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White Grape Varietals

Arneis
Considered one of the three top white grapes of Italy’s Piedmont region, it is light with melon and almond flavors with floral aroma. Often used in making refreshing, dry wine.

Chambave Muscat
Found in the Valle d’Aosta, this local version of Moscato Bianco
is very exotic.

Chardonnay
Grown in Northern and Southern Italy, the Northern Chardonnay grapes have a creamy apple-vanilla flavor. Southern Chardonnays, those grown in Tuscany, tend to be oaky and buttery.

Cortese
Found in Northwestern Italy, this grape has apple, citrus and honey flavors. It’s the main varietal in the medium-bodied Gavi wine.

Fiano
Grown primarily in the Campania region in the town of Avellino, this grape has a rich, floral flavor and is known as the finest varietal of Southern Italy.

Garganega
Grown in the Northern region of Veneto, it is best for making rich, full wines with an intense mineral flavor and is the main varietal
used in Soave.

Gewürztraminer
Grown in predominately in France, Germany, California and New York State, this grape is known for its bold flavors of litchi nuts, gingerbread, vanilla, grapefruit, smoke, honeysuckle, stones and minerals.

Grechetto
Found in Umbria, this grape has a nutty flavor and is used in making the medium-bodied Orvieto wine.

Greco
An ancient Greek variety now grown primarily in Campania, it is crisp with intense citrus, floral, stone and mineral flavors. Used to make the famous Greco di Tufo.

Malvasia
An ancient Greek grape transplanted to Italy, it has honey and spice flavors and is used in the Sicilian dessert wine Malvasia delle Lipari, and in the Tuscan dessert wine Vin Santo.

Müller-Thurgau
Of German origin, it is believed to be a cross between two different Rieslings. It has an explosive tropical fruit flavor with a very crisp, acidic finish.

Nosiola
Crisp and fruity. It is a little known aromatic varietal

Petite Arvine
Light and flinty with hints of grapefruit and mandarin orange flavors.

Pigato
Light to medium bodied with both mineral and floral flavors.

Pinot Bianco
Often blended with Chardonnays, this grape offers a lush, creamy texture with a baked-apple flavor.

Pinot Grigio
| Fruilian and Trentino Alto Adige Pinot Grigios, used to make light to medium bodied wines, can be delicate with peach, almond and green apple flavors or they can be rich and creamy.

Rhone –Inspired
The Marsanne is considered the “workhorse white grape,” and is used in big bodied rustic wines. The Rousanne is considered more elegant and is often blended with its “sister,” the Marsanne. Both are low in acid with exotic fruit and spice flavors.

Riesling
Grown mainly in Australia, Austria, California, France, Germany, New York State, New Zealand, South Africa, Virginia and Washington State, it is considered by many to be the “most noble and unique white grape variety in the world.” The Riesling grape in high in acid, light in body and has flavors of ripe peaches, melons and apricots.

Ribolla Gialla
Native to Fruili-Venezia Giulia, this grape is delicate with citrus
and peach flavors.

Sauvignon Blanc
Found in Fuili – Venezia Giulia, these grapes can be smoky with an herbal character, or creamy with delicate honey and hazelnut flavors. Both can be used to create zest wines.

Sparkling
Winemakers typically use Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir grapes to make sparkling wine. Franciacorta is Italy’s premier sparkling zone. However Prosecco is made in Vento instead.

Sylvaner
A German grape also grown in other places, is considered to be a neutral grape, dry with an intense floral nose and a steely mineral taste

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