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.