White wine makes up about 60 percent of Australia’s wine production and the rest are all the lovely reds that have also contributed significantly to the country’s rise in the winemaking industry. When you talk about the top sweet white wines in Australia, chardonnay will instantly pop up in the conversation. Riesling and semillon, the country’s two other major white grapes, will immediately follow. And these three, especially those produced by the top vintners in the country, usually satisfy many discriminating palates.

The chardonnays of Australia had a unique taste when it was introduced to the world about 3 decades ago. It was fruity but with an extremely creamy and dense texture that it was nothing like any other wine. Today, though, Australia’s chardonnay is much more refined with an elegance and complexity that impress both wine lovers and first-time drinkers. It is lighter and has more structure. It has the fruity notes of peaches and nectarines. Some of the best chardonnays in the country come from the Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River, Western Australia. Particularly famous for their clarity and pristine elegance are the wines in their Art Series. You also shouldn’t skip those from Penfolds in Adelaide Hills. Their chardonnays, particularly Yattarna, taste like honey, peaches, and even crème brulee.

Riesling in Australia are dry wines with floral flavors, but those coming from the late harvest aided by the noble rot Botrytis cinerea result to the sweet white wine that’s loved by many. The Barossa Valley produces the liveliest type of riesling in the country. Eden Valley and Clare Valley, which are also in South Australia, come up with some of the most excellent rieslings, too.

Australia is second to France’s Bordeaux in the production of semillon. Those grown in South Australia, Western Australia, and the Hunter Valley are creamy dry white wines with citrusy hints. Semillon in these regions is usually aged for about 5 years or more to get the best flavors and aromas, which include roasted nuts and honey. Like riesling, it’s also aided with Botrytis cinerea to produce a lovely sweet wine.

There are other Australian sweet whites that are highly rated like sauvignon blanc, muscadelle, and muscat blanc a petits grains. However, the three mentioned above do top the list. If you’re looking for a sweet White Wine that will satisfy you on your first wine-tasting venture, take your pick among chardonnay, riesling and semillon.

Looking for sweet white wine for your own drinking pleasure or to impress your guests? Winemarket has bottles from renowned names like Penfolds, Peter Lehmann, Leeuwin Estate, and more. Visit the Winemarket website today.

It’s just about time for that great American tradition that comes around every late November. It’s called Thanksgiving, and it’s a time to enjoy a rich meal with friends and with family. While everyone’s minds will be on the food, the adults at the gathering might be considering the wine selection.

This is especially true for those who are hosting or have been invited to an adults only event. It’s very sophisticated for adults to have a few bottles of great wine on hand, along with at least a few celebratory glasses of champagne.

Some might think that selecting great wines for Thanksgiving is a huge challenge because there are so many different palates to try to please. However, while the host of a meal might try to provide a wide variety of food dishes to please everyone, it’s not hard to provide a variety or two of great wines that go perfectly with these types of meals.

It’s probably a great idea for the host of a Thanksgiving meal to provide a variety of both red and White Wine. This should generally cover all of the bases, when it comes to pleasing different palates, and when it comes to providing a wine that pairs well with many different tastes.

Here are some suggestions that you might want to use for your upcoming Thanksgiving gathering:

The Whites: You’ll want to select young, lively, fruity wines

• A great wine that goes well with just about everything is the classic Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a dry wine, and it goes well with poultry and with vegetables. It’s one of the most popular wines, because with regards to a flavor profile, it’s light, and there’s nothing strong or outstanding about its flavor profile.
• Another great wine that would go great with one’s Thanksgiving meal is Pinot Grigio. This is a light and fruity wine that is very refreshing during the summer months. However, it’s refreshing taste and it’s fruity profile can carry over well into a late autumn meal such as Thanksgiving. This is a wine that goes well with meat or with seafood if it’s served at the meal. For example, crawfish and crab dressing is very popular in some regions of the country at Thanksgiving.
• There is also the Riesling. This is a German wine that is crisp, with juicy fruity notes. This is a white wine that would go well with sides such as dressing or sweet potatoes.

The Reds: You’ll want a selection that is not too tart or high in tannins

• Pinot Noir is the traditional favorite for Thanksgiving with its fruity flavors that show well with turkey and stuffing.
• One of the great reds is the Syrah, or Shiraz. This is a full bodied red wine that has notes of berries and spices. Since no Thanksgiving meal would be complete without cranberries, and sweet potatoes flavored with oranges and cinnamon, then this is a wine that would highlight those flavors, and would complement a roast such as a spiral ham, if it’s served.
• There is also the Merlot. This is a very rich full bodied wine that brings to mind plums and cherries or blackberries. Because it’s so dark and rich, this is the perfect red wine to serve for a rich end-of-year feast such as Thanksgiving.
• Finally, there is the Beaujolais Nouveau. It’s a national celebration in France when the Beaujolais is debuted in late November. This wine is light bodied, and it’s fruity. These descriptions make this wine a refreshing choice when paired with rich Thanksgiving food.

I enjoy writing about the wine. There is so much to learn and enjoy, you can find more at the great wine world.

It’s common wisdom that red wine needs to breathe before the tannins mellow and the flavours round out. But did you know that white wine benefits much more than expected from aeration? A young white wine can be tart, or nearly flavourless if served too cold, or straight from the bottle. Many vineyards and wine tastings routinely decant or aerate their whites to soften the flavours and bring out the buttery soft and citrus notes that white wine lovers enjoy.

For the average wine drinker, aerating wine can seem a bit pretentious or extreme, but with the introduction of inexpensive aerators, this concept can be put to the test in minutes, not hours. You’ve seen people swirling their glasses around at restaurants, and you may have wondered what all the drama was about – it’s all about the same thing – air.

What is an Aerator?

Wine Aerators are relatively new devices in the must-have wine accessory category, competing with vacuum sealers and designer stoppers for the most requested gift items of 2010. These devices either bubble or stream air through the wine as it’s being poured directly into the glass, eliminating the need for decanters and carafes. They can be found in glass or polycarbonate/acrylic models, in jewel tones or clear minimalist designs. Aerators start around $30, and usually come with attractive fabric cases or stands to complement your home bar.

Tannins

Because white wine spends less time with the skins, stems and seeds of the grape, it is generally less tannic – the substance that causes that bitter-dry-pucker sensation in your mouth. But fewer tannins don’t mean zero tannins – white wine does need to air. If you’ve ever noticed that the last glass of the bottle tastes better than the first, you’ve already experienced this truth without knowing why.

White Wines, like dry white Burgundies and white Bordeaux, Alsace whites, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc… all benefit from a little oxidization. Even sweet wines like Gewürztraminer and Reisling meld and mellow with a good amount of air.

Holiday Taste Test

This holiday season, take your favourite bottle of white, and serve a glass through an aerator, and one directly through the bottle. This is a great game to play with your friends and relatives, many have never seen an aerator before and will be completely dazzled by the difference in wines they’ve been drinking for years. Aeration makes good wines great, and great wines fabulous.

Finally, one site for you to get all the information you need about wine aerators and how one complete breathing system can completely change the way you enjoy a glass of wine.