Champagne (the finest sparkler)

Even if you don't know squat about wines, you must 'know' Champagne, know the pronunciation and know it comes from France (oh, does it?). Good, but not good enough.

Champagne is real Champagne only if it comes from the Champagne region in the North-east France. Sadly enough, many drinkers give the name to any sparkling wine, especially the ones bought for New Year's Eve celebrations, which - ironically - are often the cheapest fizz that have never even stood close to Champagne.

PRODUCTION AND GRAPE VARIETIES:
Its production takes heck of a lot time and it is very meticulous (I'm not going to bore anyone with it). The process called methode traditionelle has been adopted for other sparklers, too. Merci, France!
Only three grape varieties are allowed in Champagne, i.e., Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. You can also find variations: blanc de blancs made entirely from Chardonnay (creamy with yellow-fruit notes), and blanc de noirs made from Pinot Noir (aromatic with red-berry flavours).

VINTAGE OR NON-VINTAGE?
Pay attention to which Champagne you opt for! A bottle of non-vintage Champagne can be popped open right after release.
(http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/champagne/moët-et-chandon-demi-sec-nv-75cl)
However, the vintage fizz should be kept for a few years before you get down to business. Some supermarkets release vintage bottles after a few years of ageing already. You see how they make it easy on us?
(http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/champagne/lanson-gold-label--vintage-75cl)

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:
Champagne is a truly powerful wine, filled with rich fruit and creaminess, notes of bread and chocolate. It should be perfectly balanced, rich and complex yet with high acidity, a lot of crispiness and bubbles that will go with many dishes. You can enjoy Champagne young or aged (it depends on Champagne). The latter will reveal honeyed, toffee notes.

LEVELS OF SWEETNESS:
Brut = dry; goes well with fish, poultry, cheese
Sec = slightly sweeter than brut; goes well with savoury dishes, seafood, pâté
Demi-sec = sweeter than sec, with honeyed notes, goes well with dessert dishes (not too sweet, though!), sweet-tasting dishes, e.e.g, Thai food

Voilà!

MAKE IT WORTHWILE :)
Do you still wonder why Champagne is the most adored fizz around the globe?
Needles to say, the prices can stress your wallet. Here come the last pieceS of advice.
Do not go for the cheapest Champagne(!), unless you are already so wasted that you will not even draw the difference between high quality and the lowest quality. But seriously preaching, don't! :)
Serve it chilled and drink up soon after opening not to let it go flat. Is there anyone who actually needs to be told to drink Champagne up? ;)
And once you see the bubbles are tiny and there are plenty of them - you know you hit a good bottle!

Viognier (perfumed and full-bodied)

AROMAS AND FLAVOURS:

If it's perfumed peaches, apricots and honeysuckle you crave, Viognier is the best pick for you. The important thing is that grapes must come from low-yielding vines, as this is when grapes have more concentrated flavours. Sadly enough, many growers look to sell more wine, and we know what that means :(

BEST REGIONS:

*FRANCE, the Rhone Valley (Condrieu)

If you don't want to get disappointed and a bottle of diluted wine is the last thing you want on Saturday evening, Condrieu is the region you want to opt for (see the map below):

http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/29690

However, the price may repel many. For the ones who like their wallet content too much, the solution lures in the Languedoc, where cheaper, but less concentrated Viognier is produced:

http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/29676

*THE U.S., Colombia Valley

You can expect wines with firm and crisp acidity. Nothing to complain about y'all :)

Semillon (chameleon wine)

If what you want in wine is full flavour, but you have had enough of omnipresent Chardonnay, then look no further! Sémillon will offer you pretty much everything you ask for. And I mean it! It can produce lean dry, rich dry or sweet wine!

