White Wine For The Beginner

Do fancy white wine names intimidate you? Wish you knew the difference between a Pinot Blanc and a Pinot Grigio? Have no fear. Armed with a good cheap discount wine price guide, you'll have no trouble choosing the correct wine for a dinner with just five basic white wines.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a popular white wine and is a good wine for the beginner. Chardonnay has undertones ranging from buttery oak to apple, pear, citrus and melon. This wine pairs well with seafood, pork, poultry and recipes with a cream base.

Pinot Blanc

A light medium-dry to dry white wine, Pinot Blanc has undertones of citrus pear, apricot or melon with an occasional hint of smokiness. It works well with light-flavored meats, mild cheeses, seafood and light or medium sauces.

Pinot Grigio

Also called Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio is another good wine for the beginner. It has undertones which range from melon to pear with the occasional note of tropical or citrus fruits. Pinot Grigio is fairly acidic and is compliments cheese and crackers, light pasta dishes and seafood.

Riesling

Riesling is a crisp, refreshing versatile wine. Look for the word tocken on the label if you like a dry Riesling or Auslese if you prefer a sweet one. Rieslings commonly have apple, peach or pear aromas and have floral and earthy undertones. They can handle spicy Asian foods as well as appetizers, desserts, fish, pork and poultry.

Sauvignon Blanc

Another versatile white, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp and refreshing medium-bodied wine. It has a broad range of flavors from herbal to earthy with citrus or tropical fruit undertones. Sauvignon Blanc works well with earthy foods such as artichoke dip, vegetable dishes and dips and Greek and Caesar salads.

Whether a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigot is a better wine is up to you. In the end, the best wine is the one you like, not what some wine reviewer gushed about. So grab your wine buyers guide cheat sheet and go shopping!