Expert Tips on Choosing White Wines

Explore some expert tips on choosing dry white wines for quality and texture. In this video compare how variety and winemaking affects white wines with varieties like Chenin Blanc, Verdicchio, and Vermentino.
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[@WineTherapy]

That's really interesting how similar both Vermentinos tasted, even though they came from totally different parts of the world! Great to see what white wines you recommend!

[@joseb9696]

Love your show. Your explanations are straight to the point, yet formative and full of quality information. Thank you!

[@patricksoricone9624]

Thrilled that you tested the Lugana. It's my new fave white, having discovered it while in Verona/Sirmione last month. (The W.F. magnum edition was the only non-travel book I brought with me on my move to Italy in January)

[@understandingwines9181]

I love the breakdown of everything. So informative! Great video!

[@shetaz905]

Wow, am I glad I found you. I love wine..both white and red but need to learn more about what I'm drinking. I'll give these whites a go!

[@ksmarquez59]

thanks bought your book a couple of weeks ago, love it.

[@CorkandJava]

Great stuff, Madeline! I do need to explore more Italian whites. Corsica Vermentino is on the list. Keep up the good work inspiring others to dive deep into the world of wine! That's our objective, as well! Cheers! 🍷

[@billybriskey505]

Old world white have a special place in my heart... or cellar.

[@redgarnet1916]

Beware that any Italian would not appreciate it if you put Corsica in your Italian wine list :) Give a shot to Soave, Etna, Verdicchio instead

[@comesahorseman]

Hey, Madeline! Happy Easter.🐰 Stay well!

[@trevorhayes5414]

I'm definitely in that "I just drink red wine" category (currently based in Tuscany, so am a bit of a sangiovese lover!), but funnily enough, am drinking a local vernaccia this weekend, which is tasty and great with my seafood/shellfish pasta. I think I'll have to invest in a Coravin now with both yourself & Joe Fattorini both recommending them. A pretty handy tool. Expensive, but I like the idea of sampling stock from my (small) cellar without being guilted into then finishing off the bottle! 😁 buona Pasqua

[@packer812]

Vernaccia is amazing!

[@carlcadregari7768]

Awesome as always!! Happy holiday!

[@Winefolly]

You too :)

[@TheSymposiarch]

Ooo Talk nerdy to me! Love your content, it's so inspired and informative :)

[@johndayan7126]

Love your wine videos. Thank you, and please keep them coming! P.S. Your book is amazing. The best wine reference book I've seen. The graphics are pure genius. Outstanding.

[@Winefolly]

Thank you! Apparently, art school was worth it. ;)

[@dockworthydame5217]

Agreed!

[@ingridfrancetravels]

Your explanations are so fascinating.! More wines to my list🍷

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

Happy Easter my friend.

[@gocats132]

Just bought your masters guide. had to get it on Amazon, your site was sold out. Very excited to get some knowledge

[@Winefolly]

Thanks for checking our site first! Yes, we just got them back in stock today. It's been challenging to keep things rolling safely through the warehouse, but fortunately, it's working. (slowly but surely)

[@chrispowell6582]

Hi Madeleine. I’d like a comparison for wine saving devices so we can have a glass without ruining the rest of the bottle over time. Tried vacuvins which are ok for a day or so. Coravin is too expensive. Bought an eto which is good so far. What other ones are out there? The fridge tends to slow down the degradation too

[@MegaJohnconrad]

Great stuff! I’m a whisky lover, and I’ve got a great bottle of SMWS whisky aged for 13 years in an ex-chenin blanc cask on the way. I’ve never tried Chenin Blanc before, but I’m looking forward to trying this whisky. I’m really glad I discovered your channel. Wine and whisky are a great compliment to each other. You would make a great guest on a livestream of the Scotch Test Dummies. You should check out their channel and maybe get in touch with them. You could help educate us whisky folk about types, styles and regions of wine. There are loads of whisky lovers out there who could benefit from your wonderful style of teaching. I’m looking forward to watching your videos and reading your book. Slainte!

[@Winefolly]

There are so many ways in which those two industries intersect, it always surprises me when I chat with whisky experts. Definitely a passionate community - I'm all for it :)

[@giuliettcamel]

Yo're so skilled and cool. it's a pleasure to watch your videos. Thanks for you what you've been doing for us =)!!

[@arniegrote319]

Love it, I am a red wine drinker. But i am going to try them.

[@manychaim]

I love your videos, I read the magnum book. Can you make a video on Israeli wines ?

[@suginami123]

Love whites. Current favorite is Bread and Butter a California Chardonnay which I get in Tokyo easily. Superb. Gewurtztraminer is amazing from Alsace. Chenin blanc is lovely. Riesling light and delightful.

[@thewinewolf5203]

I drink more red wine that white but love white wines. Some great white wines I am digging are Rhone varietals such as Marsanne and Roussanne which are fantastic when made right 100% or in a good blend. They can very complex and have excellent body for white wines.

