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Favorite American Cheeses City Vineyard

Favorite American Cheeses That Will Make the Holidays Better

At City Vineyard we love this time of year, not only for all the fantastic excuses to splurge on wine and beer, but for the foodie-friendly festivities cooking up through Christmas and New Year’s! While there are some amazing goodies produced for our gourmet market from all over the world, this month we are highlighting some of our favorite American cheeses from top-flight local communities and passionate producers. Check out these delectable domestic delights in our gourmet market for snacks that are sure to please.

5 Favorite American Cheeses That Will Have You Drooling

Pugs Leap Samson

All Pugs Leap farmstead artisan cheese is made by hand at White Whale Farm, a small family owned goat dairy in Petaluma, CA. The milk is provided by 120 happy and healthy goats who are free to roam on pasture. By using only their own goats’ milk they are able to control the process and quality from start to finish. Both the dairy and the creamery are housed in a beautiful old barn that was built in 1867. The Samson is an aged cheese maintaining freshness in flavor, Samson brings a bright taste of raw goat’s milk, slightly sweet and floral, together with grassy and saline notes.

Hook’s 5/10 Year Cheddar

Hook’s Cheese company, a family owned cheese company from Madison, Wi., has been producing cheese since 1972. Their 10 year cheddar won 1st place at the 2006 American Cheese Society Show, the only 10 year cheddar to get a 1st place in this, or any competition. It’s packed with calcium crystals and has a full, rich cheddar flavor and a smooth finish.

Cowgirl Creamery Mt Tam/ RedHawk /Wagon Wheel

Cowgirl Creamery opened their first location, a renovated hay barn in downtown Point Reyes two decades ago. Today, with dozens of awards, two creameries, four retail stores and two thousand tons of cheese later, Cowgirl Creamery continues to support and promote artisan cheesemaking, offering over 200 cheeses from all over California.

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar

Cabot Creamery is a cooperative of 1,200 dairy farm families located throughout New York and New England. They manage four plants in three states, employing over 1,000 people, who make “The World’s Best” cheese and dairy products. Clothbound is an approachable but complex natural-rind, bandaged cheddar with a crumbly texture and nutty aroma.

Bee Hive Cheese Co. Promontory Cheddar

Promontory, as well as all Beehive cheeses, is made from the milk of Jersey cows from Ogden’s Wadeland South Dairy. Wadeland’s Jersey cows enjoy 350 acres near the salty marshes, ponds and mudflats of the mineral-loaded soil of the Great Salt Lake. The same nutrient-rich soil that feeds thousands of migrating birds, feeds the lush alfalfa that the cows love to eat.

Think you have all of the gourmet snacks you need for the upcoming holiday season? Give our favorite American cheeses a try. Better yet, come into the store and grab some wine to go with those tasty treats! We want you have the best holiday time possible, so let us know if you have any questions on what you should bring to the table!

City Vineyard Vouvray

Vouvray is the Best Way to Get Cozy This Autumn

The Times They Are A-Changin’. Autumn is in the air and with that comes the time for transitional wines. While it might be warm enough for shorts and a T-shirt during the day, at night there’s a chill in the air and a sweater or jacket will probably be called for. Well, you can hold off on the heavy reds and the mulled spice wines for now, but you might want to switch up from your summer Pinot Grigios and Sauvignon Blancs to some cooler weather wines. We have Vouvray on our minds.

Vouvray (“voo-vray”) is a white wine made with 100% Chenin Blanc grapes that grow along the banks of the Loire River in the Touraine district of France. Wines range in style from dry to sweet, and still to sparkling, each with its own distinct character. Regardless of style, Vouvray is loved for having naturally penetrating acidity and aromas suggestive of quince, chamomile, honeysuckle and apple, and make you immediately wish for another sip. Sounds like Autumn in a glass. These stunning white wines have several stylistic variations depending on the amount of residual sugar. Sec and demi-sec bottlings represent the drier styles and pair perfectly with dishes like roasted pork tenderloin with grilled apples. The luscious moelleux and liquoreux are notably sweeter, often laden with botrytized aromas and flavors, and are best enjoyed with desserts, such as a honeyed pear tart. City Vineyard currently carries a hand selected amount of delicious, mouthwatering, Vouvray.