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:
I) Young Sémillon wines taste lean and grassy and they are packed with plenty of lime, which  gives it the character, lemon and honey. It almost sounds like a perfect cough medicine ;)
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/28775
II) As the wine grows older it gets more rich, smokey and toasty.
http://www.colvinwines.com.au/semillon-wines
III) The grape also makes for good sweet peachy wines - its thin skin makes the fruit vulnerable to botrytis (a mould that plays a crucial role in production of sweet wines).

BEST REGIONS:
* Australia - the Hunter Valley, the Barossa Valey, and the Clare Valley
It is the land of exceptionally good Sémillon wines. This is where you are going to meet the ripest bottles. Well, the rest was already said above.

CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT:
In France, Sémillon is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc to add extra flavour, or maybe to 'dilute' the wine a bit. This is often done in the production of both dry and sweet wines.

Chardonnay (rich and powerful)

For some fans this is the only white wine that exists in this world. The rest are leftovers :P

Well, blind love... I kind of understand it.

But in generally Chardonnay is an easy grape to fall in love with as is it very easy to work with. It produces good wines even if it's at its worst. Ir can be grown on in any country to produce any type of wine: oaky, fresh, fruity, sparkling. Any, any, any. Kind of a slut... :) But in the wicked world we live in, it is all we want.

BEST REGIONS:

* FRANCE - Burgundy

Just as some may say that Chardonnay is the queen of white wines, others (or actually the same group) may say the Burgundy is its home. If you get white wine from Burgundy, you may be 99% sure you are getting Chardonnay (even though you will not see that on the label):
http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/28976
The prime location will be Cote d'Or (see the map below). Give in and you will discover wine that is concentrated yet well-balanced, oaky yet fresh, honeyed yet dry. Be careful with bottles coming from Maconnais (see the map) as they may taste thin and uninteresting.

I am afraid that in the case of Chardonnay you will have to spend much more on a bottle, especially if you want to impress your date (unless she knows squat about wines). Why is that? The best vineyards marked as grands crus can only produced limited amount of wine and the demand is great... you do the calculations :)

Chablis, to the north of the Burgundy, is known for its lighter type of Chardonnay which results from cooler vineyards. It tastes more crispy with noticeable mineral notes thanks to the soils that are rich in chalk and clay. Beware! This type of Chardonnay is often unoaked. This is why - in its style - it's closer to spicy, fruity wines. And it is extra fruity with tons of oranges, apples, and rhubarb:

http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/29769

However, if light Chardonnay sounds to you as crazy as beef steak for breakfast and Polish wedding with no vodka, you should leave Burgundy and make your way to the far south of France, i.e. Languedoc. It is there where you are going to find the richest, oakiest, creamiest, ...est, ...est, ...est Chardonnay. It will be often labelled Vins de Pays d'Oc. It tastes super ripe and buttery:

http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/29491

*AUSTRALIA

The second most famous country producing Chardonnay wines. Its warm vineyards In Hunter and Barossa Valleys give birth to riper and more concentrated type of Chardonnay, which I personally adore. You are almost knocked over with the amount of spices, vanilla notes and all the resin from the oak barrels you can smell:

http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/29858

Well, but Aussies know that there are many demands to meet, so recently they started producing crisper - let's say - elegant wines. Those can be found in cooler climate regions such as Clare Valley, Adelaide Hills, Tasmania (see the map below):

http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/29584

Australia is pretty well-known for its blends of Sémillon with the Chardonnay grape:

http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/29819

It will be heck of a lot crisper than Miss Chardonnay on her own, which maybe what one is looking for. Judging by how many Chardonnay-Sémillon you can find on the shop shelves, I reckon it is a quite successful blend, kind of like a good marriage, where the man (Sémillon) calms down the woman (Chardonnay) :)

Albariño (Olé!)

Spain is famous for its Rioja, and probably not many gives a f*** about its white wines. Let's break the habit and make mention of Albarino.

