Light White Wines are Trending

Recently, light white wines have gained more and more popularity among wine lovers. But why? Perhaps it’s because lighter wines offer a wide variety of flavors and aromas, making them an attractive option for consumers looking for something different and refreshing. What do you like, crisp light white wines with citrus notes or something heavier?

A couple of wine experts have recently told me that members of the Millenial and GenZ generations “are more conscious of what they drink, favoring organic and low-alcohol wines. As we move past the COVID-19 era, there’s a renewed interest in socializing and exploring new experiences. To capture this market, wine offerings need to be as enticing as perfume or fashion advertisements. The wine world is vibrant and fun . . .” And nothing says fun new experiences more than white wine, from light to heavy. An owner of a boutique wine firms agrees. “For the first time this year, we’ve sold more white wines than reds—a surprising development . . . Younger consumers are gravitating towards fresh, low-alcohol wines.”

Light White Wines and Summer

Every year, the arrival of summer, with its warmth and good weather, invites us to enjoy moments outdoors where good crisp light white wines will be the perfect companion. The fresher, lighter, and very versatile white wines are ideal for pairing with light meals, fish, seafood, and salads. These count as the perfect choice to enjoy during the warmer months. Light white wines’ steady rise as the preferred drink in warm weather is because of powerful climatic, economic, and gastronomic causes. These factors, combined, explain why white wine consumption continues to rise worldwide concluded a Nielsen study that analyzed data from 80,000 stores and 216,000 hospitality businesses.

But, summer aside, the prestige of white wine in general continues to grow.

More Wineries are Creating a Diversity of White Wines

In response to this growing demand, numerous wineries have emerged that are betting on giving white wine exclusive prominence. These wineries are characterized by using innovative production techniques, such as fermentation in oak barrels, cold maceration, or the use of new grape varieties, to create unique and high-quality white wines.

Additionally, many of these wineries are located in emerging wine regions where the climatic and geographical conditions are ideal for growing white grapes. This allows them to produce white wines with distinctive character and personality that reflect the terroir of the region in which they are produced.

More and more consumers are being encouraged to try white wines from specialized wineries, as they seek new and different sensory experiences.

The wineries that are betting on giving white wine exclusive prominence are enriching the wine offer and satisfying the requirements of an increasingly demanding and diverse market. A good example is Massican in California, which focuses on more unusual, Mediterranean white wine grapes with a dry finish. It is expected that this trend will continue to rise in the coming years, giving white wine lovers the opportunity to discover new and exciting flavors in every glass.

To help you take full advantage of the white wine trend, we have prepared a white wine chart, listing wines from crisp light white wines to the heaviest, full bodied white wine.

White Wine Chart

Varietal/Wine Example Appellation Light-Medium-Heavy
Vinho Verde (blend often including Alvarinho, Loureiro, Trajadura, etc.) Vinho Verde, Portgual Light
Txakoli Getariako Txakolina (Basque wine country) Spain Light
Muscadet (a classic with shellfish) Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, France Light
Albariño Rias Baixas, Spain Light-Medium
Sauvignon Blanc (made in many styles) Marlborough, New Zealand Light-Medium
Verdejo Rueda, Spain Light-Medium
Assyrtiko Santorini, Greece Medium-Light
Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, Italy Medium-Light
Riesling (dry styles taste a bit lighter) Finger Lakes, New York, USA Medium-Light
Pinot Blanc Alsace, France Medium-Light
Grüner Veltliner Wachau, Austria Medium
Viura (Macabeo) Rioja, Spain Medium
Vermentino Vermentino di Gallura, Italy Medium
Torrontés (unoaked) Salta, Argentina Medium
Chenin Blanc (dry) Vouvray, France Medium
Viognier Condrieu, France Medium to Medium-Heavy
Chardonnay (unoaked) Chablis, France Medium to Medium-Heavy
Fiano Fiano di Avellino, Italy Medium to Medium-Heavy
Sémillon Hunter Valley, Australia Medium to Medium-Heavy
Gewürztraminer Alsace, France Medium to Medium-Heavy
Chardonnay (oaked) Napa Valley, California, USA (many Burgundy styles as well) Heavy

Heavy White Wines Have Their Place Too

But, remember, some people prefer heavier white wines, like an oaked Chardonnay. Even Chenin Blanc can be considered heavy, depending on how it’s made. As we here at Bevinars noted an an article on heavy red wines, “Some may think of weight and body slightly differently, but they are essentially related. ‘Heavy’ or ‘light’ describe the tactile sensation you experience when you take a sip of wine and feel its texture and density in your mouth.” How heavy your white wine is really does relate much to a white wine’s acidity, although that provides the wine’s basic structure.

