White wines are a common addition to sauces and dishes that require liquid for moisture. They add acidity and flavor to dishes without overpowering the dish.
When it comes to cooking, it’s a good idea to choose a dry white wine with no added sugar. Sweeter wines can cause caramelization, which will negatively impact your dish.
Pinot Grigio
Wine is an important part of any meal, and you may be wondering what white wine to cook with. Pinot Grigio is a versatile white wine that pairs well with a wide variety of foods, and can even be used as a substitute for red wine in recipes (depending on the dish).
The grape behind this dry white wine variety is named after the city of Pisa in Italy, where it first came into being. It has a grayish color, and its name can be translated as “gray grape” or simply “grape.”
Many people associate Pinot Grigio with simple, uncomplicated flavors, but it’s actually capable of producing far more complex wines than that. In fact, some of the world’s most acclaimed wines have come from this grape.
While it’s best known for its fresh citrus flavor, the wine also can take on faint honeyed notes and floral aromas like honeysuckle. The nuances of this wine vary greatly depending on the region where it’s grown and the technique of production.
In Germany, you can expect a medium to full-bodied wine with distinct flavors of lemon and apple. In warmer regions, you can find more stone fruit and berry flavors.
Whether you’re planning to serve it by itself or as a complement to other dishes, Pinot Grigio is a great choice for cooking because it has a high level of acidity and a refreshing taste that won’t overwhelm your dishes.
It’s a versatile wine that can be used with a wide variety of foods, but it’s especially recommended for seafood dishes and other light meals. Alternatively, you can try pairing this white wine with butter sauces and other creamy dishes to enhance the texture of the food.
If you’re looking for a lighter option, try Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio, which has a clean, crisp taste and an affordable price tag. You can find this wine at liquor stores or online through websites like Drizly.
Pinot Grigio is one of the most popular white wine varieties on the market. It’s easy to find and a great choice for your next meal. It’s a popular choice for a dinner party or a picnic because it has a neutral flavor that doesn’t overpower your food.
Sauvignon Blanc
If you’re cooking with wine, it can be difficult to figure out which whites are best. For example, you may be following a recipe for chicken Marbella that calls for a dry white wine, but you don’t know whether to grab pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc from Italy, which both have a crisp, citrusy flavor and high acidity.
Sauvignon blanc (French for “wild”) is a green-skinned grape variety that’s native to France but is now grown all over the world, including in New Zealand. It’s a versatile grape that has a reputation for producing dry, fresh, and refreshingly acidic white wines with a broad spectrum of flavors.
The final flavors of a sauvignon blanc depend on where it’s grown and how it’s aged. In cooler climates, such as the Loire Valley in France, it tends to produce fruitier expressions with a flinty character. In warmer regions, such as Australia or New Zealand, it typically showcases a more tropical fruit profile.
Some producers age their sauvignon blanc in oak barrels, which can add a layer of spice to the wine’s flavor profile. You’ll also find a few examples that use a process called sur-lie aging, which allows the lees to remain in contact with the wine and impart additional texture and weight.
This helps to preserve the natural acidity of sauvignon blanc and can help to make the wine a bit softer. However, as with all wines, sauvignon blanc is best served chilled to accentuate its fresh, refreshing flavors and aromas.
For this reason, it’s a great choice for many dishes that call for white wine but not necessarily sweet ones, like chicken fajitas or roasted fish with lemon and herbs. You’ll want to keep your sauvignon blanc chilled to a 50-55 degree temperature, as too warm or too cold can cause the vibrant aromas and flavors to fizzle out quickly.
If you’re not sure what to pair with your Sauvignon Blanc, a light vegetable dish such as vegan cauliflower scampi in lemon garlic white wine sauce or a pasta dish made with zucchini is a good place to start. Alternatively, you could try pairing it with a soft cheese such as feta or chevre to complement the wine’s fresh, herbaceous flavors.
Chardonnay
If you are wondering what white wine to cook with, Chardonnay is one of the best choices. This wine has a creamy texture that works well with dishes with heavy cream and gravy. It also pairs well with grilled chicken and cheese.
It is not as sweet as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, so it can stand up to the flavors in your dish. You can also find hints of butter in a good Chardonnay, which is something you don’t usually get with a dry white wine.
The flavor of this wine comes from the process called malolactic fermentation. This is where Oenococcus oeni (good bacteria) converts the malic acid in grapes into lactic acid, which adds buttery notes to the wine.
You can find a lot of different types of Chardonnays, depending on the region where they are made. You can also find a range of flavors and aromas, from tropical fruit to baked apple to vanilla.
Some Chardonnays go through barrel aging, which can give them a soft, creamy texture and a slightly buttery taste. They can also be aged in stainless steel or plastic tanks, which will have a crisper consistency and more citrus-like flavors.
If you’re looking for a lighter-style of Chardonnay, try an unoaked version. These wines are generally a bit more affordable and can be found in many markets.
You can also find a few bottles of white wine that are meant to be served chilled, which can help you bring out the richness in the wine and its buttery flavors. These wines are especially good for dishes that call for a light, fruity taste.
The ideal Chardonnay for cooking is a lightly-oaked style that is smooth and balanced with ample amounts of acidity. These wines pair beautifully with a variety of foods, including pasta, salads, and even seafood.
It can also be paired with lighter dishes, like poached chicken and salmon. It also pairs perfectly with a wide range of cheeses, like brie and mozzarella. You can even pair it with lemon, whether squeezed onto pasta or whipped into an aioli.
Assyrtiko
When it comes to white wines, Assyrtiko is one of the best options. It’s a versatile grape that can be made into many different styles of wine and it pairs well with a variety of foods.
Often blended with sauvignon blanc, Assyrtiko is dry and citrusy, with lemon rind and lime flavors. It also offers subtle hints of white peach, passionfruit, and saline.
In Greek cuisine, Assyrtiko pairs especially well with fried seafood. It’s ideal for a dish of fried calamari (a classic Greek snack) or any other type of fried fish, from “smelt” to “anchovy”.
The only white wine better suited for frying than Assyrtiko is chardonnay. With flexible flavor notes that range from faintly tropical to ripe stone fruit, unoaked chardonnay is the perfect match for a wide range of fried fish and vegetables.
It also works perfectly with grilled or roasted vegetables, such as a Mediterranean-inspired smashed cauliflower or zucchini casserole. The acidity of Assyrtiko helps deglaze the pan, and its citrus and mineral qualities are perfect for this dish.
Another great pairing for Assyrtiko is a Greek salad, with tomatoes, olives, and capers. It’s also a nice wine for a simple pasta recipe, like my easy spaghetti with tomato, olives, and capers.
While Assyrtiko is a white wine that’s popular in Australia, it’s more commonly associated with Santorini. The island is home to some of the finest wines crafted from this grape, and it’s been planted throughout the country as well.
Assyrtiko can be produced in a number of styles, from light, fresh, and mineral-based to rich, nutty, and intensely sweet. It’s also grown in other countries around the world, such as Australia and South Africa.
In Greece, it is most widely known for its crisp, aromatic whites from the island of Santorini. However, Assyrtiko can be found throughout the Aegean and in Greece’s central regions.
It’s a grape that can handle warm climates, yet it still maintains its high acidity, and this can be a big advantage for Assyrtiko. It’s also a good choice for blending with other grapes.