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:
This sun-kissed wine (how else could it be in such a hot country?), that comes from Rias Baixas (a region in Galicia), is filled with succulent oranges and lime, which is pretty much what you would expect from a Spanish bottle. It is pretty balanced as well - its weight combined with acidity ensures Flamenco will sound far better :)
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Sendero-des-Santos-Albari%F1o-2012/29502?_requestid=743737)

Pinot Blanc (everybody's friend)

Wines from this grape are very soft and easy to drink. You have just found a reliable friend to watch "Titanic" with ;) The best come from Alsace, France.

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:
Mainly fruity with apples in front. At times gets creamy and you can feel bit of almond.
(http://alsace.uvinum.co.uk/hugel-et-fils-pinot-blanc-hugel-alsace-2010?utm_source=Google%2BMerchant&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=marketplaces&gaw=1&gclid=CjwKEAiAvvyiBRDzrYuuldy6wB8SJABPJWOb-OizmJQkWe8i0GEd1fbPKgU4drkTjwYtTCpfdujhSRoCcXPw_wcB)

That was quick :)

Chenin Blanc (versatile and juicy)

A bottle of Chenin Blanc is bursting with juiciness. You will find a variety of fruit as you go from one region to another. Little wonder that it can please crowds: it is easy-drinking and it is relevantly cheap, so you can really please the crowds coming to your house warming party.

BEST REGIONS:

* SOUTH AFRICA:

One of the two top producers or Chenin Blanc, which sinned(!) believing that worldwide production can equal worse quality. So be careful and don't let South African winemakers pull your legs. A good bottle will be juicy with lime and guava notes in front and it will be... a good bottle.
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/The-Huguenot-Chenin-Blanc-2013/29209?_requestid=741194)

*FRANCE - Loire Valley:
Those chaps are more serious about Chenin Blanc than others. Alors... to begin with, Savennières (made near Savennières in Loire Valley) is made entirely from Chenin to produce acid wine with apple notes. So give it a try and see its true self.
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Ch%E2teau-de-Varennes-2009/29813?_requestid=740082)
Quite nearby, in Vouvray, they work hard on another good-quality Chenin wines characterised by appley fruit again. And a nice surprise for those indecisive - Vouvray can be dry, medium or sweet so try whichever you feel suits you. Voila!
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/R%E9serve-Champalou-2011/29136?_requestid=740209)

Gewürztraminer (spicy white)

Let's go straight to the point...

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:

Gewürz is the quickest and easiest way to explain what spicy wine means. We are not talking here hot chilli pepper, but rather exotic gingery notes with a bit of peach and apricot hidden behind. Quite often cardamom and turkish delight are also present. What makes it different is its aroma (it's heavily perfumed) that is literally soaring out of a glass to hit your nostrils... "Ausgezeichnet!"

BEST REGIONS:

*FRANCE - Alsace
France has mastered wines from this grape. They make it fragrant and spicy, but not oaky. Weighty as it may get, it should offer acidity at hand for a perfect balance.
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Domaine-Bott-Geyl-Gew%FCrztraminer-Les-El%E9ments-2012/29709)
Again look for grand cru to get the best wine, but don't rely too much on what you can read on the label. Again, be open to wines and do not trust the labels blindly. One thing is sure, vendange tardive (late harvest) or selection de grains nobles ('selection of noble berries') indicates sweet wine.

*NEW ZEALAND - Marlborough
Thanks to its cool vineyards we can admire wines full of citrus and tangerine. That's it. No more talking. Let's get down to popping open those bottles :)
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Hunter's-Gewurztraminer-2011/28608?_requestid=729131)

Sauvignon Blanc (racy and aromatic)

Good old Sauvignon is now starting its great journey through people's palates all over the world. It's coming from behind the shadow of Chardonnay and French elegant Sauvignon from Loire Valley (see the post on light and elegant SB http://lacantinadinata.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/sauvignon-blanc-light-and-lean-style.html), and I personally believe that many grapes are now battling their pompous, elegant, oh-mon-dieu colleagues from France. Have nothing against France, but just demand justice. May all grapes be equal! For, example, think how expensive is Champagne in comparison to excellent Cava (both made according to "Methode Traditionelle") and you will see what I am getting at ;)

AROMA AND FLAVOUR

Warm-climate Sauvignon is much riper and fruiter than its cousin from cool regions. It produces aromatic wines which are packed with fruits and spices offering a fair amount of perfume that will wake you up!

