Unit 3 of 26 · Online wine course

White Wine Grapes Course

From Chardonnay to Riesling, rosé and bubbles. 7 lessons · about 56 min

Start with the free unit See prices

This unit is included with Premium ($3.99 a month, 3 days free) or the course for life ($39.99 once).

The 7 lessons

  1. Chardonnay: one grape, many styles

    Why one neutral grape gives crisp Chablis, rich oaked Meursault, buttery California and Champagne: how climate and winemaking shape Chardonnay.

    You will be able to:

    • explain why one neutral grape makes many styles
    • tell crisp Chablis from rich, buttery oaked Chardonnay
    • explain where butter, vanilla and toast come from
    about 8 min

  2. Sauvignon Blanc: crisp, green and zesty

    Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp white with high acidity and strong smells of gooseberry, grapefruit and cut grass, and it loves goat cheese, salads and seafood.

    You will be able to:

    • describe Sauvignon Blanc's acidity and classic aromas
    • tell Loire, Marlborough and Bordeaux styles apart
    • pick food that suits a crisp Sauvignon Blanc
    about 8 min

  3. Riesling: from bone dry to sweet, and how to tell

    Riesling is a high-acid white made at every sweetness level, so read the label: trocken means dry, while Kabinett and similar words describe ripeness.

    You will be able to:

    • describe how Riesling tastes young and with age
    • spot a dry Riesling on a German label
    • choose an off-dry Riesling for spicy food
    about 8 min

  4. Crisp white grapes to know and how to pick one

    What makes a white wine crisp, six crisp whites from Italy, France, Spain and Austria, and how to let the food choose the bottle.

    You will be able to:

    • explain what makes a white wine crisp and fresh
    • recognise six crisp whites and where they come from
    • pick a crisp white to match your food
    about 8 min

  5. Aromatic whites: perfume in a glass

    Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Muscat and Torrontés smell of flowers and fruit, but a sweet smell does not always mean a sweet wine.

    You will be able to:

    • recognise four aromatic white grapes by their scent
    • explain why a sweet smell does not mean sweetness
    • choose an aromatic white for spicy Asian dishes
    about 8 min

  6. The grapes behind rosé and bubbles

    How rosé gets its pink from red grape skins, why rosé Champagne breaks the rule, and the grapes behind Champagne, Prosecco and Cava.

    You will be able to:

    • explain how rosé gets its pink colour
    • name the main grapes behind rosé and Champagne
    • tell Prosecco and Cava apart by their grapes
    about 8 min

  7. Eight white grapes worth discovering, and their homes

    Link each white grape to its home: Chenin Blanc, Assyrtiko and Furmint are sharp and fresh, while Marsanne and Roussanne are rich and rounded.

    You will be able to:

    • link eight white grapes to their home regions
    • explain what acidity and full-bodied mean
    • tell sharp, fresh whites from rich, rounded ones
    about 8 min

Related reading on Winelingo: Meet the grapes