There are more than 600 different varieties of grape used to make white wines around the world, but among the most common are:

• Riesling, from Germany’s Rhine Valley 
• Pinot Gris, the French grape used to produce Pinot Grigio
• Sauvignon Blanc, which originated in France, but is today grown all over the world
• Chardonnay, hailing from France’s Burgundy wine region

Every grape and vintage has its own unique taste, but in general, white wine is more crisp and refreshing than red wine, due to the higher acidity of white grapes. White wines are typically lighter, so they can be lovely to drink in the summer, and you can expect notes of citrus, apple, and delicate florals.

White wine is at its most crisp and refreshing served chilled, so place your bottle in the fridge for 30 minutes to 2 hours before serving. The perfect white wine temperature is somewhere between 8˚C and 12˚C - you want it cold, but not too cold. Pour into your wine glass slowly, and savour each sip to really appreciate its unique flavours.

Serve white wine with fresh fruit, herbs, mixers and juices to make a whole host of other delicious drinks, from Sangria to spritzers. Our favourite white wine cocktails include:

• White Wine Spritzer
• White Sangria
• Sauvignon Blanc Punch
• Bicicletta
• Front Porch Swing
• Albariño Mint Julep

Different types of white wine pair well with different kinds of food. If you eat a lot of chicken and pasta, order white wine that’s on the sweeter side, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, or Pinot Grigio. If you love seafood, or want the perfect white wine to pair with cheese, opt for a dry white wine, such as a Chardonnay or even a dry Riesling.

When you buy white wine online, make sure you lay it on its side as soon as it arrives at your home. By keeping the liquid in contact with the cork, this prevents the cork from drying out and shrinking, which can let oxygen and even bacteria into the bottle, spoiling the wine.

Keep white wine in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, but move it to the fridge 30 minutes to 2 hours before serving for a beautifully chilled drink.

White wine should last between 3 and 5 days in the fridge once it’s been opened, as long as it’s kept sealed. If your wine starts to taste sour or vinegary and its smell changes, then discard it, as it’ll be unpleasant to drink.

You can buy white wine with as little as 0.5% ABV in our low alcohol collection, including a Walt Lo Riesling, and a Sauvignon Blanc by Wolf Blass.

If you are looking for a non-alcoholic wine with 0% ABV, we do have some alcohol-free sparkling white wines, perfect for celebrations.