White Wine

White wine is beautiful to see when it is in a glass, and it has a wonderful flavor. Many different varieties of white wine are available on the market for you to consume. Such varieties include Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and White Zinfandel.

How is it Made?

White wine usually comes from white grapes, but there are some white wine varieties that do use red grapes as well. When a red grape is used, it is important to only use the grape's juice in the wine making process with all skins and stems removed right from the very beginning of the process. The first step in the process of making white wine is to pick the grapes at the perfect ripeness for the best possible flavor. Once the grapes are washed, they are then placed into a machine that gently extracts the juice. This liquid is then allowed to sit in a stainless steel vat for 3-4 weeks. During this time period, the juice is fermenting. Yeast makes the sugars in the grapes to become alcohol. Some wineries will even add extra yeast into the mix in order to help the fermentation process along. When the fermenting process is complete, a cooling system is used to help to separate any tartaric crystals from the rest of the liquid. The wine is then placed in either oak barrels or in a stainless steel vat that contains oak chips at the bottom where it is then allowed to age for around a year. After it is bottled, white wine is completely ready for consumption. There really is no need for the consumer to age the white wine bottle further before deciding to serve it.

How to Serve it

White wine is best served when it is chilled. Allowing the wine bottle to sit in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving it is a good way to make sure that it is at an appropriate temperature. You might also choose to give it a quick plunge into an icy wine bucket. Only about 30 min. should do the trick using this method. Make sure to use a white wine glass when serving this type of wine. Its special design is made to help you to enjoy your white wine experience to the fullest. The narrower bowl on this glass helps the wine to remain at a cooler temperature for a longer period of time. Its design also helps the wine to enter your palette at just the right place for full enjoyment. You might consider trying a white wine made by Sutter Home or Kenwood Vineyards. They both have a fine reputation for creating excellent white wine.