Another 5 white wines: lesser-known but no less exquisite

In addition to the top 10 white wines in our previous two articles, we bring you the last five that are lesser-known but are no less exquisite to taste.

Muscat

Muscat ranks among the oldest domesticated grape varieties, with its history stretching all the way back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptians and Persians.

There are actually 200 different types of Muscat grapes, but only four primary types are typically used to make wines.

All varieties of Muscat throughout the world are marked by a penetrating aroma of oranges.

When fermented dry, Muscat’s fruit-driven scents and flavours generally impart a hint of sweetness.

It can be made into excellent light sparkling wines or rich dessert wines.

Roussanne

Roussanne is a white wine grape found primarily in the Rhone Valley wine region of France. There, it is often blended with Marsanne in order to create a highly aromatic white wine.

Full-bodied and tasting of lime and citrus, its nervy acids make it a fine blending partner for Marsanne.

The name “Roussanne” is derived from the French word roux, which means russet in English.

This refers to the colour of the golden, reddish-brown berries when Roussanne ripens.

Roussanne wines are known for their flowery, herbal tea aromas.

Garganega

Garganega is an Italian white grape variety that is primarily found in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy.

Garganega is now one of the six most popular white grape varieties in Italy, where it is primarily known for its role in the creation of Italy’s crisp white Soave wines.

Marsanne

The most important white wine grape of the northern Rhone, Marsanne is often blended with Roussanne, Viognier and (sometimes) Grenache Blanc. Marsanne ripens reliably and makes full-bodied, low-acid wines with flavours of almonds, white peaches and lightly spiced pears.

In addition, this grape variety can be found within France within the Savoy and Languedoc wine regions.

Marsanne is the principal grape used in the distinctive wines of the Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Joseph AOCs.

Albarino

Albarino (also known as “Alvarinho”) is a white grape variety that is primarily found along the North Atlantic coastline of Spain and Portugal. Spain’s Galicia region is the traditional home of Albarino, especially the Rias Baixas DO, where it accounts for nearly 90% of all grapes grown.