Forget Chardonnay, These 8 White Wines Are Better

Many people enjoy a nice, chilled glass of white wine while they sit back and relax or eat a delicious meal together. Did you know that there are over 600 different white grape varieties worldwide? That means we have plenty of choices, from sweet wines with richer tones to popular dry varieties. Chardonnay is generally a drier wine; however, that doesn’t mean that it lacks any sweetness. I enjoy a good glass of white wine and like to try different ones; forget Chardonnay, these 8 white wines are better.

This green-skinned grape originated in the Loire and Bordeaux regions of France. Today it is commonly grown in South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. The taste can vary from a pleasantly sweet tropical to a strong grassy flavor depending on the climate. In warm climates, it can have tropical notes such as peach and grapefruit. Additionally, in cooler climates, the grapes produce notes of passionfruit, elderflower, and green bell peppers. Sauvignon Blanc is generally lighter in weight and alcohol. When slightly chilled, pair this wine with cheese, sushi, and other fresh recipes.

This white grape variety originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Today it is found in Canada, Italy, France, Hungary, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Austria, and the United States. It has an almost perfume fragrance and high acidity. Furthermore, it is used to make sparkling, dry, sweet, and semi-sweet white wines. Riesling pairs well with spicy mango and Thai curry meatballs or curried shrimp. 

This grape is a variety in the Alsace region of France. It has a red-to-pink color and is used in white wines. It grows well in cooler climates. Gewürztraminer is well-balanced and does not have excess alcohol or tannin. Furthermore, this rare white makes wines that are floral and spicy. When looking for this wine find ones with tropical fruits like pineapple, lychee, tangerine, and mango. Pair this wine with a pork, honey, and ginger stir fry or Vietnamese pork ribs.

The wine produced from this grape in Alsace, Hungary, Italy is a full-bodied dry white wine. In Austria and Germany, this white wine can either be sweet or dry. Pinot Blanc usually includes flavors such as pear and apple with hints of citrus. Once aged it has smokey undertones and notes of almonds. This wine pairs well with white flaky fish, turkey, and pork tenderloin.

This is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most versatile grapes grown, sweet, crisp, and even sparkling wine. It is a white wine grape that comes from the Loire Valley in France. Furthermore, this grape buds early but ripens late. When grown in cool climates, it is often not as ripe and can be an over-acidic fruit. This variety thrives in warmer climates like South Africa. With that said, more than 50% of Chenin Blanc is found in South African vineyards. It has flavors of pear, apple, and hints of honey. Pair this wine with rich seafood, salads, pork, chicken, and sweet and sour dishes.

This white wine grape originated from Burgundy in France and can either be a dynamic yellow or rose-tinted color depending on the grapes' skin. It is a medium-bodied white wine that is light and lower in acidity than Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. It is well known for its floral tones and zesty flavor. Pair Pinot Grigio with calamari and garlic lime sauce or a creamy white sauce with chicken.

Viognier is a type of white wine grape in the Rhône Valley; it is the only grape that is allowed to be used in the French wine Condrieu. Furthermore, it can be found in the South Moravia region in Czechia, New Zealand, North and South America, the Cape Winelands in South Africa, Czechia, Austria, and more. This medium, full-bodied wine has rich stone flavors of apricot and peach with stunning floral aromas. Pair this with a chicken pot pie and cornbread or Maryland crab cakes with tartar sauce. Avoid foods that are too spicy.

The Sémillon grape originated in the West of France in the Bordeaux region. It is also grown in Australia, South Africa, California, New Zealand, and more. This crisp white wine is low in alcohol with a delightful tanginess. It has unique flavors of toast, lemon, green apple, pear, green papaya, and lanolin, which people describe as waxy. Sémillon wines pair well with all types of seafood, beef and broccoli, pad Thai, and Indian butter chicken.

When it comes to the world of white wines, Chardonnay is a popular, recognized choice by many wine drinkers. As previously mentioned, there are over 600 grape varieties, and as a wine enthusiast, it is worth trying as many as you can. Forget Chardonnay; these 8 white wines are better.