What is dry white wine?
Dry white wine is white wine with no noticeable sweetness, and the most common ones are Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and unoaked Chardonnay.
If a recipe says "dry white wine," or a friend asks for one, they mean a white that is not sweet. That rules out Moscato and most regular Riesling, and leaves you with the bulk of the white shelf. Which one to buy depends on whether you want crisp and zingy or rich and creamy.
- Tastes like
- Lemon, green apple, grapefruit, pear
- Common grapes
- Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, dry Riesling
- Price range
- About $9 to $20
- Serve at
- Fridge cold, then out for 10 minutes
- Best for cooking
- Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
The main kinds of dry white
Crisp and light: Pinot Grigio is the gentle one, lemony and clean. Sauvignon Blanc is louder, with grapefruit, cut grass and a lot of zing. Both are great cold on a hot day.
Rich and round: Chardonnay, especially from California, often spends time in oak barrels, which adds vanilla and a buttery feel. It is still dry; it just tastes fuller. Unoaked Chardonnay sits in between.
How to spot one on the shelf
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are dry almost every time, so you can grab those safely. Riesling is the one to check: buy a bottle that says "Dry" on the front.
Alcohol of 12.5% or more usually signals a dry white. Under 10% usually means sugar was left in. "Off-dry" or "semi-dry" means a hint of sweetness.
What to eat with dry white wine
Crisp whites love seafood, salads, goat cheese and anything with lemon or herbs. Sauvignon Blanc with shrimp tacos is hard to beat.
Richer Chardonnay works with roast chicken, creamy pasta, lobster and salmon. The fuller the dish, the fuller the white can be.
Cooking with dry white wine
For pan sauces, risotto, mussels or scampi, use an inexpensive Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Avoid heavily oaked Chardonnay, which can turn bitter when reduced, and never use the "cooking wine" from the vinegar aisle, which is salted.
Dry whites worth buying
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
about $15Sauvignon BlancGood buy
Passion fruit and grapefruit, very crisp. The bottle most people picture when they hear "New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc."
Matua Sauvignon Blanc
about $10Sauvignon BlancGood buy
Nearly the same zesty style for a few dollars less. A great cooking-and-drinking wine.
Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio
about $10Pinot GrigioGood buy
Light, lemony and easy. The safe pick for a crowd that just wants "a white."
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
about $23Pinot GrigioIt's fine
The famous one. Clean and polished, a nice gift, though you pay a lot for the name.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling
about $10RieslingDrink this one
Proof Riesling does not have to be sweet. Lime and green apple, crisp, and lovely with spicy food.
ChardonnayGood buy
The rich, creamy side of dry white, with tropical fruit and vanilla. Reads a touch sweet to some people, but it is the classic crowd-pleaser.
Keep reading
- What is Sauvignon Blanc?
- What is Pinot Grigio?
- What is Chardonnay?
- What's a good sweet white wine?
- Pinot Grigio vs Sauvignon Blanc: what's the difference?
- Chardonnay vs Sauvignon Blanc: what's the difference?
- What wine goes with shrimp?
Last checked 2026-10-04.