Bernard Fouquet Vouvray ‘Cuvee de Silex’ 2016

This Chenin Blanc is wonderfully aromatic with notes of white peach, white flowers, lanolin, and crushed rock. Beautiful balance on the palate with ripe orchard fruit, warm wet wool, and poached pear matched with lemony acidity and a long finish. It’s on the lighter side of medium-bodied and very fresh. This wine loves vegetables and it’s very happy alongside goat cheese. Try pairing it with our Spring Vegetable Tart with Chevre. The ripe fruit compliments the asparagus and leeks while the acidity matches that of the goat cheese. It’s a classic partnership.

Champalou Vouvray 2016

The Champalou family farms twenty-one hectares of vineyards on clay, limestone, and siliceous soils. They embrace sustainable farming while also integrating the use of the lunar calendar more traditionally associated with organic viticulture. The soils in their vineyards are rich, deep, and aerated through regular plowing. Cover crops are planted in between vineyard rows to help with excess water absorption and to encourage microbiotic activity in the soil. The Champalou house style produces wines of great elegance and tenderness, highly aromatic with impeccable balance. No one comes close to copying their distinct style.

Charles Bove Vouvray

From Vouvray, where the Abbey of Marmoutiers promoted the farming of Chenin in the 3rd century. Vouvray and its sibling Montlouis across the river are Touraine’s two great white wine appellations. This is a traditional style of Vouvray, bottled with a touch of residual sugar, which allows its incisive fruit to age long and gracefully.

Need more ideas on what types of wine pairs best with each season? Head to the store today or sign up for our mailing list!

City Vineyard Celebrate Fall

Celebrate Fall the Right Way With Oktoberfest

It’s our favorite time of year! With Fall comes all good things – sweater weather, pumpkin flavored everything, caramel apples, a steamy beverage on a brisk day, children running through fallen leaves, and of course great wine and beer. Oktoberfest has come and it’s time to celebrate fall.

A Quick Oktoberfest History Lesson –

The first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.

By moving the festivities up, it allowed for better weather conditions. Because the September nights were warmer, the visitors were able to enjoy the gardens outside the tents and the stroll over “die Wiesen” or the fields, much longer without feeling chilly. Historically, the last Oktoberfest weekend was in October and this tradition continues into present times. Today, the center of this culture is beer, with roughly 7 million liters of it poured at the festival annually.

Almost as iconic as the beer itself, a Bierstiefel (aka a glass or plastic beer boot) is sure to be spotted anytime during Oktoberfest. If you bring a Bierstiefel to a party during Oktoberfest, everyone will scream “Das Boot” as you walk in the door. “Das Boot” translated from German to English means “the boat”. We sincerely doubt Germans yell “Das Boot” when you walk into a beer tent carrying such a “mug”. Also, there was a popular movie in German titled “Das Boot” back in the 60s-70s. It was about a U-boat during WWII. But whatever you are drinking, Oktoberfest is a lot of fun… Folklore has it that Bierstiefels, or beer boots, were invented after a general promised his troops he would drink out of his boot if they won. He commissioned a glass boot so he could fulfill his promise without the smell and taste of dirty socks.

How to Celebrate Fall by Drinking Beer from a Boot

For the past century, beer boots have been included in festive celebrations and passed among friends as a drinking challenge because believe it or not, there is a right–and wrong–way to drink beer out of a boot. (Keep in mind that one boot contains five beers.) If you don’t turn the toe of the boot away from you, a tidal wave of beer will flow towards you as the air bubble reaches the toe part of the boot.

