You'd like to serve a great white wine for your guests, but don't know how to choose the right one? I might be able to help you. In this article I will share some of my knowledge so you can choose the best white wine for your occasion.
Types of White Wine
There are a few main white wine types that you are likely to find in the store. They are Chardonnay, Sauvingnon Blanc, Picot Grigio and Riesling. These varieties are actually types of grapes, all which grow in different regions and have different properties, hence making wine made from them different, too.
Sometimes, you will hear of white wines referred to by the names of regions where they are being made. For example, a "White Bordeaux" is a wine from the region of Bordeaux in France.
All of these regions and grape types have their different qualities and characteristics. It's more a question of what you are looking for and with what kind of food you will be serving the wine.
Pairing Wines with Food
Generally you'll want to choose a wine that will compliment the food you are serving. As a rule of thumb you could say: the heavier the meal, the heavier the wine can be. If you are serving red meat, you could choose a Chardonnay, which is rather sweet and heavier in taste, for example.
If you are serving a lighter dinner, like low-fat fish or even sushi, you would do best pairing a light, dry white wine with the meal. Brut or a dry Riesling could be good choices here.
The rule that only red wines are meant to be paired with meats is not true - you should trust your taste! If you want white wine, you should have it.
Now, there may be some general guidelines to wine and food pairing, but feel free to experiment and trust your own tastes. Also if you like, instead of trying to compliment the food you are serving, you can try to balance or counteract the flavors of the meal.
What Else to Consider?
You should try to get the best wine that's available (and in your budget) to you. If you can't find good wines locally, take a look at the opportunities to buy wine online.
