Wine holidays might not be necessary to get us celebrating our favourite wines. But let’s face it: any excuse is a good one.
White wine is infinitely refreshing, wonderfully crisp, and lustrously acidic. The perfect bottle of white wine can set the mood for a warm summer’s evening or serve as the perfect companion to your fresh salad, light pasta, or favourite seafood.
Whether you prefer an oaked Chardonnay, a dry Pinot Grigio, or a sweet Moscato, there is always more to learn about the cultivation, production, and enjoyment of your favourite whites.
Fun Facts About White Wine
- There are 7 main types of white wine
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Grigio
- Riesling
- Moscato
- Gewürztraminer
- Viognier
2. The Greeks and Romans took their wine seriously, dedicating gods to their favourite fermented fruit juice. Dionysus was known as the god of the grape-harvest to the Greeks, while Bacchus was the deity of choice for Roman oenophiles.
3. White wines occasionally have harmless, diamond-like sediment called ‘tartrate crystals’ that are formed when the wine has been stored in the cold.
4. The Grape doesn’t have to be white to make a White Wine. White Wines are fermented without the pulp (which includes the grape skins, the source of red wines colour) so you can make any Red Grape varietal into a White Wine.
5. Most White Wines have fewer calories than reds. If you’re interested in wine nutrition, here’s a fun fact for you: white wines (often) have fewer calories than reds. Most whites, particularly those with lower alcohol contents, fall in the range of 107-143 calories per six-ounce serving. In comparison, most red wines fall into the range of 135-195 calories per serving, with red dessert wines stretching as high as 275 calories/serving.
6. White Wine can leave you less hungover than Red Wine. Though white wines aren’t hangover-proof, they are much less likely to lead to the infamous hangover associated with red wines. Most red wines are high in alcohol and tannins, two main factors that contribute to a nasty morning post-drinking. They also contain more congeners (chemicals that give alcohol its colour), like methanol, which can also worsen hangovers.
7. White Wine pairs best with a light meal. If you’re looking to pair your favourite bottle white with a yummy snack or meal, your best bet is a light meal.
Some foods that pair excellently with white wine include: Poultry, Seafood, Cheese, Salad, Light Pasta and Bread
8. A 75cl bottle of wine contains the juice of around 600-800 grapes. To make 10 bottles of wine, you would need around a total of 4000 grapes.
9. The English produced the first sparkling wine. The English imported still (non-sparkling) from the Champagne region and stored it in cellars over the winter. It was there it underwent a secondary fermentation. The English preferred bubbles in their wine. However, the French considered them to be an undesirable defect. As a result, they tried to prevent them.
10. The most expensive white wine is Domaine La Romanee Conti Montrachet, found in Burgundy, France that on release sells for £1500+ per bottle. A lot of seven bottles from the 1978 vintage fetched £120,500.
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