The Best White Wines in India: Meet the Winners of the Cosmo India SNAs

Best White Wine (dry) - Editor’s Choice

La Réserve Fumé Blanc
 

La Réserve Fumé Blanc from the Grover Zampa winery in Nashik is a great festive treat, in its sleek dark bottle, and Editor Nandini gave it two thumbs up for the best dry white wine category. Part of the winemaker’s La Réserve range, this wine is made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape and is fermented and aged in French oak barrels for six months.  What’s interesting is the Fumé Blanc process itself, that was pioneered by legendary Californian winemaker Robert Mondavi, who established his winery in the late ‘60s, initially modelling his wines like the French, on single varietals. But he sought to popularise the Sauvignon Blanc, which up until he coined his process of dry fermentation (ageing the wine in old and new oak barrels)—the Fumé Blanc—was mostly a sweet wine, and he wanted to address consumers’ growing desire to drink wine with their food. Hence, it had to be a drier wine. So, the oak barrels imparted a creamy feel to the wine, and a certain richness that complemented the natural acidity and a slight minerality of the grape. The mouthfeel is intense, and on the palate, there are hints of mango and citrus with notes of dry herbs, lime leaf, and gooseberry along with vanilla.

Credits: Araceli tafeta dress, Tanieya Khanuja, ₹32,800

Best White Wine (fruity)

Woodbridge By Robert Mondavi Moscato

We spoke about Californian winemaker Robert Mondavi who built his first winery in Napa Valley in 1966. That is when he set out to establish a wine culture in America, similar to the one he had seen in France, a country he admired, by putting great California wine on every table. In 1979, he established the Woodbridge Winery near his childhood home of Lodi, California, to make fruit-driven wines for everyday drinking. With its aromatic floral and orange blossom, citrusy scents, this Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato displays light, sweet flavours with notes of orange marmalade and marzipan. There’s also Fuji apple and lemon cream and its residual sugar is balanced out by bright acidity, making it an excellent wine to pair with a wide variety of foods. In Italy, Moscato’s style is referred to as frizzante, as it has a slight bubbly finish. It is perfect for an afternoon of sipping...this Moscato pairs wonderfully with fruit and cheese, or with lightly sweet desserts such as roasted pears, fruit tarts, or almond cake. Make sure you always serve it chilled!

Credits: Sunglasses, Bulgari, price on request

Best Sauvignon Blanc

Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
 

This Sauvignon Blanc from Brancott Estate in New Zealand is a well-balanced wine with palate weight and sweet fruity flavours. It was in 1973 that the first seedlings of the Sauvignon Blanc grape were planted in the Brancott Estate Vineyard. After two years of mixed success, they took their vines in a new direction; thanks to the region’s sunny days and crisp nights, the grapes developed a unique and fresh flavour profile. By 1979, Marlborough’s first-ever Sauvignon Blanc was born, which won a gold medal in a New Zealand competition in 1980. By 1990, the Queen had planted a vine at the Estate, they got a new chief winemaker, and the rest is history! The nose of this wine is characterised by the aroma of sweet ripe fruits with a delightful mix of floral, pear, tropical fruit, and crisp nettle. This powerful wine is almost pungent in its intensity with full fruit flavours across the spectrum—from ripe tropical fruit to lush pink grapefruit. The winery says that the wine is best matched with barbecued prawns or salmon, and white fish with green salads. Mediterranean dishes also pair perfectly well.

Credits: Candice Stilettos, Kaka Sumi, ₹12,500

 