BEST REGIONS

* NEW ZEALAND - Marlborough

Heaven bless New Zealanders for deciding to grow a traditional French grape in their soils, as they gave Sauvignon a new excellent style. You will taste - above all - happy gooseberry, a bit of dancing passion fruit, with some hypnotising herbs ;)

(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Split-Rock-Sauvignon-Blanc-2013/28806)

That said, Marlborough doesn’t have monopoly for wines from Sauvignon. Going south (Waipara/Canterbury) you will stumble upon some leaner representatives of the grape and going north (Martinborough/Wairarapa) you will meet savoury and rich Sauvignon.  So try around!

* SOUTH AFRICA - Cape

Well, well, well… South Africans sure know how to meet needs of those demanding. If you, too, feel like elegant French grape is too “shy”, yet daring New Zealand Sauvignon is too pungent, you should definitely give Western Cape’s wine a try. It is somewhere in between, offering pleasant lime notes.

(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/The-Rustler-Sauvignon-Blanc-2013/29180)

CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT:

* In Chile some vineyards use a different variety of grape called Sauvignonesse in production of Sauvignon (???) wines. Even though the label still says it is Sauvignon and the name “Sauvignonesse” sounds posh, the wine lacks fruit and is as flat as me in 1^st grade :P

*The Californians have developed an original type of Sauvignon called Fume Blanc. Americans! They always have to do it their way. This one is rich, creamy and often sweet.

Colombard

Colombard grape has its roots in the Cognac region in France, of course not without a reason. It is used as the base in brandy production. While no one is complaining abound brandy, there are probably quite a few people complaining about wine it produces. Imagine the same base wine used in brandy and wine and you will get it.

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:
Boring as it may get, you will still be able to trace floral, light notes.
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Bon-Courage-Colombard-2013/29237)

For those who need more action and fresher taste, Colombard is blended with Ugni Blanc (or Sauvignon Blanc) to create Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne. Do try both of them and see the difference in its character.

Well, can't complain... Give me a cigar and play Janis Joplin... :)

A quarter of Italian whites

We are talking Pinot Grigio, Frascati, Soave, and Orvieto.
I cannot speak subjectively of Italian wines as I am myself an Italian-kissed white wine. I do, too, taste light, crisp and fresh ;) Ask Kevin if you don't believe me.

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:
PINOT GRIGIO will entertain you with its lemony, spritzy nature (http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Il-Pino-Pinot-Grigio-2012/29036).
FRASCATI and ORVIETO will imitate the same, but will add some violet note.
SOAVE is the only rebel as it will show you its creamy side sprinkled with some almonds.
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Borgo-San-Lorenzo-2013/29643)

Be aware of cheap bottles as, more often than not, they will be a blend of one of the good grapes above and dull Trebbiano that could make you put a ban on Italian wines. Don't!
Ok ok, even poor Trebbiano can be friendly and not necessarily that cheap (or cheaper than, let's say, Pinot Grigio). I believe it is up to the hands of skillful wine-makers. So, here we are, be very open to wines and don't snap any judgements. Wines get pretty sensitive ;)

Sauvignon Blanc (light and lean style)