[@trankien4570]

Thanks for sharing! Keep going, i hope you have 500k subs

[@70194tanner]

I am new to this channel, but I was wondering if you would ever consider doing a video on the wines aged lightly in whisky or brandy barrels? Personally I love these wines, but I am curious as to what a wine expert thinks of them!!!

[@malondaross-bell3693]

Hi Madeline! I guess I would be considered a new wine drinker. I have not really experimented much with different wines. I am now beginning to drink wines that are not as sweet. I like Chardonnay but want to challenge my palate. This sounds like a great choice.

[@Winefolly]

Enjoy the adventure!

[@LordRunolfrUlfsson]

Ever talk about obscure US regional wines? I think we have some good wineries here in middle Tennessee, and Florida has Lakeridge Winery, which I think is amazing.

[@danaspetrini8338]

When this craziness is over, I need to spend time in my local store and pick out some of these.

[@elizabethcasal8231]

I loved the video. What is the name of the device you use to pull wine from the bottle?

[@Winefolly]

That's a Coravin!

[@GossomerPenguin]

I chuckled when you mentioned "red wine only" drinker. Had some Assyrtiko by Greek Wine Cellars and it was divine, and got amazing as the wine got warmer. How does that work? Does it have to do with room temp red drinking for so long?

[@Winefolly]

High quality whites increase in aromatic intensity as they warm up (they get more "perfumey"). Additionally, I've noticed textural differences in white wines when they're around 55-65 ºF (13-18 ºC) - they get more "oily" and you taste more of the phenolics (the bitterness - not a bad thing, in small amounts it adds texture)

[@amandagaskill7609]

Do you have a video on sweet white and reds?

[@ec8927]

I’m a server and would love to learn a way to describe wines without alienating guests with “wine speak”.

[@Winefolly]

great request.

[@passiveaggressivenegotiato8087]

Pitch something out there, the owner wants to move. Know all about it with deep google info, and see if they have an opinion about that type of wine. At their reaction to the mentioning of it; you'll know if they are open minded for plain wine talk, or if they are a wine snob, who wants to one-up around with vinological terms. Both groups will tip better when they enjoy themselves.

[@ec8927]

OldHickory Jackson ok suggestions but generic because you’re ignoring some basic problems: many restaurants don’t have a wine training program and managers/owners aren’t always receptive to staff trying wines especially if they’re more expensive or they’re not allocated “enough” bottles. Googling only reveals winespeak terms that wine people love to use to but the average guest don’t want to be bothered with. Most wine people like to hear themselves talk especially using industry terminology.

[@jamesbarber8102]

@@ec8927 Learn the wine speak and once you've built a foundation of terminology, then find ways to relate to your customer base using different analogies and comparisons based on this foundation. I've used everything from how a baseball diamond smells to describe the "minerality" of limestone to different musical genres and bands to describe the nature of the wine, dish, drink, and pairing.

[@ec8927]

James Barber the wine speak is why the average person who has money and wants to spend it on wine stick to the same basic varietals and trends. Talking to you guys is like talking to academics that say read our published journals 🤓😂

[@yourwinedaddy701]

How great you got two Vermintinos! I love happy accidents. Great video!

[@daver8521]

Thanks for such an informative and entertaining video. It's only 8:30 AM, and I already want a glass of wine!

[@Winefolly]

uh oh!

[@daver8521]

@@Winefolly It;s five o'clock somewhere :)

[@TheLandlordPicker]

I would love to see a video about bottom shelf wines. If you we're forced to drink cheap wine for a month...what would you choose. I'm talking 2 for $10 bottles....Walmart, Meijer, Kroger wine...Reds and Mixed reds. Keep up the great videos. I really have been learning a lot. I have 10 Cab franc vines coming in another month. My first try at growing grapes. That was the first video of yours i watched. You compared some different Cab Franc bottles. Have a great day.

[@Winefolly]

So, I actually bought some a while back and opened some $12-$18 grocery wines and was so disappointed (kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHekm4uIdpWMgpY&t) that I didn't even open the cheaper ones. That being said, it's a great request and I need to get over myself for the good of the people who need to drink cheap! ;)

[@suginami123]

Very interesting. I love white wines as much as red. Especially from northern Italy.

[@redblock5150]

Just waiting for the Magnum Edition to arrive. Due to the coronavirus, my WSET 2 class was pushed back to October, but that's not going to keep me from learning. I have a couple of bottles of Tablas Creek Vermentino in my cellar. My wine geek note: Here are the stand-alone varietals in our cellar (so far): Chenin Blanc Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay Counoise Gewurztraminer Grenache Grenache Blanc Graciano Mourvèdre Marsanne Picpoul Blanc Pinot Noir Petit Sirah Riesling Roussanne Sauvignon Blanc Syrah (shocker) Tannat Tempranillo Viognier Vermentino Zinfandel Fun stuff 🤓🍷

[@Winefolly]

I love this list!!!

