Aromatic Whites

by Paul Newport September 14, 2015

Reading time: 5 mins

Aromatic whites are intensely flavoured, un-oaked whites from aromatic grapes like Riesling, Gruner Veltliner, Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Albarino, and most new world Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.

These wines will typically smell like flowers or taste like a bowl of fresh fruit. Look for aromas and flavours of orange peel, ripe peaches, papaya, mango, lychee, rose petal, dried apricots, passionfruit, or dried apricots. Some will have a herbal note or white pepper spiciness or minerally accents. These wines display a lot of natural aromas and flavours from the grapes rather than from oak or wine-making practices. Flavour intensity ranges from medium to full-in-your-face intense.

These wines are delicious on their own but also have the ability to pair nicely with some of the most difficult foods such as spicy Asian or Middle Eastern Dishes.

BODY	Light to Medium, Some Full
TEXTURE	Crisp, some soft
FLAVOUR INTENSITY	High; Complex
AROMAS AND FLAVOURS	Mango, Papaya, Melon, Passionfruit, Ripe Peach, Pear, Lychee, Rose Petal, Dried Apricots, Orange Peel
VARIETAL EXAMPLES	Muscat, Viognier, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Torrontes, Albarino, Gruner Veltliner, Vermentino, Fiano, Arneis, Muller Thurgau, Moschofilero
TRY THEM WITH	Salmon, Sea Bass, Pork, Asian Dishes, Middle Eastern Dishes, Cured or Smoked Meats, Popcorn, Veal Roast, Smoked Fish, Onion Tarts, Indian Curries, Baked Ham, Kale or Spinach Salad, Soft Cows Milk Cheeses, Fish with Creamy Sauces, Seafood and Shellfish, Potato Salad, Caprese Salad

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

Germany and Austria excel at Aromatic wines. France does to, particularly from the fairly warm, dry climates - Southern France and Alsace. Italy's Aromatics are among the most reserved of this style with Italian winemakers preferring more reserved, neutral aromas and flavours. Australia's most renown example of this style would have to be Clare Valley Rieslings. New Zealand of course excels in this style and most of our Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Rieslings fit the category perfectly.

WINE	REGION	COUNTRY
Gruner Veltliner	Various	AUSTRIA
Muscat	Alsace	FRANCE
Riesling, Gewurztraminer	Alsace	FRANCE
Tokay - Pinot Gris	Alsace	FRANCE
Riesling	Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Rheingau, Pfalz, Nahe	GERMANY
Riesling	Clare Valley & Other Regions	AUSTRALIA
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Viognier	Washington, NY, California, Oregon	USA
Viognier, Condrieu	Rhone Valley	FRANCE
Viognier	Mendoza	ARGENTINA
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Viognier	Various	NEW ZEALAND
Sauvignon Blanc	Paarl, Constantia, Stellenbosch	SOUTH AFRICA
Torrontes	Mendoza	ARGENTINA
Falanghina, Fiano	Campania	ITALY
Moscato d'Asti	Piedmont	ITALY
Vermentino	Liguria, Tuscany, Sardinia	ITALY
Albarino	Rias Baixas	SPAIN