Crisp White

Crisp white wines are the perfect wines for summer gatherings. Light, refreshing wines with a bouquet and flavor alternately likened to that of a tart green apple or a fresh, juicy lemon, crisp white wines have a relatively high acid content but tend to be on the lower side of the alcohol scale. They reflect the wine-making abilities of Mother Nature more than the tampering of human vintners, and they range in quality from the familiar supermarket brand varieties to upscale oenophile favorites.

Though many crisp white wines are made from green-skinned grapes, there are some exceptions: the Pinot Grigio grape, for example, normally has a gray-blue tint. Nor are all the wines included in this category white: Some rose wines also share this designation.

These wines pair well with many different types of foot but particularly vegetables, seafood and chicken. They are produced in many different wine-growing regions throughout the world. The best known example of the wine itself is the classic Sauvignon Blanc.

Many different types of grapes are used in making these crisp wines. The versatile Chardonnay grape is grown throughout Europe in Austria, France, Germany and Italy as well as in the three major wine-making areas in the continental United States: California, New York and the Pacific Northwest. Pinot Grigio grapes, sometimes called Pinot Gris, are grown throughout France’s Alsace region as well as several parts of the United States.