[@jastew1971]

Hi Madeline. Can you recommend a couple good red and white Port wines for me? Anything between 10 and 20 dollars that wouldn't be too hard to find. Thank you 🙂 -Jim

[@rodjacobs3396]

And how about some Iberian whites. Albariño/Albarinho, Vedejo. Recently had some old vines Verdejo that was amazing.

[@eikkO1]

My choice whites are Gewurztraminer or Muscat of Alexandria. My selection reds goes from Pinotage to Syrah, a k a Shiraz and even Jerepigo

[@Winefolly]

Oooo Aromatics!!! YES! I will definitely cover a video on these :) :)

[@DustinTanski]

Trebbiano grape is also present in balsamic vinegar!

[@Winefolly]

And how! So true. Much of it grows around the same area where Lambrusco varieties grow. It is my dream to check out a Balsamic azienda agricola

[@jwinestory5051]

I feel like many also think white wine is for beginner and red wine is for mature as people drink juice and later coffee as they grow up. So maybe I wanna keep being young haha, I love white wine better.

[@comesahorseman]

I started out with Riesling, "graduated" to Chard, P.N., then Cabernet. Drifted back to P.N and Riesling and here I sit today, happily. Lighter wines have their place!

[@alexanderh.5612]

Would love if you would do a feature on Austrian wine - both white & red...looking forward 🍷

[@Winefolly]

Thanks for the request!

[@traditionalfood367]

Grüner Veltliner

[@alexanderh.5612]

If you want some recommendations for good options from Austria let me know...

[@fedlerfertilus8968]

How can I have this book.

[@jamo3976]

Madeline, does butter in white wine come from oak or malolactic fermentation? I still can’t tell the difference

[@Winefolly]

The butter flavor comes mostly from Malolactic Fermentation but... that usually takes place in oak barrels, so it sort of gets mixed with all the other aging/oak aromas

[@kevingeeting4011]

Madeline, c’mon, you really need to try some hybrid whites! All of us east of the Mississippi drink these all the time!

[@ModernLady]

Interesting choices. Need to try the Italian style. But..... Please don’t say the C in Blanc.. Love your book and the glasses!

[@OpenWorldGirlMR]

I’m confused on this crazy sense of smell. I don’t know what peach skins smell like, do I need to eat more fruit? Lol

[@arnfracc203]

Railsback forever!!

[@Imjustthatgracegurll]

Your house is probably so fun at Christmas lol 😂 you’d definitely have the best wine!!!

[@Winefolly]

Awww geee thanks!

[@MistyHarris]

"A great way to steal wine from yourself." 🤣

[@antonio77italy]

Vermentino from Sardinia next time? 😉

[@Winefolly]

OMG VERMIES. I love vermentino. if I could have a baby, that might be my baby.

[@antonio77italy]

@@Winefolly I should send you some baby vermies from Sardinia then! 😂

[@oswaldovalle4802]

🎉🎉🎉

[@donaldshelton1720]

Rhône wines both north and south then compare to US GSM and others

[@lmadsen7118]

You are swet as a good Wine :)

[@redgarnet1916]

I spoke with countless wine bar owners, and no matter where or what, but ppl is more prone to spend big money on reds than on whites. Wine bars in Chassagne or Puligny may disagree, I know :)

[@Winefolly]

White Burgundy is definitely the "holy hand grenade" of whites right now (although Mosel would probably have some words on that front too!)

[@redgarnet1916]

@@Winefolly In that case they would even disagree that a dry wine can be expensive :)

[@inst4rmin.x4_onYT]

Gotta be honest, I love those maps.. But the prices for them are just outrageous.. Too bad, I'll have to look elsewhere to learn more about wine

[@Winefolly]

Thanks for checking out our shop! Yes, the complete map set is extensive. They take a great deal of effort to make and additionally we give so much of our content on winefolly.com away for free (use it!). We thank all our customers for purchasing these maps, and support them too (we just released a free update to digital maps!)

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

I know positivity is central to your brand, but I’d appreciate an honest appraisal of the nonsense/misinformation quotient among wine producers/sellers.

[@Winefolly]

Good gawd have I read a bunch of crap on back labels! That being said, I think it's a "marketing dept." problem and not a winemaker thing as much. I could be wrong but I find that winemakers get into the business for all the "right" reasons and then they have to sell their wines and use "tried and true" tactics instead of just being honest. (e.g. "we made this blend because we had an extra barrel in the cellar that we didn't know what to do with... and it turned out great!")

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Wine Folly Fair answer. I hesitated to list makers in my question for the same reason you state. I’d like to believe that most makers are honest and let the product and their reputation speak for itself and leave the bs to the hucksters. 😁

[@AdastraRecordings]

Strange, my comment got deleted...

[@Eric-kd8fd]

??????? elle fait quoi?

[@redstepable]

you are cute, great video

[@andrewkarl5174]

F the wine, that is an incredibly devastating dress you are wearing