Wines are made from grapes. Grapes have natural sugars, and the amount of natural sugar contained in them depends on different factors, such as the level of concentration of the wine juice, how long the grapes stayed on vines before they were harvested (late harvest grapes), and the variety of the grapes.
Grapes are converted to wine through fermentation. During this process, yeast is added to the grape juice, which converts natural sugars into alcohol.
Dry wine is formed if little to no sugar is left after fermentation. The sugar left in the wine after fermentation is known as residual sugar.
What is Dry White Wine?
A dry white wine is not sweet; it has no residual sugar or the amount of residual sugar present is so small that wine drinkers cannot detect it.
There are different types of dry white wines, each with its unique flavor profile. Dry white wines have high acidity and a refreshing, crisp taste.
They are especially enjoyed during summer and can be paired with any dish.
Types of Dry White Wine
To give a detailed answer to the question, “What is dry white wine?” We need to discuss the different types of dry white wines.
Dry white wines range from very dry (bone-dry) to medium-dry wines.
1. Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a famous and exotic bone-dry white wine. It is a lean wine that can be found worldwide but is mostly produced in California, New Zealand, Austria, South Africa, Bordeaux, France, Italy, and Washington.
It produces bell pepper, gooseberry, and lemongrass notes and is available in pear, grapefruit, and white peach flavors. It is considered the best white wine.
2. Assyrtiko
Assyrtiko is a bone-dry, light-bodied, and crisp white wine most popular in Greece. It has a citrusy flavor with tropical and mineral-tasting notes and a hint of saltiness.
The dryness and high acidity of Assyrtiko wines are obtained by aging them in oak barrels for three months or more.
3. Albarino
Albarino is the driest white wine produced in Spain. It produces tasting notes of lemon, grapefruit, and salt and is available in spice and citrus flavors. Albarino is best paired with seafood.
4. Chardonnay
Chardonnay wines are prominently produced in the Burgundy region of France. These wines are known for their oaky flavors, which are gotten when they are aged in oak barrels.
Oaky or wooded chardonnays produce strong citrus and toasty vanilla-tasting notes, while non-oaky or unwooded chardonnays produce bright tropical notes. They are also produced in California, South Africa, and the United States.
5. Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris
Pinot Grigio is a light, crisp, and fruity wine. The flavor profile of Pinot Grigio depends on the region from which it is produced.
For example, Pinot Grigio, produced in Italy, usually has crispy, mineral-tasting notes, while the French style is usually dry and fruity.
Also, the region determines whether it is called Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris; in Italy, it is referred to as Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Gris in France and the United States.
6. Champagne
In France, this is known as champagne; in other regions, it is known as sparkling wine. The dryness of champagne can range from very dry to medium dry.
Very dry champagnes are known as extra brut wines, which contain less than 0.6% residual sugar; brut champagne wines are known as dry with less than 1.5% residual sugar, while extra sec champagne wines are considered medium dry because they contain 1.2 to 2 % residual sugar.
7. Muscadet
Muscadet is an extremely dry white wine. It is a light-bodied white wine produced from the melon de Bourgogne grape variety, which originates from the Burgundy region of France. It has a sharp, sour taste with citrus and mineral notes.
8. Pinot Blanc
Pinot Blanc is a medium-bodied wine produced in Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Alsace, and Croatia.
It produces apples and almonds tasting notes and has a similar flavor profile to chardonnays.
9. Riesling
Riesling is a dry white wine that is originally from Germany. It is found in places with cold climates like Eastern Croatia and Alsace. You can also find Riesling in Oregon, Washington, and California. It produces minerals, apples, and stone fruit notes.
10. Torrontes
Torrontes is a highly fragrant wine that is particularly found in Argentina. It is a delicious wine that produces peach, citrus, and floral notes.
11. Viognier
Viognier is a strongly fragrant grape variety from France and is now produced worldwide. It produces fruity notes of honeysuckle and peach.
12. Gruner Veltliner
Gruner Veltliner is a grape variety that originated in Austria. It is an exquisite wine that produces two flavor profiles depending on when the grapes are harvested.
Early harvest Gruner Veltliner grapes are usually less ripe, producing a citrusy flavor, precisely lime.
In contrast, the late harvest and extremely ripe Gruner Veltliner grapes produce peach-flavored wines.
This grape variety is also found in North-east Croatia, along the Danube River in North-east Croatia.
13. Posip
Posip is one of Croatia’s most famous dry white wines. It is one of the oldest grape varieties in Southern Europe and originates from the Croatian Island of Korcula.
Posip is a rich and attractive wine with a complex flavor profile. It has notes of gooseberry blends and grass clippings with citrus-like hints and dried candied fruits. In addition, it is one of the few grapes that can withstand grape aphids (phylloxera).
14. Gewurztraminer
Gewurztraminer is an aromatic and spicy white wine. The best dry white version is the German Trocken and Halbtrocken style. These wines are dry and savory, with notes of peach, lychee, and grapefruit.
What is Dry White Wine Best Paired With?
- Sauvignon Blanc: crisp, dry white wine like sauvignon Blanc is best paired with light dishes like seafood (halibut) and vegetables, salads, and chicken.
- Muscadet: muscadet is best paired with a shrimp cocktail, oyster, and ceviche.
- Gruner Veltliner: Gruner Veltliner is best paired with seafood, greens, vegetable salads, and Asian dishes.
- Chardonnays: chardonnay wines pair well with food with fat-rich food like lobster with butter sauce and cheesy pasta like fettuccine Alfredo.
- Riesling, Viognier, Torrontes, and Gewurztraminer are crunchy and acidic wines best paired with spicy Asian foods.
- Champagne: champagne is best paired with salty foods
- Pinot Gris: This fruity wine is best paired with delicious dishes like shellfish, chicken, turkey, and light pasta.
- Albarino: Albarino is a slightly salty wine that pairs well with tasty dishes like sashimi (raw fish) and dishes with many herbs, salads, oysters, mussels, and clams.
What is Dry White Wine Used for?
You might wonder, ‘What is dry white wine used for apart from having a good time?’ you can spice up your cooking with dry white wines.
Dry white wines are also better options than cooking wines, which are usually very expensive and low-quality.
- Wines with intense flavors like Posip and Chardonnay can make creamy and fatty dishes like risotto and fettuccine Alfredo.
- For light-flavored dishes, light-bodied wines are best used. An example is Pinot Gris for vegetable risotto.
- A tart, dry white wine with citrus-tasting notes prepares seafood dishes. A good example is Albarino.
- Gewurztraminer is a spicy, dry white wine that prepares light dishes with herbal or vegetable flavors.
Conclusion
Dry white wines have little to no sugar. They have a great savory depth and are best enjoyed in the summer.
Different styles of dry white wine exist, and wine drinkers can choose the style best suited to their tastes.
In addition to being versatile enough to be enjoyed with just any kind of dish, dry white wines can also be used for cooking.
