While this is the optimal temperature range for white wine, don’t worry too much about chilling your wine down to a specific temperature. Just getting your white wine down to “refrigerator temperature” should be enough to put it in this optimal range. If you do want to make sure your wine is 50 to 60 °F (10 to 16 °C) before serving it, use a bottle thermometer to gauge the wine’s temperature before you open it. You can buy one of these devices relatively cheaply online or in a winery.
If you’re drinking a creamier white wine, like American chardonnay, a glass with a large bowl may actually do a better job of expressing that creamy texture.
Conversely, if your wine is too cold (which is possible), holding the glass by the bowl is a good way to let the wine heat up a bit before drinking it.
The primary aromas associated with wine are fruit flavors, herbal flavors, and floral flavors. When you smell your wine, see if it has a fruity smell like raspberries, an herbal aroma like mint, or a flowery smell like roses. Don’t feel discouraged if you don’t notice much about the wine’s smell at first. The more experience you have with different wines, the more you’ll learn to distinguish individual flavors and aromas. How much of the wine sticks to the glass when you swirl it indicates how rich and dense the wine is. The more wine that sticks to the glass, the bolder the alcohol content is. Swirling your wine around before drinking it will help open up some of the flavors. [6] X Expert Source Murphy PerngCertified Wine Consultant Expert Interview. 15 March 2019.
Take note of how the wine tastes, whether it’s sweet or sour, or if it tastes more like a tree fruit versus a citrus fruit. Pay attention as well to how warm the alcohol feels in your throat.
American chardonnay, for example, is usually much creamier and more “buttery” than French chardonnay.
Sauvignon blancs are great if you want something light and sweet like chardonnay, but not overly sweet.
Moscato is just sweet enough that it can even be had with dessert! You can try moscato with a slice of panettone as dessert after dinner.
Pinot grigio is also pretty consistent across all regional varieties. This means you can have a pinot grigio from any vineyard in the world and expect it to taste pretty much the same.
Gewürztraminer also has an impressive mouth feel that will leave your tongue feeling pleasantly coated when you drink it.
If your chardonnay is particularly light, it may also go well with a light seafood dish like oysters.
Because moscato has a little bit of sweetness to it, some people also enjoy pairing it with their desserts.
A soft sauvignon blanc also goes well with charcuterie boards.
Much like moscato, the sweetness of riesling also makes it an interesting pairing with spicier cuisine. A general rule of thumb is that the dessert you eat should be just as sweet or sweeter than the dessert wine you’re drinking. [18] X Expert Source Murphy PerngCertified Wine Consultant Expert Interview. 15 March 2019.
Pinot grigios with stronger fruit notes also tend to go well with salads.
