Corvina is a popular grape variety that originated from Italy, specifically Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region. Although it is commonly used to make world-famous red wine, it has been adapted to produce mouth-watering white wine as well.
White Corvina wine has been making headlines around the wine community for its crips refreshing flavor and unique texture.
Have you tried white Corvina and want to know more about it? Or, are you just learning about this wine variety for the first time?
Either way, let’s discuss its flavor profile, go over some food pairing options, and show you a couple of popular examples to take home.
What Does White Corvina Taste Like?
White Corvina tastes slightly sweet. It has citrus, lemon, and apricot flavors with a hint of herbs. The taste can vary depending on the manufacturer, but it is usually balanced, soft, and rounded. It is considered a semi-sweet white wine.
The taste profile is generally citrusy and fruity. It is known to have a hint of almond at the end, along with good acidity and a good balance between fruit and tartness.
The taste generally leans towards dry, making white Corvina taste similar to other crisp white wines. Still, the grape itself has an exciting taste profile that seems difficult to define.
Best White Corvina Examples
Maurer Corvina White – This is a semi-dry white wine made from 100% Corvina grapes grown in the Veneto region of Italy. It has a floral and fruity aroma with flavors that include lemon and rose petals. Thanks to its dryness and high mineral content, its taste has spicy notes, making it an excellent pairing for seafood, fish, shellfish, and poultry dishes.
Montenigo Bianco 2018 – This is a full-bodied white wine made from Corvina grapes grown in the Lombardy region of Italy. It tastes slightly tart at first, with hints of ripe fruit, pear, and melon on the palate. The aftertaste refreshes your taste buds with hints of vanilla, almond, and spices. It pairs well with seafood, poultry dishes, light salad, and grilled meat.
What Food Pairs with White Corvina?
Seafood – The wine’s saltiness complements the seafood’s flavor. It also enhances its taste by bringing subtle spices and herbs in the wine.
Fish – The wine has enough citrus, herbal and fruity notes that make it pair well with most kinds of fish.
Shellfish – The wine’s acidity helps cut through the shellfish’s richness while its flavors enhance its taste.
Poultry – Pair White Corvina wine with poultry dishes like turkey meatballs or chicken thigh baked in white grape juice to make your meal more flavorful.
Pasta, Risotto & Pizza in White Wine Sauce – These are some recipes that work best with full-bodied white wines like White Corvina. The dish’s flavors are enhanced by adding hints of herbs in the wine.
The pairing brings out the best of all flavors while enhancing each other’s aroma. These wines will taste excellent served chilled (between 6C/43F to 12C/54F).
If you prefer your wines at room temperature (20C/68F), it is best to leave them for two hours before serving so they can warm up slightly while retaining their aromatic integrity.
Is White Corvina Sweet or Dry?
White Corvina is a dry wine but not overwhelmingly so. Expect it to have medium acidity, a bold flavor, and be slightly dryer than sweet.
How is White Corvina Made?
Corvina grapes are harvested when they’re ripe and used for fermentation. They are then pressed to extract the juice, purified by filtration before undergoing secondary fermentation in barrels or stainless steel tanks to enhance its aromatic complexity.
Before bottling, it undergoes malolactic fermentation (the conversion of tart malic acid into milder lactic acid).
The winemaker adds yeast during secondary fermentation to help remove sulfur dioxide, adding more complex aromas of lemon, fruit punch, and flowers in the wine without changing its hint of acidity.
Once bottled, it is left to age until it reaches its optimal flavor profile.
White Corvina should be consumed within three years of its vintage to experience all the aromatic flavors and taste every bit as good as it would when it first came out of the winery.
Summary
White Corvina is a fantastic Italian wine that needs to be experienced by all wine enthusiasts.
This unique full-bodied white wine tastes slightly tart with hints of citrus, ripe fruit, pear, and melon on the palate. It pairs well with seafood, poultry dishes, light salad, and grilled meat.
It is best served chilled (between 6C/43F to 12C/54F), which enhances its citrusy flavors.