When to use the definite article with gustar

Question

The test asked to translate "I like white wine" to Spanish, but indicated "Me gusta el vino blanco" was the correct answer. The English sentence seemed unspecific to me, as though the speaker was making a general statement about a category of wine they liked. To add an article seems to imply the speaker likes a specific kind of wine ("I like the white wine"). Is this the same implication in Spanish? Could one say "me gusta vino blanco"? Or is an article always required, and unspecific preferences would require "un/una"?

Thank you.

Answer

Hola Speck
With "Me gusta" to express you like something (in general) we always use the article "el/la/los/las". We are not being specific at all. If I say:
Me gusta el vino blanco.
I am just saying I like white wine in general, not any specific white wine, but white wine in general. 
If I want to be a bit more specific, then I would use other determiners or add a bit of explanation, for example:

Me gusta ese vino blanco. 
I like that white wine. (that one there)

Me gusta el vino blanco que sirven en este bar. 
I like the white wine that they serve in this bar.

In Spanish it is incorrect to say:
Me gusta vino blanco. 
We always need the article with gustar.
I hope this helps.
Inma