Today the festival isn’t only a smorgasbord to celebrate fall for beer but for food as well, featuring traditionally Bavarian food such as sausages served with mustard and sauerkraut, spit-grilled chicken, warm soft pretzels, potato salad, apple strudel, and honey-dumplings. Yum.

We told you all good things come in the Fall. Stop in soon to check out our Fall beer selection as well as our gourmet market to take your beer drinking experience to the next level!

City Vineyard German and Belgian Favorites

4 German and Belgian Favorites That Will Blow Your Mind

We’re approaching the stretch of the year that calls for some European influence in our beers.  It’s time to keep the parties indoors and indulge in some original beer styles to accompany our afternoon and evening meals.  It’s tough to make that transition so quickly but we’ve been keeping a steady, year-round supply of German and Belgian favorites to fit into any beer lover’s routine. There’s a definite distinction between what domestic varieties offer compared to what our treasured imports can put on the table. This translates to an historic promise that whatever Eastern European labels you pick up here will always bring a unique taste and conversation to your drinking sessions with friends and family.

There’s an age-old law in Germany called “reinheitsgebot,” which establishes a purity standard for German and Bavarian beer as well.  The Germans even have a word, “bierernst,” that literally translates to “beer serious.” This law and term equal out to an assurance that only barley, hops, yeast and water are to be used in German and Bavarian beer. The last time we checked, the U.S. does not have a national decree in place to have such a revered quality assurance on our favorite brews. With that in mind, you can rest assured that what German and Belgian favorites beer you have in your fridge are brewed to the highest standard.

Here are a few suggestions from our staff on what German and Belgian favorites you should be cracking open soon!

Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse – Hefeweizen

Sporting a very sweet and fruity body, this hefeweizen encompasses that original German style of the variety. With a floral and yeast-filled palate, bringing out notes of banana bread, orange and coriander, this import is full of flavors and accompanied with a subtle alcohol presence.

Weihenstephaner Korbinian – Doppelbock

Full-bodied, dark and voluptuous. Easy notes of chocolate, bitter fruit, caramel and a light candied taste make for a great chilled glass by the fireplace or kitchen counter. This Doppel has an eerily, easy drinkability and a smoothness that can bring a casual beer drinker to the light. Being one of our favorites at the store, we cannot talk this German mainstay up enough.

Trappistes Rochefort 10 – Quadrupel

Retaining a caramel head through an even pour, this Belgian is a beautiful one. The smell of a certain liquor belies a fruity and chocolate-shop essence of tasting notes. Overly smooth, it has an extremely gratifying finish that leaves your palate in need of another sip or a bite of sausage to fulfill the experience. Take a seat and pick this layered brew apart.

Duvel – Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Taking a spicier note compared to its Belgian brothers, Duvel’s pale ale is not only a popular import for the U.S. but has a dedicated following spanning the globe. Leaning towards a more fruit forward body, Duvel takes a leap past any Belgian style domestic beer with an even more glazed mid palate. An up-front fruitiness and dry, carbonated finish makes for an outstanding drinkability.

City Vineyard Summer Wine

Relax and Unwind with the Best Summer Wine!

Plenty of Days Left to Chill with Summer Wine – White or Rosés

Even with Summer winding down and school upon the horizon, the weather won’t be cooling down anytime soon. What better way to beat the late-Summer heat than with a cold glass of wine?! Forty-nine to fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit to be exact. The best summer wine to chill in the refrigerator are whites and Rosés.

Summer White

A perfect Summer white is Sauvignon Blanc. The name Sauvignon Blanc means “wild white”and it is wild indeed with its green and herbaceous flavors. Its medium acidity and floral aromas makes Sauvignon Blanc a festive wine for the sizzling Summer months. Two of our favorite Sauvignon Blancs here at City Vineyard are Kim Crawford and Fire Road, which are both imported from New Zealand.