Best Pinot Grigio - Editor’s Choice
 

Danzante Pinot Grigio Igt

The Pinot Grigio is a very particular grape that is loved by many and Cosmo Editor Nandini Bhalla is one of them. She loved this one from Danzante (which means dancing in Italian), a 700-year-old winery from Tuscany. Just to give you a heads up about this varietal: a relative of Pinot Noir, the white wine Pinot Grigio gets its name from the colour of its grape, a greyish purple (‘Grigio’ means grey in Italian). The variety was first planted in Burgundy during the Middle Ages, then in other areas of France and Hungary during the time of Charles IV. Pinot Grigio finally arrived in Italy during the 1800s and today the grape is cultivated all over the country. Danzante Pinot Grigio is sourced from Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto, and Friuli Venezia Giulia, the three northeastern regions of Italy collectively known as the Tre Venezie. With its relatively high altitude, cool summers, and warm currents from the Adriatic, this region allows the Pinot Grigio to fully express its potential, resulting in a wine that reveals intense perfumes and a certain silkiness. The grapes are lightly pressed to retain their delicacy, cool-fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. On the nose, a bouquet of fruity and citrus notes of citron are accompanied by fine floral accents, green apples, and the sweetness of ripe apricots. In the mouth, rich and persistent notes of ripe summer fruits lead the way for a lingering and fresh citrusy finish.

Credits: Retro-Futuristic Wedges, Prada, stylist’s own

Best Chenin Blanc - Editor’s Choice

Fratelli Chenin Blanc

The Fratelli Chenin Blanc is India’s most awarded Chenin Blanc, so it’s no surprise that it made it to the top of the Editor’s list. Made with 100 percent Chenin Blanc grapes from the Akluj vineyard in Maharashtra, the soil of which is alkaline and rocky—the grapes are hand-picked and fermented at 18-20°C, in stainless steel tanks for 10-15 days, and then finally aged in stainless steel tanks. It is pale yellow in colour with a bouquet of fresh tropical fruit aromas. On the palate, the wine offers smooth and elegant acidity. The short contact with French oak enhances this wine’s elegance, while adding to its mineral structure, and thus making for a complex wine. This is a must-try wine from Fratelli, and, according to the winemaker, it is best paired with Akbari Murgh Tikka, Bombil Fry, and Pesto Linguini.

Credits: Sunglasses, Versace, ₹18,690

Best Riesling - Editor’s Choice

Nik Weis St. Urbans-hof Riesling

Nikolaus (Nik) Weis is the third generation of the Weis family to tend vines ever since his grandfather Nicolaus Weis founded the St. Urbans-Hof Estate in Germany’s Mosel region in 1947. The Riesling winery, that stretches 60km along the Mosel and Saar rivers, uses traditional methods of wine growing in its
45 hectares of vineyards, which have been used for centuries in the Mosel and Saar valley, some dating as far back as the Roman times. Some of the vineyards are 130 years old! This winery is one of the most important and classic wineries in the area today. These wines are fermented exclusively with indigenous yeasts, only organic fertiliser is used, and the grapes are harvested as late as possible to achieve maximum ripeness. All grapes are hand-picked and carried on the shoulder in special containers. The same detailed attention is given to the grapes by cellar masters Kai Hausen and Rudolf Hoffmann.After the grapes are crushed, the maceration ensures that skin is left on the fruit to ensure aromas; the juice is then pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at a cool temperature to capture the flavour of the Riesling grape. The contents are then transferred and kept in fuder barrels on fine lees for a few months, after which they are bottled. The particularity of this Riesling Estate Bottled from Old Vines is that the grapes have a residual sweetness and radiant minerality. Grown on different kinds of slate, this wine comes from old vineyards in the Saar valley and is fermented with indigenous yeast. The nose is fruity and floral, while the elegant mouthfeel is dominated by fresh and fine flavours of ripe stone fruits such as peaches and yellow plums. Dishes like Indian and Thai curries, and chicken in piquant sauces, are wonderful accompaniments to this classic Riesling.

Credits: The Mini Doucette clutch, Kaeros, ₹8,400

Best White Wine For A Girls’ Night  

Fratelli Chardonnay

A chardonnay is always a good idea for a girls’ night, as it appeals to varied tastes. And this particular one was voted as the top pick by Cosmo’s SNA panelists. Straw-coloured with light green reflections, the Fratelli Chardonnay is made of 100 percent Chardonnay grapes grown in the Akluj (Maharashtra) region where the soil is rocky, sandy, and alkaline. The grapes are hand-picked during the day and fermented at 18-20°C in stainless steel vats for 10-15 days, and then aged again at Fratelli’s state-of-the-art facility in Nashik. It has citrus aromas of orange and lemon with subtle notes of white flowers. The perfect balance on the palate reflects the freshness and minerality of the terroir on which it is grown. An East-West sun exposure ensures proper ripeness and thus good acidity, with roundness and buttery notes on the finish. Elegance and structure come together to create a delicious wine that does justice to the varietal. Pair it with grilled fish or chicken.

