01-08-2025
8 Unique White Wines To Celebrate National White Wine Day
National White Wine Day is on Monday, August 4 and with white wine's market growth in recent years, it's a time to toast to the category.
Last summer, global consumer intelligence company NIQ published a mid-year report on beverage alcohol sectors that showcased white table wines as the only type of wine to see sales value growth since the previous summer. That growth continues as The Business Report predicts the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to increase 5.3 percent by the end of 2025.
In general, global demand and supply of white wine has expanded since 2000. According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), in 2021, white wine production increased by 13 percent since its lowest level in 2002.
Still, white wine remains a vast category that consumers need to explore. In the U.S., Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio are some of the most ordered styles of white wine, yet there are hundreds of varieties that are unknown or under appreciated.
'The world of white wine is vast and deserves as much attention as you can muster,' shares Calvin Barnett, sommelier at Perilla in Chicago. 'Sure, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are easy to say and easy to drink, but there are some remarkable varietals, like Carricante, Vermentino, Roussanne, and even Palomino, that will offer up similarities to your former mainstays but will also get you out of the house and exploring.'
Instead of celebrating National White Wine Day with a familiar label or variety, use the holiday as an opportunity to explore a new style. Below, discover eight unique white wines, as chosen by two top sommeliers, to nudge you out of your comfort zone.
As he previously alluded, Barnett is a fan of Carricante, an indigenous Sicilian grape. He says this particular expression from the iconic Gaja family offers 'high-toned sweet citrus, apricot, lemongrass, and sea salt that sit lightly on the palate, but tantalizes for another immediate sip.' Benanti Etna Bianco Carricante
For another chance to explore Carricante, sommelier and director of wines and spirits at Wally's, Phillip Dunn, suggests Benanti, one of the pioneers of Etna's wines. 'When it comes to Carricante, there are a few producers that truly capture the essence of Etna's volcanic terroir,' says Dunn. He says that Benanti is one of the few—consistently producing 'elegant, age-worthy expressions of Carricante.' 2022 Sylvain Pataille Aligoté
'White wines offer an incredible spectrum of flavors and styles that often get overlooked,' says Dunn, who points to this once-forgotten white grape from Burgundy. Thanks to passionate vintners like Sylvain Pataille, he says that Aligoté has seen a revival where vibrant citrus and floral notes are beloved characteristics of the variety. 'It's a fantastic alternative to Sancerre, which due to popularity, can sometimes feel a bit predictable.' 2024 Alois Lageder 'Misto Mare' Blanco, Vigneti delle Dolomite
This biodynamic Italian white wine from the Trentino Alto-Adige region of northern Italy is a delightful example of a field blend, where many different white and red grapes (in this case 14) are co-fermented and blended to create a final product with layers of aromatics. 'Notes of citrus zest, white flowers, and mountain herbs come together in this alpine-inspired Italian white,' describes Dunn. 2023 Pedro Méndez Albariño, Rias Baixas
Albariño is a white grape native to the Iberian Peninsula in northwestern Spain. It's bright and crisp but with textural layers that make it more food friendly than some other whites. 'Pedro is a true master of Albariño,' touts Barnett. 'Effusive with citrus and tropical fruit, minerally, and saline aromas… This bottle hits way above its weight class,' he adds. 2022 Hiedler 'Thal' Grüner Veltliner, Ried, Kamptal
Austria's signature white grape is Gruner Veltliner, or Gruner for short, which produces a dry light- to medium-bodied white wine of the eponymous name. This bottle features 'juicy stone fruits of apricot, nectarine, and peach backed by fragrant savory herbs and zippy lemon-juice freshness to keep the body of the wine from being too heavy,' says Barnett. 2022 Rumor Cotes de Provence White
Rolle is the Provençal name for what the Italians call Vermentino. 'Rolle often shines in rosé blends but as a single varietal offers a rounder, stone-fruit profile that's less tart and wonderfully pairs with salads and light proteins,' explains Dunn. Rumor is one of the producers that 'showcases its charm beautifully,' he says, with notes of ripe stonefruits, fragrant white blossoms and a lively acidity. 2023 Renaissance 'Cote de l'Epee' Sancerre
Sancerre is a French designation in the Loire Valley that's world-famous for producing single varietal Sauvignon Blanc that's more citrus-driven with a crisp (often called flinty) minerality opposed to New World Sauvignon Blanc. 'This bottling from Renaissance shows purity and tension, with a sleek profile and persistent saline finish,' says Dunn.