To give some history on the vineyards of New Zealand, the country’s first grapevines were planted in 1819 by an Anglican missionary named Samuel Marsden. It wasn’t until twenty years later that a separate gentleman by the name of James Bugsby successfully created the country’s first wines. Both Marsden and Bugsby had written of New Zealand’s promise as a wine producer because of the country’s climate and terrain that appeared exceptionally well suited to grapevines.

To this day, New Zealand continues to grow and prosper in terms of vineyards. The number of wineries nearly tripled in the decade between 1988 and 1998. In just the five years between 1993 and 1998, vineyard land grew by more than forty percent. Despite this vast expansion, New Zealand’s wine industry is still small. The country makes about one-twelfth as much wine as Australia. To put this into perspective, the United States produces about two and three quarters as much wine as Australia. Of the twenty or so grape varieties grown in New Zealand today, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most renowned and widely planted.

If you’re into summer wine, specifically white, you’ve got to come in and try this!

Summer Rosés

In addition to white wines, Rosés are a Summer wine staple. If you can get past the pink color, Rosés are actually deliciously dry wines that soothe the palate of any red wine drinker. Rosé wines are made with red grapes, but the skins are removed early enough so that the wine displays a beautiful pale pink color. The Fontsainte Gris de Gris (from Corbieres, France) has quickly become one of our favorites this Summer.

Stop in and grab a bottle of all of our favorite summer wine selections, or better yet have a glass in the lounge or on the patio!

City Vineyard Summer Is Not Over

Summer is Not Over: 3 Easy Ways To Party On

Even though September is almost here, summer is NOT over! With the “Back-to-School” signs plastered in every superstore window, it’s easy to “fall” into the seasons changing malaise… see what we did there? Though it may seem like Summer is virtually over, take heart, there are plenty of weeks left to enjoy the spectacular Montana sun. Especially since we Montanans are known for working hard, but partying harder!

It’s tempting to spend these remaining glorious summer days awaiting the big yellow buses and preparing for the school year ahead. Shopping for clothes and supplies can get exhausting, but don’t let it suck up the rest of your time or energy this summer. City Vineyard is here for you. Keep Summer going strong! The first day of Fall isn’t until the end of September anyway right?! We’re excited as always to introduce you to all the new items City Vineyard has to offer this month.

Summer is Not Over, Savor it!

We have plenty of great wines at great prices to take the pressure off your back-to-school budget. Don’t be scared off by the under-$15 price point, we have a great selection of truly high-value wines for bargain prices. In every variety, we have a value brand choice that’s sure to please, and might even become your new go-to favorite. Give ‘em a try!

In beer, we love Montana, and its top-rated beer for hard-to-beat prices. Our local breweries have been producing first-rate beer for years, and we are proud to offer them to you. Come check out the selection and taste the goodness!

Finally, we have a great new selection of accessories for all your end-of-Summer refreshment needs. Stop in soon and savor Summer! Summer is not over quite yet, so stop by City Vineyard today and let us prove it to you!

City Vineyard Join A Wine Club

5 Reasons Why You Should Join A Wine Club

Why join a wine club? This is one of the top questions we get asked here at City Vineyard. Accompanying that question is also: What is the best wine club? and Is wine club a good deal? Often in the wine world we find that a good price doesn’t necessarily mean a great deal. Let us walk you through why its a good idea (at least when its with us!).

Join a Wine Club and Benefit in 5 Ways

1. Have a regular supply of wine on hand.

Our Gold Club makes it extremely easy to start that wine cellar you have always wanted. Joining a wine club can be fun any time of year, but if you pick the right club, it could help trim your holiday spending. Between big family meals and holiday parties, you can never have too many bottles of wine around the house. If this isn’t a good “why join a wine club” reason, we don’t know what is!

