Q&A: Wine & Food Questions
Red vs white
I like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon but I would like to try white wines. What would be the white wine version of them?
Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW
That's a very tough call as it is really hard to match these red wines with white equivalents. But here's an attempt, although it's a stretch!
A white equivalent of a soft red with ample fruit like many New World Merlots is a ripe, soft California Chardonnay.
A white equivalent of a firm, dry Cabernet Sauvignon would be a Sauvignon Blanc, which has herbaceous notes and higher acidity as some Cabernets do (and which, by the way, is one of the genetic parents of Cabernet Sauvignon).
About The Expert
Roger has enjoyed a lengthy career in the wine trade as an importer and retailer, and at present he is an educator, speaker and consultant. He set up and managed Millesima USA, a New York merchant affiliated with Europe's leader in direct sales of fine wines to consumers. Previously, he served as senior executive of Frederick Wildman & Sons, traveling regularly around the world to visit wineries and taste the new vintage from barrel. Roger became one of America's first Masters of Wine in 1993.
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