The types of white wine are mainly classified by grape variety, sensory profile, ageing, winemaking method and alcohol content. Within this classification, we find dry and fruity white wines, aromatic wines, young whites, barrel-aged white wines, sparkling wines and alcohol-free white wines.
Understanding the different types of white wine makes it easier to choose each wine according to its aroma, acidity, body, food pairing and role on the wine list. At Grandes Vinos, we produce wines with Macabeo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Garnacha Blanca and Cariñena Blanca in D.O.P. Cariñena, as well as organic IDRIAS wines from D.O.P. Somontano, including Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. This guide explains their classification, differences and how to use them to build a white wine list for restaurants that is diverse and profitable.
White wine classification: main types of white wine by variety and winemaking method
This white wine classification makes it possible to compare the different types of white wine and select wines according to their role: by-the-glass service, food pairing, aged selections, celebrations or alcohol-free alternatives.
- By grape variety: Macabeo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Garnacha Blanca or Gewürztraminer, among others.
- By profile: dry, fruity and aromatic.
- By ageing: young white wines or barrel-aged white wines.
- By winemaking method: still or sparkling white wines.
- By alcohol content: conventional wines and 0.0 alternatives.
This white wine classification helps to understand their differences and, in the restaurant sector, makes it possible to select wines for different purposes: by-the-glass service, food pairing, premium selections, celebrations or alcohol-free alternatives.
White grape varieties in the Grandes Vinos portfolio
Macabeo (Viura), the high-turnover white wine
El Circo Malabarista Macabeo, D.O.P. Cariñena, is made with Macabeo grapes from Cosuenda. It offers aromas of peach, apricot and citrus fruit, while pineapple, lemon and lime flavours emerge on the palate. It is an unoaked wine that we even recommend as a first glass.
Meanwhile, Corona de Aragón Macabeo & Chardonnay, also from D.O.P. Cariñena and unoaked, combines Macabeo and Chardonnay. It offers citrus aromas of lime and lemon alongside hints of pineapple, with a refreshing, citrus-driven profile on the palate.
Chardonnay, different expressions of the same variety
Anayón Chardonnay, produced in D.O.P. Cariñena, represents our aged Chardonnay offering. It spends six months in American oak barrels and displays aromas of white flowers, tropical fruit and vanilla, with a creamy texture on the palate.
Alongside this wine, we find IDRIAS Chardonnay and IDRIAS Colección Chardonnay, from D.O.P. Somontano and produced according to organic viticulture principles. These wines complement the types of white wine from Cariñena with an organic offering from Somontano.
Sauvignon Blanc, freshness and aromatic character
Among the aromatic types of white wine, Sauvignon Blanc stands out. Corona de Aragón Sauvignon Blanc, 100% Sauvignon Blanc from D.O.P. Cariñena, comes from a vineyard in Cosuenda located at an altitude of 750 metres. It combines herbaceous notes, tropical fruit and citrus with refreshing acidity. Thanks to its versatility, Sauvignon Blanc white wine pairings include cheese, ceviche, salads, sushi, pasta, spicy dishes, poultry, fish and seafood.
Garnacha Blanca: a type of white wine from Cariñena
Corona de Aragón Garnacha Blanca is a white wine from Cariñena made with Garnacha Blanca and without ageing. It comes from vineyards located at an altitude of 650 metres and offers a fresh, full-bodied profile.
It has a pale yellow colour with greenish highlights and aromas of fresh flowers, white fruit and a ripe background. On the palate, it is fresh and full-bodied. It is therefore a young expression of Garnacha Blanca, in which the freshness and fruity character of the variety remain at the forefront.
In contrast to this young profile, Anayón Garnacha Blanca offers a very different interpretation of the same variety. It is made from selected plots, with grapes harvested by hand and briefly aged on the lees in stainless steel tanks before spending 39 months in second-use American oak barrels.
This long ageing period makes Anayón Garnacha Blanca a particularly distinctive wine among the white wines from Cariñena. Despite its prolonged time in barrel, it retains remarkable fruit intensity and displays an amber colour, with an elegant, lively and intense profile. On the palate, it is balanced, pleasant and particularly long.
Corona de Aragón and Anayón therefore offer two very different ways of working with Garnacha Blanca in D.O.P. Cariñena: from a young white wine, fresh and unoaked, to a wine aged for 39 months in barrel, demonstrating the variety’s ability to evolve and develop more complex profiles.
Organic Gewürztraminer, Somontano’s distinctive offering
IDRIAS Gewürztraminer is an organic white wine from D.O.P. Somontano made with Gewürztraminer grapes from the Las Planas plot, located at an altitude of more than 500 metres. Its sustainable viticulture reinforces the distinctive character of this wine within our range.
Its aromatic profile is broad and intense, with floral notes, exotic fruit, lychee, citrus peel, tea and spicy nuances. On the palate, it is silky and elegant.
Winemaking styles: from dry and fruity whites to barrel-aged wines
In addition to grape variety, a white wine list for restaurants can be structured according to the different styles available and the role each wine plays.
Dry and fruity white wines for everyday wine lists and high turnover
Among the types of white wine for restaurants, dry and fruity whites stand out for their versatility and easy-drinking character. Wines such as Corona de Aragón Macabeo & Chardonnay, Monasterio de las Viñas Macabeo and El Circo Malabarista Macabeo can be used for by-the-glass service, daily menus and high-turnover requirements.
Barrel-aged white wine: complexity and added value
Barrel-aged white wine brings greater complexity, structure and added value to a professional wine list. Among these types of white wine from D.O.P. Cariñena are: Anayón Chardonnay, aged for six months in American oak barrels, Anayón Garnacha Blanca, aged for 39 months and awarded 93 Parker points and 94 Suckling points for its first vintage, and Anayón Parcela 51, made from Cariñena Blanca, a single-vineyard wine from a nearly extinct variety that has now been recovered by Grandes Vinos.