2. Have your own personal wine concierge.

To have a knowledgeable buyer (often with more pricing power than you have) pick out interesting wines you wouldn’t or couldn’t buy yourself, especially when it comes to the limited-release allocations we often feature for Gold Club.

3. Receive awesome discounts and VIP offerings.

City Vineyard club members also receive 10% off in-store purchases when you pick up your club, half-off beer and wine tastings, plus special offers and items exclusive to club members.

4. No commitment required.

City Vineyard doesn’t require a long-term commitment. Try it for a month or a year. It’s totally up to you.

5. No shipping costs.

You pick up in store, so there are no extra costs tagged on; your monthly subscription cost goes directly to your high-quality wine.

Here is what our Gold Club members received this August:

2014 Morey-Saint-Denis En la Rue de Vergy

DOMAINE REGIS BOUVIER

Wine is like a religion to the people of Regis Bouvier. Fourth generation winemaking is just the beginning. They have 16 Hectares on about 60 vineyards displaying a beautiful and unique focus on sense of place. They use environmentally conscientious farming. The domaine is located in the Village of Marsannay-la-Côte which is part of the AOC village appellation of Marsannay. The only one in Burgundy allowed to produce White, Rosé and Red wines. The wines are part of the Côte de Nuits and stylistically similar to those of their neighbors Fixin and Gevrey Chambertin. Red wine grapes are allowed to ferment for about 20 days in temperature controlled tanks before aging in oak barrels for 12 months. 20 to 35% new oak is used depending on the cuvée. Wines undergo light filtration before bottling.

Régis Bouvier in Marsannay achieves a rare hat trick in Burgundy, the mastering of all three colors–Red, White and Rosé, through reasonable yields and high quality terroirs. Bouvier makes one of the best Burgundian Rosés according to critics, his Whites are delicious, with their own particular character completely unlike other Chardonnays from Burgundy, and his Reds are his crowning achievement, managing to be wild and exciting while refined and elegant at the same time. Bouvier’s vineyards in Marsannay are Premier-Cru quality (some may even get classified) and his lieu-dit Bourgogne Rouge En Montre Cul vineyard is of a quality well above most (cultivated on a steep slope, not flatland Bourgogne). Morey-St-Denis En la Rue de Vergy is a superb vineyard right above the Grand Cru Clos de Tart. This domaine represents terrific value for a number of reasons–a lesser-known appellation combined with quality vineyard holdings and a conscientious and talented wine grower.

This 2014 Burgundy is considered to be one of the most prized finds of the last 5 years. With a taut backbone, this offering gives juicy red berry fruits, a silky mouthfeel and a long, authentic finish. Drinkable now and over the next 3-7 years.

Still not convinced? Stop in or give us a call today and we’ll tell you why you should Join the Club!

Beer Health Benefits

6 Unexpected Reasons To Drink A Beer Every Day

Beer, it does a body good! We have all heard the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” And while we all love apples, recent studies indicate that a few of our other favorites, dark chocolate and red wine, also offer health benefits.  But did you know that there is another favorite that can also be good for what ails you? Beer!  In fact, there are multiple proven benefits of our favorite brews from reducing risk for broken bones to warding off osteoporosis, diabetes, and even dementia. Keep in mind that like everything, moderation is the key.

Beer contains many beneficial vitamins, chemicals and other ingredients that can improve the way your body functions and even can help prevent certain diseases. It’s the individual components that make up your favorite brews that make these benefits possible, not the concoction of beer itself. So don’t confuse the fountain of youth with the nice frothy head of your favorite stout!

Here are a few noteworthy benefits that these hopped and malted beverages can provide you with!

1. Skeletal Success

Your favorite ice-cold brew can actually help your bone density and strength. A 2009 study at Tufts University, reported that older men and women who swigged one or two beers a day had higher bone density. This is due to the high silicon content present in beer. Silicon, in the dietary form orthosilicic acid, helps in growth of bones along with any connective tissues and can reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis.Before you grab that six-pack with confidence, swig slowly, the study also shows that anything more than the recommended daily amount can have quite the opposite effect on your bone density and  is linked to increased risk for fractures. For the best results, grab a pale ale which is the richest in silicon, while light lagers and non-alcoholic beers contain the least.