You don't have to call it by its full name (Sauvignon is enough), but you have to try it, and you will have to spend some more money than usual, I'm afraid, £15 being the minimum. Not something that I learnt from a book, but something I drew upon my own experience. And this is how I see it (mind you! this is my personal subjective opinion):
In case of French wines, it is like with brand shoes. You may only enjoy them for a while, will not survive one winter, will not go with many of your jeans, and you still have to pay heck of a lot. And more often than not you pay for the label, not necessarily for the quality, when you could actually spend half as much on a better pair that just doesn't have a famous name on it. I'm sorry Tommy, but your stuff is just way too overpriced.
So here we are, French regions are said to boast best wines, but do they indeed? Some of them of course, but NOT ALL of them, so don't you think that buying a French bottle you will get wine. Tricky business, this wine drinking, I'm telling ya! ;)

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:
Light and lean Sauvignon grape will produce... light and lean wine ;) Voila!
Too easy?
You can still make it more complex and divide flavours by appellation. Thus, Sancerre is bone-dry and lemony while Pouilly-Fumé is famous for its smoky note.

BEST REGIONS:
* The Loire Valley (France) - a cool wine region in the middle of France. And as mentioned above, the two most famous appellations produced in there are:
Sancerre
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Domaine-la-Croix-St-Laurent-Le-Ch%EAne-Marchand-2013/29632)
and Pouilly-Fumé
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Domaine-des-Mariniers-2013/29487)

*New World (Tasmania, Canterbury/Waipara in New Zealand & Elgin in South Africa).
Go for one of these if you fancy crisper wine that tastes of citrus fruit more than anything else.
(https://www.crackawines.com.au/Josef_Chromy/2013_Josef_Chromy_Sauvignon_Blanc/Sales)

Riesling (light and elegant)

Riesling, the 2012 vintage, Germany, Rheinhessen, QbA

Riesling was my first chosen grape when I started learning about wines. And it is one of my firsts (=best) grapes. Is it because it is light and elegant like me? ;) Could be...

AROMA AND FLAVOUR:
When I hear Riesling, I think refreshing and zesty wine and this is how it should be. You can taste citrusy note, a bit of crunchy apple that promise a crisp finish. If offers a great change to other chunky wines we are presented with on shop shelves.

BEST REGION no 1:
* Germany
Of course it had to be Germany! Didn't the name sound to you tough and strict? ;)
As a child I was sure they produce best shampoo and dark chocolate. As a woman I have discovered they also grow excellent grapes.

German Riesling will pretend an innocent type as alcohol level will only reach 10% (7-8% are also common).

Thanks to a cool climate wine from Riesling should be subtle, but then again, it may vary from bottle to bottle. So if you feel like something delicate for the first date go for a bottle from the MOSEL region
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Moselgold-Riesling-aus-Steillagen-Trocken-2012/29152).

If you crave for more intense experience, give a try to Riesling from the RHEINGAU (http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Weingut-Leitz-R%FCdesheimer-Magdalenenkreuz-Sp%E4tlese-2012/29188).

Finally, if you a fan of the unknown, you should choose a modern-style bottle from the PFALZ (http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Reichsrat-von-Buhl-Deidesheimer-Riesling-2013/29712).

Have you already twisted your tongue trying to spell out the regions? There is more to come...

As for the quality, you really want to (your wallet not so much) try wines labelled QmP (Qualitätswein mit Prädikat) or just Qualitatswein, which designates the first quality. For the record, the 2nd quality category would be QbA. Once you grab a bottle you may look out for category names revealing dryness level. Kabinett -> Spatlese -> Auslese -> Beerenauslese -> Trockenbeerenauslese are in order of increasing sweetness/decreasing dryness.

A lot to remember? Yes. Just as a lot to love :)


* France - Alsace
Surprising? If I tell you that at several times during its history Alsace was incorporated into the German Empire you will see why.

Wine that France can offer will be richer and more full-bodied than their western neighbours as well as it will have higher alcohol levels. Go for bottles labelled grand cru, which will indicate the best fruit in the region.
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/29895)

* ... but not least. Australia! Clare Valley and Eden Valley
Go for it if you feel like juicy, sun-kissed wine. Australians produce even riper Riesling which you should fine delicious.
(http://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/28727)