Buying and serving white wine is easy. Follow these simple tips and you can’t go wrong.
Choose light white wines for an aperitif
When serving pre-dinner drinks, choose a clean and crisp white wine like a Pinot Grigio or unoaked Chardonnay, or a fragrant but dry style white wine like a Riesling or Muscat. These are easy drinking whites, which work well without food.
Sauvignon Blanc for food
Sauvignon Blanc should be teamed with food (oily fish or seafood are great options) to get the most out of it. Sauvignon Blanc is a naturally acidic white wine and the acidity works wonders against the oily textures of the meat or fish.
Other classic food and wine matches
Other white wines also work a treat with food. Oaky Chardonnay is a great match for chicken, while fruitier white wines like Riesling and Gewürztraminer go well with spicy food like curry.
Chill before serving
White wines should be added to the fridge 45 minutes before they are served. Don’t be tempted to add them any earlier as they will loose their taste and smell.
Hunt down the value
The wine world is full of fashion and you’ll soon find that if you buy from well-known regions or estates, you’ll end up paying a premium for the name. The trick? Buy a white wine made from familiar grapes but from a different place and an unknown winemaker. A Chilean Chardonnay is a good alternative to a classic French Chablis for example. This way, you’ll get all the same quality at a fraction of the price.