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)