Credits: Hand-embroidered velvet wrap dress, Nirmooha, ₹24,000

Most Giftable White Wine - Editor’s Choice

Sensi Collezione Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie Igt

Most wine gifts get passed around from one house-warming to another, but this one will be enjoyed by the original receiver. From a fourth-generation winemaker from Italy, this Pinot Grigio is rather special. From an ultra-elegant Tuscan winery, this Pinot Grigio is part of a classic line of wines that celebrates all things Italian, and the Mediterranean way of life (including the love of wine and speaking a common sensory language). As a gift, this wine celebrates the joy of being together. The wine has a straw yellow colour with a complex nose reminiscent of the fruity scents of pear, golden apple, and banana. On the palate, it is dry, crisp, tasty, and persistent with a good structure. Made from 100 percent Pinot Grigio grapes, from the autonomous Province of Trento and Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions (that has a typically fertile, gravelly soil, rich in silt and sand, and carbonates—that all add up to be conducive for good vine growth). The vinification occurs with particular attention is paid to the oxidation and clarification when producing the base wine. And ageing happens in steel tanks with bâtonnage on fine lees (which means that the lees or sediments are stirred—leaving the lees gives a rounder expression to the wine). The people at Sensi recommend that you enjoy the wine with hors d’oeuvre, soups, herb risotto, and fish dishes. You can also pair it with light meals or finger foods of your choice.

Credits: Aurora Playful Ruffle Dress, Tanieya Khanuja, ₹54,800

Most Giftable White Wine - Editor’s Choice

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay

The Koonunga Hill Chardonnay reflects Penfolds’ multi-region, multi-vineyard blending philosophy, which enables the winemaking team to source the best parcels of fruit in South Australia to produce consistently high-quality wines from each vintage. A light to medium-bodied Chardonnay with distinctive primary fruit characters and a subtle underlay of moderate oak, it is matured in stainless steel vats and French oak casks. This Chardonnay comes from the Koonunga Hill line, named after one of Penfolds’ Barossa Valley vineyards, which has a worldwide reputation for value, quality, and consistency, delivering rich, flavourful wines. The winery struck gold when a highly experimental and genius winemaker Max Schubert introduced Penfolds’ Grange wine—which became Australia’s most revered and iconic wine. From the same house of Penfold, comes this lovely chardonnay. On the nose, there’s lots of fruit—melon, peach, and lemon—making it easy to drink...and to gift!

Credits: Boss Block Heels, Monay, ₹3,500

Other White Wine Variant - Editor’s Choice

Campo Viejo Viura Tempranillo Blanco

This is the Blanco (white) expression of the top varietal of the Tempranillo grape from Spain, brought to you from one of the world’s top wineries, Campo Viejo. It’s a floral, fresh, and fragrant wine, with a fruity flavour that enhances the Viura’s floral notes while complementing its white fruit. An incredibly delicious wine, chosen by Editor Nandini as her top pick—and this one comes from a region more known for its reds. The Bodegas Campo Viejo winery in Fuenmayor specialises in wines from the Rioja region of Spain, and was set up in 1959, using the most advanced winemaking techniques and by incorporating innovative twists to traditional winemaking methods. In fact, theirs is the number one Rioja wine in the world! Made from the Viura and Tempranillo Blanco grapes, the Campo Viejo Viura Tempranillo Blanco has an intense nose, with floral and fruity notes from the Viura grape. On the palate, there is a lot of fruit and acidity that comes from the white Tempranillo Blanco, making it highly refreshing. Enjoy it with chicken, fish or salad, seafood, goat cheese, creamy pasta, or chickpea hummus.