2. A Healthy Glow

Vitamin E found in most skin creams and vitamin packs, helps keep your skin looking young and healthy. Beer has and effective dose of Vitamin E that when you pair a glass of beer with your weekly skin treatments – you could be multiplying your skin’s healthy glow!

3. Calm Those Inflamed Muscles

You also may have asked yourself why marathons are sponsored by brewing companies and have stands for runners while they compete. Beer, more specifically wheat beers, has a knack for reducing muscle inflammation and increasing respiratory health. Though this is commonly known in the running world, many spectators raise an eyebrow as they watch runners down a popular lager at the halfway point! There are chemicals called Polyphenols, most prevalent in wheat beers, known to calm molecular byproducts caused by exercise. Polyphenols capture molecules that can bounce around your muscles and cause inflammation, which in turn relaxes your burnt out muscle fibers. Bear in mind, though, moderation is what makes these results practical. Drinking a six-pack during your next triathlon will not help beat your previous record, let alone be healthy!

4. Reduce the Risk of Kidney Stones          

Beer has also been linked to healthier kidneys, specifically in men. The association of beer and a reduced risk of kidney stones is quite possibly in part due to certain compounds found in the hops and the general diuretic effect of beer. Based on the accounts of those who’ve passed kidney stones before – we highly suggest you do whatever you can to reduce your risk.

5. Stay Mentally Sharp

The hops in your favorite beer contains a similar chemical compound found in dark chocolate, blueberries, and other super foods known also as “brain food”. This compound has been found in numerous food chemistry studies to help improve your memory and protect your brain and prevent degeneration. Research found in a 2012 study explained that in moderation beer increased your ability to concentrate without distractions getting in the way, this added focus will improve your ability to problem solve creatively. So if you’ve been stumped by something – it may do you some good to step away, grab an icy cold brew and then turn your focus back on the issue.  

6. Feel Happier

Another valuable vitamin found in Beer is Vitamin B6. This vitamin is known to help your body produce serotonin. Serotonin is your body’s natural mood enhancer, it also aids with sleep. This very essential body chemical fights off intense mood swings and depression. Many of the craft beers on the market today have a good amount of vitamin B in them to give you that added mood “pick-me-up” after a tough day.

We all knew that beer was amazing, but the health benefits it can also offer in small doses, are truly extraordinary.  Note that the benefits listed above are from consuming 1 to 2 beers daily. So let’s raise a pint to your health, discover new delicious craft beers in our outstanding beer department and keep reaping the benefits of your favorite icy cold brew!

Grape Varieties Red Wine

Explore the Top 9 Red Wine Grape Varieties

Red wine is made from red wine grape varieties and gains its color from elongated contact with the grape’s dark skins during the fermentation process. Red wine often takes on the tannins from prolonged contact with the grapes skin. The tannin compounds found in the skins, stems, and seeds of grapes provides the structure and texture to create fuller bodied wines.

Famous Red Wine Grape Varieties

Ready to expand your palate and discover the world of red wines? Whether you are looking to enhance your wine knowledge or a newcomer to the world of wine – the list below offers you a number of famous red wine grape varieties and includes the primary flavors and colors of each variety, along with the description how each feels in your mouth.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is known as the king of the red wine. This grape variety is grown in almost every top wine producing region globally.

Dominant Flavors:

Cassis, mint, cedar

Color:

Purple with a tinge of sienna

Mouth-feel:

Generous, rich, full-bodied

You May Also Like: Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Tempranillo

Merlot

Merlot is the most common counterpart of Cabernet Sauvignon and a popular grape choice used for varietal wines

Dominant Flavors:

Raspberry, red plum, tea leaves

Color:

Raspberry

Mouth-feel:

Silky, medium to full body

You May Also Like: Grenache, Sangiovese, Dolcetto

Syrah/Shiraz

The name differs based on where it is planted. Syrah grape varieties are planted in the U.S. and Europe while Shiraz grape varieties are grown south of the Equator.