IDRIAS Colección Chardonnay, ranked among the world’s Top 10 Chardonnays and organically certified, adds even greater value to this selection of aged white wines for restaurants and specialist establishments.
Sparkling white wine: an option for celebrations and gastronomy
A sparkling white wine broadens the drinking occasions covered by a wine list: it can work as an aperitif, accompany a meal or cater for celebrations and events.
For a lower-alcohol option, at just 6.5% and with fine bubbles, we produce 49 millions blanco from Macabeo grapes.
Ramiro II Cava Ecológico Brut is another of our offerings. It is an organic D.O. Cava made with Macabeo and Chardonnay.
It has fine bubbles and persistent foam, aromas of pear and apple, notes of lime and white flowers, and a fresh profile on the palate. Its recommended serving temperature is 6-7 ºC.
Alcohol-free white wine (0.0): a category to broaden the wine list
An alcohol-free white wine makes it possible to add 0.0 alternatives to a professional wine list. Monasterio de las Viñas Blanco 0,0, made from Macabeo, offers tropical, citrus and floral notes and can accompany fish and salads. NÚBILO Blanco 0,0 undergoes ageing before dealcoholisation and has a slight touch of bubbles. These types of alcohol-free white wine broaden the range for consumers seeking 0.0 alternatives.
Pairing different types of white wine: what to choose for each dish
A white wine pairing depends on the grape variety, winemaking style and sensory profile. A diverse wine list therefore makes it possible to pair each wine with different dishes and dining occasions.
El Circo Malabarista Macabeo pairs with salads, fruit, seafood and cheese, while Corona de Aragón Sauvignon Blanc pairs with ceviche, sushi, pasta, spicy dishes, poultry and fish. Meanwhile, Corona de Aragón Garnacha Blanca works well with rice dishes, Asian cuisine, pasta, fish and vegetables.
Among the aged whites, Anayón Chardonnay can accompany fish, marinated salmon, sushi and Asian cuisine. For a sparkling wine such as Ramiro II Cava Ecológico Brut, we recommend rice dishes, beef carpaccio, Japanese food, seafood and fish.
Offering different types of white wine broadens pairing possibilities and allows each wine to fulfil a different gastronomic role on the wine list.
How to build a diverse and profitable white wine list for restaurants
A white wine list for restaurants should combine different types of white wine based on four criteria: turnover, margin and added value, drinking occasions and customer diversity. A balanced selection can include fresh whites for by-the-glass service, aged wines to increase the value of the offering, sparkling wines for different drinking occasions and 0.0 wines to broaden the potential customer base.
High turnover. Dry and fruity white wines, such as Corona de Aragón Macabeo & Chardonnay, Monasterio de las Viñas Macabeo or El Circo Malabarista Macabeo, are suitable for by-the-glass service and daily menus.
Added value and ageing. Wines such as Anayón Garnacha Blanca, Anayón Chardonnay, in 75 cl or Magnum bottles, and IDRIAS Colección Chardonnay make it possible to add wines with greater complexity and added value to the selection.
Celebratory occasions and sparkling wines. Cavas such as Ramiro II Cava Ecológico Brut can cater for celebrations and events, while also accompanying an entire meal.
New audiences and 0.0. Monasterio de las Viñas Blanco 0,0 and NÚBILO Blanco 0,0 make it possible to broaden the offering for consumers seeking alcohol-free alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about types of white wine
What are the main types of white wine?
The main types of white wine are dry and fruity whites, aromatic wines, young whites, barrel-aged white wines, sparkling wines and alcohol-free white wines. They can also be classified according to the grape variety used, such as Macabeo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Garnacha Blanca or Gewürztraminer.
Which white grape varieties can be found at Grandes Vinos?
The white grape varieties found in our D.O.P. Cariñena wines include Macabeo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Garnacha Blanca and Cariñena Blanca, as well as Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer in D.O. Somontano, allowing us to produce types of white wine with different aromatic profiles, structures and gastronomic possibilities.
What type of white wine should you choose for a restaurant wine list?
A white wine list for restaurants can combine fresh, high-turnover wines, aged wines with greater complexity, sparkling wines and 0.0 alternatives. This diversity makes it possible to cater for different pairings, drinking occasions and customer profiles.
Which types of white wine pair best with fish and seafood?
Fresh types of white wine with good acidity are particularly versatile with fish and seafood. El Circo Malabarista Macabeo can accompany seafood, while Corona de Aragón Sauvignon Blanc pairs with fish, ceviche and sushi. For dishes with greater structure, a barrel-aged Chardonnay such as Anayón Chardonnay can also be chosen.
What is the difference between a young white wine and a barrel-aged white wine?
A young white wine primarily seeks to preserve the freshness and fruity character of the grape variety. A barrel-aged white wine can develop greater structure, complexity and notes derived from the wood. Anayón Chardonnay, for example, spends six months in American oak barrels.
What should a white wine supplier for restaurants offer?
A white wine supplier for restaurants should make it possible to build a selection tailored to different service requirements, food pairings and customer profiles. Offering young wines, aged wines, sparkling wines and alcohol-free alternatives makes it easier to diversify the wine list and cater for different drinking occasions.
Choose the right types of white wine for your wine list
Choosing different types of white wine makes it possible to cover by-the-glass service, food pairings, aged selections, celebrations and alcohol-free alternatives. The key is to combine different white grape varieties and styles according to the needs of each wine list.
Grandes Vinos brings together types of white wine from Cariñena alongside organic IDRIAS wines from D.O.P. Somontano. If you are looking for a white wine supplier for restaurants, distribution, retail or importing, contact our sales team.
