

This is not an either/or scenario, and there is no absolute ultimatum. And that is a good thing; otherwise, the wine world would suddenly become a much smaller place to be living (and drinking) in.

Other white wine grapes, like Riesling, Chenin Blanc, and Pinot Gris, have the ability to produce both dry, full-bodied, and sweet white wines, and the sweetest of them are dessert wines.

Start your white wine adventure in steps

Like all new taste impressions, white wine can take a little getting used to. For instance, if you jump straight out into a Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux or Chile, you may find it too acidic, or if you begin with an oaky Chardonnay, you may find it too opulent and overwhelming.

Here, we will divide three different types of white wine into subcategories and a proposed tasting order to get your taste buds accustomed to the various tasting notes.

Chardonnay the chameleon

Describing Chardonnay as the chameleon of white wine is used almost so frequently that it has become a cliché. Almost. For the fact of the matter is that it is one of the most versatile grape varieties in the world, being both flexible and adaptable in its expressions. As a result, Chardonnay is the perfect place to begin your white wine tasting experience.

On its own, Chardonnay is neither acidic nor sweet. It can be described as dry, but that isn't synonymous with crisp like a Riesling or Albariño. Additionally, it is also one of the most widely grown grape varieties in the world, allowing you to find it in most wine shops (and most certainly at Vivino!) all over the world.

Generic Chardonnay

The word generic is by no means meant in a negative sense. It merely refers to wineries’ entry-level wines (or Village wines in Burgundy), and it is a great way to learn what Chardonnay generally is about.

Fruity, smooth, and elegant with balanced acidity. If you wish to explore the elegant part and add complexity, Burgundy is the place to stay.

Charming Chablis

In the northern part of Burgundy lies Chablis. Here, the Chardonnay grape takes on a lovely, lush, and lively twist to a slightly more acidic, minerally, and crisp character. A cooler climate provides the Chardonnay with citrus flavors, stonefruit, and green apple, making it considerably more light-bodied, lean, and vibrant than other Chardonnay versions.

The US of oak

Aging wine in oak barrels is one of the most popular and recognizable methods within the wine-making process. This method is rather popular in California, but they also produce outstanding Chardonnays without any oak at all.

The result of oak aging is a full-bodied, opulent, and buttery expression with clear notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and toasted nuts. Combined with a higher alcohol level, this can become too overpowering for some, which is why it is the last step on the list. However, one of the upsides is that such a Chardonnay will contain little to no acidity and feel delightfully mellow, soft, and smooth on your palate.

If this type of white wine sounds like your cup of tea, you might enjoy this article solely about buttery wines!

Appreciating acidity

The acidic taste of white wine (and red, for that matter) is what we first notice when tasting wine. In some cases, it can feel unpleasant and even painful on the tip of your tongue and on your gums. This is an extreme example of the first-time impression and is not to be taken too seriously.

After all, acidity is the one element that is present in all wines, since wine is made from grapes. For some wines, it becomes too much, and for others, it is a necessary and irreplaceable component, making up the backbone of the wine.

Before we begin our second three-step adventure, we turn briefly to a single white wine grape, which is renowned for its acidity as well as its sweetness: Riesling.

Riesling is one of the most acidic types of white wines in the world and could easily appear in the following order alongside Sauvignon Blanc.

But simultaneously, Riesling also produces some of the sweetest, sugariest, and stickiest dessert wines in the world, and as a result, we have dedicated a paragraph only to Riesling a little further down.

Fun fact: Did you know that Riesling is the white wine with the longest storage potential of all? This is due to its high level of acidity, which keeps it floral, fresh, and fruity.

Virtually acid-free Viognier

As already mentioned, avoiding acidity in wine is close to impossible. However, the closest thing and thereby the best way to test your tongue and gums against white wine is Viognier. This grape contains a relatively high alcohol level and so little acidity that you hardly notice it.

Why even try it, you might ask. Well, quite simply, the limited amount of acidity will prepare your palate for the white wine sensation. If you try it and like it but are left slightly unfulfilled, you will probably be ready for something more acidic. If you find it too sharp, you may be better off with Chardonnay or sweeter wines.

Pinot in the middle

Pinot Grigio (also known as Pinot Gris) is an excellent middle ground for exploring white wine. Light to medium-bodied, balanced acidity, and the potential to be both light and refreshing and rich and complex.

This grape with two names is called Pinot Grigio in Italy, where it produces crisp, lean, and elegant light-bodied wines. In France, it goes by the name of Pinot Gris and makes more intense, complex, and aromatic wines with less acidity and more depth and body.

Two very different takes on the same grape, but what they have in common is that they are a good stepping stone on your way to the more acidic white wines.