Dominant Flavors:

Berries, smoked meat, pepper and tar

Color:

Deep eggplant

Mouth-feel:

Plush and velvety

You May Also Like: Petite Syrah and red blends from the Rhone Valley of France

Pinot Noir

This grape is known as the most elegant of red wine grapes and known to produce some of the world’s finest wines. Primarily grown in cooler regions Pinot Noir is one of the most challenging grapes to cultivate and make wine from.

Dominant Flavors:

Red berries, earth, tobacco

Color:

Garnet

Mouth-feel:

Smooth, light to medium body

You May Also Like: Gamay, Nebbiolo, Mourvedre

Zinfandel

These grapes produce a robust, full flavored red wine. The warm California climate has proven to be idea for this the sweet and rich Zinfandel grape – one of the region’s oldest grapes.

Dominant Flavors:

Blackberry, raspberry, spicy

Color:

Inky raspberry

Mouth-feel:

Lush and jammy full body

You May Also Like: Shiraz, Carmenere

Sangiovese

Although Cabernet Sauvignon is noted the king of red wine, Sangiovese is know as the red wine king of Tuscany, Italy. This grape is the primary grape grown in central Italy. Commonly used to make the modern “Super Tuscan” wines.

Dominant Flavors:

Cherry, violet, warm earth

Color:

Brick red

Mouth-feel:

Smooth with a medium to full body

You May Also Like: Nebbiolo, Barbera

Grenache

This grape is easily a ‘Jack of all trades’ – most widely planted grape variety in the world and different region to region.

Dominant Flavors:

Bright cherry, raspberry

Color:

Bright ruby

Mouth-feel:

Flexible, silky smooth, to rich and luscious

You May Also Like: Pinot Noir, Gamay

Malbec

Originally introduced in France, this traditional Bordeaux blending grape made a huge comeback in Argentina and grown in the U.S in both California and Oregon still primarily as a blending grape.

Dominant Flavors:

Rich red berry

Color:

Electric purple

Mouth-feel:

Rich, powerful, full body often chewy in texture

You May Also Like: Shiraz, reds from the Priorat region of Spain

Nebbiolo

Grown in several regions in Northern Italy, this is the sole grape used to create Italy’s famous high-end Barolo and Barbaresco wines while also used to make some great, more affordable fine wines as well.

Dominant Flavors:

Candied cherry, violets, earth

Color:

Brick red with a sienna hue

Mouth-feel:

Soft and velvety, medium to full body

You May Also Like: Pinot Noir, Red Blends from the Rhone region of Franc

We would love to hear your favorites.

You are invited to visit our spacious wine bar where we always feature a variety of red and white wine options from various regions. Our experts will help you expand your palate and explore the world one glass of wine at a time.

Grape Varieties White Wine

Explore 8 Famous White Wine Grape Varieties

Most commonly, you’ll hear the words “dry”, “sweet” , “light”, “fruity” or “refreshing” used to describe a white wine. White wine grape varieties are actually green, pink or even golden yellow. Oftentimes these wines spend less time fermenting with their skins on and therefore take on less of the skin’s color. There really is a distinctive difference in the flavor profile of white wines as opposed to reds.

The Most Well-Known White Wine Grape Varieties

Maybe you’re looking to branch out and expand your wine palate, or, a newcomer to the wine world looking to make sense of the many choices available to you — This list of the 8 most famous and common white wine grape varieties to give you a great place to start exploring your white wine palate.

