Aromatic Whites
The results are in and you’re clearly into Aromatic White wines. These complex style wines are your go to, and they are packed with flavor. You like wines that jump out of the glass. There’s nothing refined about these wines, they make their presence known. And we love that for you, stick to the wines that have big, loud floral and fruit notes!
We’re gonna take a wild guess here and say you mainly grab a bottle of Riesling when you’re at your local wine shop. Riesling is one of our go to wines at Crush It, they are diverse, refreshing, and full of complexity. Aromatic white wines range in taste, intensity and sweetness, and for this reason, their flavors vary widely. Common characteristics of Riesling wines include a light body and aromas of citrus, stone fruit, white flowers, and petrol. Due to its naturally high acidity, Riesling can sometimes have a little sweetness to balance out its streak of acidity.
If you like Riesling Try…
If your go-to wine is Riesling we aren’t here to tell you not to drink it, you should keep your favorite wine in rotation. But there are a lot of other grapes out there, that’s one of the most exciting parts about wine. We aren’t telling you to stop drinking that Riesling you love so much, but we do think you should try some other varieties we think you’ll love just as much!
Gewurztraminer
Gewurztraminer is a pink-skinned grape variety that produces some of the world's most distinctive aromatic white wines. Gewurztraminer wines are perfumed with a range of aromas; they all have a relatively full body, low acidity and can range from dry to sweet depending on how it is produced. Most often associated with the Alsace region of northeastern France, the grape is nonetheless found in wine regions worldwide.
The primary aromatic descriptors used to define Gewurztraminer are typically lychee, rose petal, Turkish delight, tropical fruit and perfume. On the palate it is marked by its full texture, low acidity, stone fruit (mango, peach and apricot) and spicy (ginger and cinnamon) flavors. So, if you love wine that packs a punch in the flavor department, you have found your match.
Viognier
Viognier (pronounced“Vee-own-yay”) is the white grape synonymous with the northern Rhône, France. Viognier also leads a dual life and is also found blended with Syrah in red wines both at home and abroad. On its own, Viognier produces golden-colored, aromatic white wines with pronounced stone fruit aromas (apricots and peaches) alongside a full-bodied and richer texture. It is susceptible to high alcohol levels and potential low levels of refreshing acidity. Depending on the producer and how it’s made, it will range in intensity from light and spritzy with a touch of bitterness to bold and creamy. If you like Chardonnay you’ll like the weight of Viognier and notice it’s often a little softer on acidity, a bit lighter and also more perfumed.
Viognier is primarily known for its heady aroma, often compared to apricots and similar stone fruits, including peaches and honeysuckle. Its wines can also be very herbal, with aromas of chamomile, lavender, thyme and even a hint of pine. In aged examples and sweeter styles, this potentially overpowering herbal profile is softened by honeyed notes. But no matter what style you have, those fascinating aromas permeate the wine and make for an amazing tasting experience.
Malvasia Bianca
Malvasia Bianca is an Italian grape known particularly for its distinctive and exuberant floral aromas. This grape variety is used to produce a range of styles from sweet dessert wines, to sparkling wines, to beautiful dry wines. We’re focusing on the dry style today, not in a small part because that style of wine is incredibly drinkable.
Malvasia wines tend to be lower in alcohol, usually in the 11 -12% range with bright crisp acid on the finish. And in addition to those exuberant floral notes of honeysuckle, jasmine, and citrus blossoms you can also find notes of citrus, peaches, ripe pear, honey and asian spices. And if you’re thinking about food pairing for these wines, try and incorporate some of the wines big flavors into your food pairing with things like a quinoa salad with fresh peaches or a gorgonzola pizza with walnuts and pear.
Albariño
Albariño is a white wine that is known and loved for its racy acidity, bright citrus flavors, dry finish, and subtle salinity.The history of Albariño’s origin is a little murky. There are some theories that speculate that Albariño is originally Germanic in origin. Even rumors that it is somehow related to Riesling, though there isn’t too much proof to back that theory up. And while we may never know exactly where it came from, most wine lovers will agree that Albariño’s true home is in Spain.
Albariño has a range of flavors depending on where it’s grown. In cooler climates, Albariño tends to have more acidity and prominent citrus flavors. While in warmer climates, the wine develops riper fruit flavors and has slightly less acidity. But, in general, Albariño is a crisp, dry white wine with flavors of lemon, lime, pear, kiwi, honeysuckle, and nectarine. Additionally, you can find notes of beeswax, wet stone, and herbs. Often, Albariño is aged in stainless steel instead of oak and is best when it’s young and vibrant.
Muscat
Spanning over 200 varieties, Muscat (Moscato in Italy, Moscatel in Spain and Portugal) is the name of one of the oldest and most widespread grape families in the world. The (predominantly) white wines produced from these varieties are primarily known for their pronounced aromatic quality with descriptors ranging from perfumed, rosey, blossomy and floral to musky and grapey.
These aromas – a hallmark of the Muscat group – are due to the higher-than-average presence of monoterpenes (aroma compounds) in the berry. These include linalool, geraniol and nerol and are credited with giving the variety its distinctive perfume which often gives descriptors that run into floral, blossomy, rose, citrus, spicy and, even, grape-like notes.
Variations of the Muscat family – which includes variations in style, from dry white wines to fortified examples, sparkling Muscats and sweet wines – can be found all over the world. There is no one "true" Muscat, but rather a great many incarnations, each with its own regional nuance and character
Join Crush It Wine Society
Crush It Wine Society is the best of an online wine club combined with wine classes. If you want to branch out and discover new wines this is the best way to do, and at a discount!