Salivatingly sharp Sauvignon Blanc

And the Oscar for most acidic white wine goes to… Sauvignon Blanc! Sort of… as already mentioned, we will return to Riesling shortly, but for now, let’s focus on this SoB AKA Sauvignon Blanc.

Fun fact: Did you know that the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes are related? Likewise, Pinot Grigio/Gris is also a clone of Pinot Noir.

This aromatic grape is renowned for its acidity and crisp, green, and herby notes. The acidity is razor-sharp and positively attacks the tip of your tongue, before it spreads to the corners of your mouth with its lush, mouthwatering, and clean style.

Aa appetizing and fascinating as this may sound, it is also one of the traits that can scare off many potential (and current) wine lovers. It takes a little getting used to, which is why Viognier and Pinot Gris/Grigio are excellent stepping stones beforehand.

On the other hand, if the full-bodied, opulent, and powerful Chardonnays aren’t your thing, then Sauvignon Blanc may very well be. They are not intended as rivals to each other, and they coexist beautifully. If you want to read more about their differences and similarities (or lack thereof), you can click here.

Returning to Riesling

The versatility of Riesling is matched only by the comprehensiveness of its scale. Just to illustrate, here it is, ranging from crunchy, crisp, and dry to intense and lushly sweet dessert wines:

Trocken, Halbtrocken, Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein.

To choose the perfect Riesling for you, look for one of these names on the wine label.

If you would like to know more about dessert wines, just click here!

Diving into each category is too comprehensive and deserves an article of its own. However, for the driest, most crispy, and lushest acidity, trocken is outstanding. Just as mouthwatering and razor-sharp as Sauvignon Blanc, this is equally an acquired taste.

As you move along the categories, they become less and less dry, while the sweetness steadily increases, balancing out the acidity without ever losing it completely.

Once you reach Beerenauslese, you are heading into dessert wine country, and these wines should be paired accordingly. Kabinett, Spätlese, and Auslese are excellent for spicy food, while Trocken and Halbtrocken are ideal for fresh fish and shellfish.

Retracing Riesling

In order to find your right Riesling, you must turn to a methodical yet enjoyable process of elimination. Start at one end and work your way through (admittedly, this is not recommended to do in one sitting), and your taste buds and preferences will help you understand which level of acidity is the appropriate one for you.

A short sentiment surrounding sparkling wines

Like Riesling, sparkling wines are a broad area that could also justify having an article of its own. Furthermore, some sparkling wines a even made on red wine grapes (or a combination of red and white), begging the question: Is a sparkling wine red or white wine?

Since they are served chilled, we will, for the time being, consider them as white wines. And like the previous whites, there is a natural and practical way to work your way through them, while you adjust to their acidity.

Positive Prosecco

This sparkling wine from Italy is soft, smooth, and foamy, and often contains a bit of extra residual sugar, giving it a round and mellow feeling. They range from dry to extra dry, and paradoxically, the ones labelled extra dry are the sweetest ones.

Creamy Crémant

Sometimes referred to as the younger sibling of Champagne, Crémant is very often great value for money. It can come from all over France, including Burgundy, the Loire Valley, and Alsace. As if it were intentional, the word almost describes the drink, which is slightly creamy, elegant, and with less aggressive bubbles, as can be the case in its older, more complex, and famous sibling.

Champagne the champion

Unquestionably, the world’s most famous, well-branded, and luxurious beverage. Almost intentionally, the king of sparkling wine isn’t always love at first sip. Its dryness, persistent bubbles, and intense elegance can, at first taste, appear off-putting for some.

In these cases, and like the previously mentioned wines, it can make sense to begin with the lesser-known styles and prepare your palate accordingly. The light at the end of the road is that you will be submerged, enchanted, and seduced by the elixir of life, the drink for all occasions, and an addiction to be proud of.

Like Riesling, Champagne can be listed from sweetest to driest, which relates to the amount of sugar added: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Dry, Demi-Sec, and Doux.

These classifications will almost always be listed on the wine labels. Brut Nature and Extra Brut are extremely crunchy and crisp, while Demi-Sec and Doux are smoother, softer, and creamier with less persistent bubbles. Brut is the most common type of Champagne and the best place to start. If too dry or not dry enough, you can always move further back and forth on the list.

Discover and explore – white wine beginner no more

When it comes to white wine, the ultimate rule is that there is no rule except that everyone's palate is different. From the first sip to the latest bottle, white wine has at least as much to offer as red wine, just without the tannins.

The only way to discover the perfect white wine for you is to be bold and try as many different styles as possible. From the floral and citrusy to the oaky vanilla flavored and all the fruit-forward ones in between.

Discovering new aromas and bottles is half the journey, and as always, the trick is to remember what you like.