Light Whites


From the northwest corner of Spain to the northeast corner of Italy, from New Zealand’s Marlborough region to Washington’s Columbia Valley, this category of crisp, refreshing and lighter-bodied whites is thriving in regions around the world. Perfect as an aperitif or paired with seafood, these vibrant wines have only gotten fresher-tasting in recent years as a growing number of producers focus on cooler-climate regions and eschew the use of oak.

90 $20 Attems Pinot Grigio Venezia-Giulia 2015
Italy Sleek and minerally, this refreshing white offers ripe apricot, pickled ginger, apple blossom and Thai basil notes. (A.N.)
90 $18 Bodegas La Cana Albariño Rías Baixas La Caña 2015
Spain Bright acidity focuses the generous texture in this bold white, with peach, apple and blanched almond flavors. (T.M.)
90 $14 Mohua Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
New Zealand All the pieces fall into place, with bright and juicy flavors of lime, mango and green apple, ending with a vivid finish. (M.W.)
90 $20 Robert Mondavi Fumé Blanc Napa Valley 2014
California Juicy and crisp, with bright, refreshing flavors of green papaya and lemon. Balances intensity and restraint. (M.W.)
90 $19 Pewsey Vale Riesling Eden Valley Dry 2015
Australia Apple, lemon blossom and pear flavors are lively and open-textured, showing finesse and lingering beautifully on the finish. (M.W.)
90 $17 Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc Northern Sonoma Charlotte’s Home 2015
California Up-front flavors of peach and apricot segue into a juicy core of lemon, with whiffs of smoke and dried flowers. (M.W.)
89 $15 Brancott Pinot Grigio Marlborough Flight Song 2015
New Zealand Bright, juicy and lip-smacking, offering fresh green apple and candied lemon peel notes. The acidity is weightless yet intense. (M.W.)
89 $20 Chateau Ste. Michelle-Dr. Loosen Riesling Columbia Valley Eroica 2014
Washington This off-dry, spicy style weaves pepper and allspice notes through the grapefruit flavors at the core. (H.S.)
89 $20 Pazo Cilleiro Albariño Rías Baixas 2015
Spain Fresh and focused, this crisp white is tangy and juicy, with tart peach, gooseberry and fresh herb flavors. (T.M.)
89 $15 Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc Horse Heaven Hills H3 2015
Washington This white is bright and zingy, with snappy acidity to the lime-scented pear and lemon verbena notes, lingering with precision. (H.S.)
89 $14 Cave de Lugny Mâcon-Villages La Côte Blanche 2014
France  Fruity, fresh and elegant, offering peach, white flowers and lemon curd notes, with a lingering citrus finish. (B.S.)
89 $13 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015
New Zealand  Green apple, melon and lemon meringue flavors are juicy and expressive, ending with a mouthwatering finish. (M.W.)
89 $15 J. & H. Selbach Riesling QbA Mosel Incline 2014
Germany Fresh-tasting, with snappy green apple and ripe citrus flavors flanked by plenty of savory and herbal notes. (K.M.)
89 $16 Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Trocken Wachau Terrassen 2014
Austria A fruity style, with Gala apple and Meyer lemon flavors that are fresh and forward, ending with a crisp finish. (K.M.)
89 $19 Hermann J. Wiemer Riesling Seneca Lake Dry 2014
New York  Focused, with a vibrant, juicy edge to the pear, quince and lime flavors, retaining a zippy feel through the finish. (J.M.)
88 $15 Helfrich Riesling Alsace 2015
France Mouthwatering, with a snap of salinity underscoring the flavors of white peach, apple, pickled ginger and orchard blossom. (A.N.)
88 $15 Fournier Père & Fils Sauvignon Vin de Pays du Val de Loire 2015
France Shows good energy, with racy acidity driving a bright core of white peach, chive and gooseberry notes. (J.M.)
88 $18 Robert Oatley Chardonnay Margaret River Signature Series 2015
Australia Crisp and lively, with a core of green apple, lemon and pineapple flavors. Vibrant and robust. (M.W.)
88 $16 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio Vigneti delle Dolomiti 2015
Italy This zesty white is light-bodied and floral, with bright acidity and flavors of apple and blood orange granita. (A.N.)
88 $16 Zenato Lugana San Benedetto 2015
Italy  A crowd-pleaser, this bright white shows ripe nectarine, cantaloupe, pink grapefruit zest and pickled ginger flavors. (A.N.)