Are you looking to buy the best dry white wines to add to your wine cellar? Or wish to know how to use it for cooking and pair it perfectly with food? Well, you have come to the right place.
Dry white wine is an underrated ingredient which adds intense flavor to blandest of dishes. Even though it is not sweet, its high acidity and citrus fruit flavors make it a perfect drink to enjoy with food or to prepare food.
This blog will help you become a connoisseur of Dry White Wines, so read now!
So, what is the difference between dry and sweet wines?
The sweetness and dryness of the wine depends on the residual sugar it contains.
A wine with less than 10 grams of RS is considered dry, and above 30 grams is considered sweet or a dessert wine.
Fruity wine is not necessarily a sweet one, driest of wines have multiple fruit characteristics.
Types of Dry White Wines
Very Dry Whites
Sauvignon Blanc-
Perfect for cooking and sipping, it is one of the driest and crispiest wines. With herbaceous and grassy texture, Sauvignon Blanc has a well-balanced acidity and underlying fruity tones. Major growing regions are Bordeaux, New Zealand, Loire Valley, South Africa, Austria, California and Washington State.
Fun Fact: Sauvignon Blanc was accidentally blended with Cabernet Franc, giving birth to the red wine grape Cabernet Sauvignon. Read our blog to know whether Cabernet Sauvignon is Sweet or Dry? Its characterstics, taste, features and much more!
Recommended wine: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Albarino-
With bright acid and refreshing flavors of citrus and light salty notes, this Spanish white wine is delicious to have with seafood which is popular in Spanish cuisine.
Recommended wine: Paco & Lola Albarino
Chardonnay-
Burgundy region of France is well-known for its Chardonnay wine. With flavors of apples, tropical fruits, citrus and flint, this crisp lean wine is made purely from white grapes. The presence and absence of oak in Chardonnay affects the flavor profiles. With oak, toasty vanilla flavors dominate whereas without oak, bright tropical notes come to the fore.
Recommended wine: Rombauer Chardonnay
Muscadet-
Originated from Loire Valley, this light bodied- extremely dry wine shouldn’t be confused with Muscat or Moscato wines, which are off-dry and semi-sweet. Instead, Muscadet is sharp, tangy with notes of citrus and minerals.
Recommended wine: Delhommeau Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Harmonie
Torrontes-
It is aromatic white wine with notes of peach and citrus along with bright acidity and floral notes. It is growing in popularity in South American countries, especially Argentina.
Recommended wine: Susana Balbo, Crios Torrontes
Medium- Dry Whites
Pinot Blanc-
It is a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir. Mostly grown in regions like Germany, Austria, Italy and Alsace, France. The flavor profiles of this wine are similar to Chardonnay making medium- to full-bodied wines with zippy acidity and apple and almonds notes. It pairs best with seafood, meats and mild cheeses.
Recommended wine: Elena Walch Pinot Bianco
Pinot Grigio/ Pinot Gris-
In Italy, this wine is called Pinot Grigio and in France, Oregon and elsewhere it is called Pinot Gris. Dry Pinot Grigio are very light, crisp, fruity with citrus and mineral notes. Italian Pinot Grigio can be described as the crisp, mineral version of the dry white wine, while the French Pinot Gris tends to be fruity and dry.
Recommended wine: Santa Cristina Pinot Grigio
Riesling-
This wine thrives in the cooler climate of Germany and Alsace and can be dry and sweet both. Dry Rieslings from Washington, Oregon and California have flavors of minerals, stone fruits and apples. It pairs perfectly with fish and seafood and red meats.
Recommended wine: Thomas Fogarty Skyline White
If you wish to compare two of the best dry white wines, Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio, check out our blog.
Types of Dry White Wines used in Cooking
- Crisp White Wine
Due to their moderate alcohol content and high acidity, wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and unoaked Chardonnay are perfect for cooking.
Oaked Chardonnay have hints of sweetness and flavors of vanilla and caramel which are perfect for cooking crème desserts.
- Dry Sherry
This wine is great for deglazing which makes it perfect for cooking soups, chicken or even sauteed vegetables.
- Dry Marsala
Dry Marsala adds complex flavors to any dish. Adding it to chicken or veal dish makes it spicy and nutty.
- Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wines like Chenin Blanc, Champagne and Moscato add acidity and sweetness to a dish. It can be used in making crème dishes as well as pork, turkey and lamb.
- Madeira
Madeira is well-known for adding spiciness and earthy flavors to dishes making it best for cooking beef and veal and also for making dips and sauces.
Now, that we have covered the best dry white wines to cook with. Check out the list of Best Red Wines to Cook With!
Pairing Food with Dry White Wine
Dry whites are best paired with fish, meat and salads. They can be used in making dips and cream sauces. However, they taste best with seafood.
Avoid serving dry whites with soft cheese. Instead, serve it with dry red wine or wines with high residual sugar levels.
Not a fan of dry white wines? We got you covered. Read our latest blog on Best Sweet and Fruity White Wines for beginners.
