White Wine - the Red Wine Drinkers Debate

We are unabashed Red wine drinkers, it makes up 95% of our wine consumption.  We are definitely opinionated about what makes a good red wine (more on that to come).  That said, we do enjoy white wines and we do rave about some but we still gravitate to red wine, no matter how delicious a white wine we may come across.  What is wrong with us?  Why do we give white wine such little attention? 

We have had some amazing whites over the last year (2008 Marynissen Estates BFBA Chardonnay from Niagara, 2010 Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, and the list goes on) and yet we pass by the whites with not so much as a glance most of the time.  Why is that?  Many white wines have the flavour profile that we are looking for and we definitely like our whites to be bold and full of flavour, just like our reds.  We (unlike many these days) enjoy big buttery, oaky Chards and crisp tropical Sauv Blancs (depending on what we are eating mostly). 

We are fortunate to not be impacted by the allergies and/or headaches that reds can produce in some people which would preclude us from drinking red wine and yet we still have our moments of looking down our noses at some sweeter German Rieslings.  Again, why is that?  Riesling is an extremely complex grape that ranges from Late Harvest dessert wines to crisp off-dry wines.  Furthermore, we have had some reasonably priced and delicious German Riesling (what a double standard).  Even beyond that, Canadian wineries in all the major regions are growing Riesling successfully and making a lot of great wine from it. 

We need to give white wine in all its varietals and characteristics its due and so we need your help.  Give us your favourite and most flavourful whites that are $10 to $20 and tell us why they are so great.  We will make it our mission to try some of them out and really give them some proper attention.  It will be hard work but we are certain that we will persevere. 

White wine drinkers, we are looking to be converted here and your ruthless criticism of our self-proclaimed red wine superiority complex is needed and so your comments are appreciated and welcomed.

Keep on drinking!

Chris & Shannon