Early signs of spring in the glass

With the arrival of spring, the first floral scents waft through the air, and the same happens in white wine glasses. This is the perfect time to rediscover fresh, fragrant, and vibrant labels that evoke the scents of this season. From white flowers to herbs, from crisp fruit to citrus, spring white wines know how to evoke nature awakening. Here is a non-exhaustive selection of Italian and international wines that bring spring to the glass.

🇮🇹  Italy: Italian whites bloom like flowers with every sip from the coast to the hills.

• Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi (Marche) - Elegant and floral, with broom, and wild flowers, enriched by notes of citrus and almond.

• Fiano di Avellino (Campania) - A structured white wine with acacia, hawthorn and honey aromas, perfect for those who like complex bouquets.

• Moscato d'Asti (Piedmont) - A sweet, slightly sparkling wine with intense hints of orange blossom, jasmine and white peach.

• Ribolla Gialla (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) - Mineral and fresh, with lime and lemon zest.

• Prosecco (Veneto) - Light and lively, with notes of elderflower, pear and green apple, perfect for spring aperitifs.

🇦🇹 Austria: Minerality, alpine purity and savoriness: Austrian whites are an ode to freshness.

• Grüner Veltliner - White flowers, green apple and white pepper.
• Riesling (Kamptal) - Lime, white peach and wet stone.
• Weißburgunder - Pear, apple and spring flowers.
• Gelber Muskateller - Nutmeg, orange blossom and gooseberry.

🇫🇷 France: Timeless elegance amid noble flowers and refined citrus.

• Sancerre (Loire) - Notes of elderflower, nettle and citrus.
• Gewürztraminer (Alsace) - Rose, lychee and sweet spices.
• Chablis (Burgundy) - Green apple, white flowers and flint.
• Viognier (Condrieu) - Apricot, honey and orange blossom.

🇩🇪 Germany: Riesling reigns with delicacy and scents of northern spring.

• Riesling Kabinett - Peach blossoms, honey and green apple.
• Riesling Spätlese - Ripe fruit, white flowers and a sweet touch.
• Silvaner - Sober, floral and fine.
• Scheurebe - Citrusy, aromatic and fresh.

🇪🇸 Spain: Vital and sunny, Spanish whites tell the story of Mediterranean spring.

• Albariño – Peach, white flowers and marine minerality.
• Verdejo – Chamomile, fennel and citrus.
• Godello – Yellow apple, yellow flowers and salinity.
• Txakolina – Light, crisp and citrusy.

 🇬🇷 Greece: Bright, vibrant and saline whites, perfect for evoking sea breeze and island flowers.

• Assyrtiko (Santorini) – Mineral and taut, with scents of citrus, volcanic stone and white flowers.
• Moschofilero (Peloponnese) – Aromatic and floral, with hints of rose, citrus and light spices.
• Malagousia – Intense and fresh, with orange blossom, peach and herbs.
• Roditis – Light and floral, with notes of green apple, pear and pleasant acidity.

🇨🇦 Canada: From Ontario breezes, crisp, mineral whites surprise with finesse.

• Riesling (Ontario) – Apple, lime and apple blossom.
• Chardonnay (Prince Edward County) – Green apple, butter and minerality.
• Gewürztraminer (BC) – Spicy and floral, with lychee and rose.
• Vidal Icewine – Sweet but vibrant, with apricot and honey.

🇦🇺 Australia: Lively aromas and golden citrus in a dance of light and flavor.

• Riesling (Clare Valley) – Lemon, white flowers and slate.
• Sémillon (Hunter Valley) - Fresh citrus when young, honey with age.
• Chardonnay (Yarra Valley) - Peach, apple and light vanilla.
• Pinot Gris (Victoria) - Crisp pear and white flowers.

🇳🇿 New Zealand - Perfumed intensity and oceanic freshness in the glass.

• Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough) – Elderflower, lime and boxwood.
• Pinot Gris (Central Otago) - White peach, pear and jasmine.
• Albariño (Gisborne) - Savory, floral and citrusy.
• Chardonnay (Hawke's Bay) - White flowers and yellow fruit.

🇿🇦 South Africa: A meeting of wildflowers and sunny fruit in the foothills of the mountains.

• Chenin Blanc (Stellenbosch) – Yellow apple, honey and wildflowers.
• Sauvignon Blanc (Elgin) - Lime, herbs and marine freshness.
• Chardonnay (Walker Bay) - White-fleshed fruit and hazelnut.
• Viognier (Paarl) - Apricot and flowering chamomile.

🇦🇷🇨🇱 South America: Exoticism and floral notes for vibrant whites full of character.

• Torrontés (Argentina) – Jasmine, orange blossom and tropical fruit.
• Sauvignon Blanc (Chile) - Citrus, sage and minerality.
• Pedro Ximénez (Chile, dry) - Apple and white flowers.
• Chardonnay (Mendoza) - Citrusy and fresh, with peach and apple.

🇺🇸 United States: From the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, a thousand shades of freshness and fruit.

• Chardonnay (California) – Apple, citrus and a rounded creaminess.
• Viognier (Virginia) - Orange blossom, apricot and honey.
• Riesling (Finger Lakes) - Lime, apple and mint.
  
• Albariño (California) - Saline, floral and fresh.

Spring white wines are distinguished by their freshness and rich floral and fruity aromas. Hints of flowers such as acacia, elderflower, jasmine and linden stem from aromatic compounds naturally present in the grapes and developed during fermentation. Terroir also plays a key role: cool climates and mineral soils help create vibrant wines perfect for celebrating the awakening season. Spring is the perfect time to rediscover the lightness and vitality of white wines. From Italy to New Zealand, via France, Germany, the United States, Spain and South America, each glass tells a story of flowers, fruit and freshness. What was the first spring sip you chose?
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