White wine differs from red wine in, first and most obviously, colour. Under that skin, the pulpy part of a white grape is the same colour as that of a red grape. The skin dictates the end colour for red wine. This is mainly due to the pressing of the grapes - when white grapes are picked, they are immediately pressed and the juice is removed from the skins with little contact.
Colour in white wine does vary, often from the type of grape, occasionally from the use of wood. Listed below are a few of the most common white varieties in the world wine market. They are listed from lighter bodied, and lighter coloured, to fuller bodied with deeper colours. The list is not set in stone – winemaker's decisions and climate affect a white wine's body and colour – we just give you the guidelines.
| Grapes/Region |
Where primarily grown |
| Champagne |
Champagne, France |
|
| Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris |
Alsace, France; Italy; Oregon; California |
|
| Sauvignon Blanc |
Loire, France; New Zealand; California; South Africa |
|
| Chenin Blanc |
Loire, France; South Africa |
|
| Riesling |
Germany; Alsace, France; Australia; New Zealand; Washington State; California |
|
| Chardonnay |
Burgundy, France; Australia; California; South America; South Africa; Oregon |
|
| Viognier |
Rhone, France; California |
|
Other white grapes to notice, listed alphabetically:
| Grapes |
Where they grow best |
|
| Albariño |
Spain |
|
| Gewurztraminer |
Alsace, France; Germany |
|
| Sémillon |
Bordeaux, France; Australia |
White wine differs from red wine in, first and most obviously, colour. Under that skin, the pulpy part of a white grape is the same colour as that of a red grape. The skin dictates the end colour for red wine. This is mainly due to the pressing of the grapes - when white grapes are picked, they are immediately pressed and the juice is removed from the skins with little contact.