Chardonnay

The Queen of white wines, produced from green-skinned grapes. Originally from the Burgundy region in Eastern France – now grown in nearly every wine region globally. Vinified in a variety of wine styles from sparkling wines to a smooth classic butter and oaky wine.

Dominant Flavors:

Butter (when oaked), mineral

Color:

Golden yellow

Mouth-feel:

Round full body

You May Also Like: White Sancerre, Verdejo

Sauvignon Blanc

From a similar region in Eastern France as Chardonnay, this too is a green-skinned grape variety. A very popular grape variety for modern white wine drinkers. This grape variety is currently grown in various climates, the thirst-quenching flavor of this grape varies depending on where the grapes are grown.

Dominant Flavors:

Racy acidity, grass, nettles, tropical fruits, elderflower

Color:

Lemongrass

Mouth-feel:

Crisp, prickly, light body

You May Also Like: Torrontes, Chenin Blanc

Riesling

The noble white grape originated in the cool climate of Germany and is a very aromatic variety. Used to make sweet, semi-sweet, dry and sparkling wines. Currently this grape variety can be found growing cooler climate wine regions globally.

Dominant Flavors:

Peach, orange blossom, mineral, wet stone

Color:

Pale straw to rich yellow

Mouth-feel:

Rich, glycerol, vibrant acidity

You May Also Like: Alsatian Muscat, Viognier

Pinot Gris

Gris meaning “grey” in French. This grape was named due to the pale gray appearance. Known to produce fuller-bodied, rich white wines. Originating in France and Italy – regions in Oregon and New Zealand currently focus on the full-body texture of Pinot Gris where other world wide wine regions tend to produce the lighter-bodied Pinot Grigio style wine from this same grape variety.

Dominant Flavors:

Apple, pit fruit

Color:

Golden apple/honeydew melon

Mouth-feel:

Round and soft, medium body

You May Also Like: Pinot Blanc, Torrontes

Gewürztraminer

The most distinctive of all white wine varietals. A white wine grape with a pink/red colored skin, primarily in cooler climates, originating in Germany and Austria. This grape variety produces some very aromatic wines.

Dominant Flavors:

Spice, lychee, orange blossom

Color:

Warm yellow

Mouth-feel:

Rich body, coats the palate

You May Also Like: Riesling, Viognier, Chardonnay, Arneis

Viognier

Viognier is a red wine drinker’s white wine as this grape variety is often co-fermented with the red wine grape, Syrah. Naturally aromatic, wines produced with this grape variety are fuller-bodied. This grape produces wines with a complex nose that includes floral, spices, and fruits.

Dominant Flavors:

Melon, pears, white pepper, vanilla, floral

Color:

Canary yellow

Mouth-feel:

Full, generous, glycerol

You May Also Like: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris

Chenin Blanc

A grape capable of producing everything from dry to sweet dessert wines. Most widely planted grape in South Africa’s wine region. As such a versatile grape variety, this grape is planted in wine regions around the world, used in many white wine blends.

Dominant Flavors:

Honeysuckle, stone fruits, minerals

Color:

Pale straw

Mouth-feel:

Light, clean body

You May Also Like: Vouvray, Semillon

Torrontés

Appropriately described as “similar to Pinot Gris crossed with Sauvignon Blanc, with a touch of floral”. This is the signature grape of Argentina. This grape variety makes dry and zesty aromatic white wines with flavors that vary depending on the region the grapes are grown.

Dominant Flavors:

Citrus, lemon peel, floral

Color:

green apple

Mouth-feel: crisp, lively

You May Also Like: Vinho Verde, Albarino, Gruner Veltliner

The grape varieties listed above are just some of the most commonly encountered white grape varieties. You can find wines produced by these grapes on our shelves and poured at our wine bar. However, just like with red wines, there are hundreds of white wine grape varieties beyond this list, when you step inside our wine shop or visit our wine bar you’ll be invited to explore varieties beyond this list.

We want to hear from you, your favorite white wine grape varieties.

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