Credits: Myra Bag, Rubilon, ₹4,150

Most Refreshing White Wine

Black Tower Classic Riesling

From Germany, comes Black Tower—the country’s most internationally successful wine label for more than 50 years. This deliciously crisp Black Tower Riesling is made from the Riesling grapes that grow in the Pfalz—Germany’s best known grape variety all over the world—and has a wonderful fruity aroma that makes it seem sweeter than it is (it’s actually a dry wine). This white wine has a taste profile that is characterised as ‘Classic’ as per German wine law—a typical wine style with a fresh and lively combination of acidity and residual sugar. It is highly suited as a companion for a variety of food. The flavours that come through are peach, lemon, dried fruit, passion fruit, and pineapple. When it was first launched, the distinctive black bottle swiftly generated a buzz and won over fans. Today, people in over 35 countries across the globe enjoy Black Tower! And now, they have a fresh new look, while keeping their air of mystery intact—with a modern bottle design (the distinctive black part has been moved up to give it a lighter appearance). This reflects on the lightness of the new style of wine and allows it to show off its vibrant colour. Also, it pairs perfectly with Asian cuisine and fish.

Credits: Pearl-embroidered waistcoat, Sesaa, ₹21,830

Overall Fabulous White Wine

Sula Dindori Reserve Chardonnay

If the SNA panel says a wine is fabulous, that means it ticked a lot of boxes on our page. From the house of Sula—the sprawling winery in our very own Nashik—comes this lemony, buttery, and rich style of Chardonnay (for those of us who love our Chardonnay, there’s very little alternative!), that shows wonderful notes of stone fruits. Many consider it to be the best Chardonnay in India—and it’s no exaggeration. This wine has been made with the utmost respect for the environment following strict, sustainable practices. It’s been partially fermented and partially aged in French oak—which offers a sweeping, creamy taste, with flavours of honey, lemon, tropical fruit, and vanilla. The winery suggests you pair it with Butter Garlic Prawns, Butter Chicken, or pasta with white sauce. And the next time you are in Nashik, visit their tasting room to sample their wines, while you stay at the company’s pretty boutique hotel.

Credits: Evelyn Mini Bag in Beige and Ivory, Aanchal Sayal, ₹12,000

Best White Wine For Netflix And Chill Nights - Editor’s Choice

Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay

Relaxed evenings at home demand the kind of wine that is well balanced (“and highly gluggable,” notes Cosmo Editor Nandini Bhalla). This Chardonnay by Aussie favourite Jacob’s Creek is the perfect partner for a cosy evening at home, with your favourite blockbuster on the screen. Because it’s a modern Chardonnay that has all the complexities of the flavour of this varietal, yet is easy to drink, and very likeable. On the nose, it is an intense mix of citrus and melon underpinned by toasty notes. The well-rounded and creamy palate showcases vibrant fruit flavours and toasty oak. It is best had on its own, or with fish, grilled vegetables or creamy chicken pasta (which is, you’ll agree, the ultimate comfort food).

Credits: Half & Half Necklace, Anaash, ₹9,500

Best Easy Drinking White Wine - Editor’s Choice

Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio

On some days, you want a wine that’s soft, light, and not-too acidic. Enter Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio! This is a lovely, easy-to-imbibe white wine from the Tuscany-based Ruffino winery founded in 1877, which became the official supplier to the Italian royal family, and purchased by the Folonari brothers, until it was bought up by Constellation Brands in 2004. It now farms 1,483 acres of vineyards, split across six Tuscan properties. The Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio exemplifies the best of Italian winemaking tradition. Because the Pinot Grigio grape is today Italy’s most beloved grape and the Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio is grown in the Veneto region of Italy, where the highest quality Pinot Grigio grapes are grown—you know that this baby will taste good! It’s straw yellow in colour, with notes of meadow flowers, pears, citrus, and golden apple. The bouquet is fresh and complex, refined, with mint and sage notes with a touch of minerality that is often found in Pinot Grigio expressions. On the palate, it is medium bodied and lively. The finish is satisfying, with citrus peel notes, and a bit of minerality.

Credits: Sequinned Flapper Jacket, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, ₹58,500