What Does a White Wine’s “Body” Mean?

Master of Wine Nick Jackson explains that “the body of wine overlays with the discussion both of fruit density and of alcohol” level. For whites, body or weight results from a combination of fruit density, alcohol level, and phenolic content “as well as winemaking choices such as less ageing or the use of oak.”

The easiest way to assess a wine’s weight is to ask oneself: “How mouth-filling is this wine?” Indeed, as Jackson says, a white wine being heavy or medium may depend on the winemaking as well as whether it’s a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio. To learn more about assessing a wine’s body, sign up for a virtual wine class here at Bevinars.

The Example of White Wine from Rioja

Take the example of Viura (also called Macabeo) in Spain. Viura wines can vary in style, from a light bodied white wine to medium-bodied. The specific characteristics depend on how the wine is produced. Young, unoaked Viura wines are typically light and fresh, with bright acidity and flavors of citrus, green apple, and floral notes. They are usually consumed young and are crisp and refreshing. By contrast, when Viura is aged in oak barrels or allowed to develop with some age, it will take on more complex and fuller-bodied characteristics. These wines will broadcast richer flavors, including notes of nuts, vanilla, and a creamier texture, moving towards a medium to full body.

Viura

A lot of Viura is grown in Spain’s Rioja appellation. In fact, the white wine trend caught local winemakers off guard. Most producers did not anticipate this increase in demand for white wine, even though the region’s great white wines were excellent and widely recognized. Following fashion, winegrowers had dedicated themselves to planting red wine grapes to the detriment of white wine varietals, losing thousands of acres that they then had to very recent recoup.

White Wine in France Today

To appreciate the diversity, complexity, and excitement of white wines, no look further than France today. While 15 years ago, six out of ten wine bottles sold in France were red. Today, it’s the opposite. In 2024, white and rosé wines (excluding sparkling) represented more than half of the sales (58%) in supermarkets, according to figures published by the Circana consulting firm. This shift is unprecedented.

“White wine goes well with everything! And besides, it always adds a joyful touch,” says one French customer. The decline in red wine’s popularity is partly due to its price. “Red wine still maintains a relatively high price, between 6 and 10 euros, whereas you can find very good rosé wines between 3 and 6 euros,” notes Yoan Benhamou, a supermarket manager. But that’s not the only explanation, according to Jean Rochereau, co-manager of “Arthus et Jean,” a Paris wine store.

According to him, this preference for white wines can also be explained by the fact that “people don’t necessarily decide to sit down with a specific dish in mind anymore, but rather for a tapas-style meal with a bit of everything. In those cases, one naturally gravitates towards white or rosé wine.” “White wine is seen as a lighter drink. And because we drink it chilled, I think the alcohol sensation is less pronounced,” adds Jérôme Baudouin, editor-in-chief at La Revue du Vin de France.

This trend is especially noticeable among younger consumers, even in in the world’s wine capital of Bordeaux, where red wine traditionally rules the roost. “It’s mostly the younger generation,” observes Loïc Guernalec, a sommelier. “They prefer fruity white wines, sometimes sweeter ones too. These are softer, lighter drinks,” he points out. “With a good piece of meat, I’ll have a glass of red wine. But when it’s nice and warm out, the most refreshing option is a glass of rosé with ice,” confirms another French customer.

Charlie Leary

A member of the Circle of Wine Writers, Charlie Leary has directed restaurant wine programs in the US, Canada, Costa Rica, and France. In the mid 1990s, while earning a PhD from Cornell University, he made artisanal cheeses and counted among the first North Americans inducted into the Guilde International des Fromagers; he later planned, planted, and managed an IGP vineyard in Andalusia.

His book-length guide to worldwide wine education programs (Leary’s Global Wineology) was first published in 2022, in part based on his experience earning numerous wine certifications. His feature articles have appeared in Decanter magazine, Jane Anson’s Inside Bordeaux, JancisRobinson.com, Sommelier Business, Hudin.com, and Tim Atkin MW’s website, among others. He recently consulted for the wine metaverse startup Second Winery and wrote a detailed report on the history of wine sensory analysis for the Wine Scholar Guild. Charlie now lives in Panama, where he offers wine classes, and is writing a book on the philosopher Montesquieu as an eighteenth century winegrower. IG: @bacopty