‘From Wonderful Places’ Glasses of white wine painted with palette knives.

When it comes to white wines, there are many varieties to choose from and all have different acidities, flavor profiles and tannin levels. Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride, because there are so many varieties that you might get whiplash.

Riesling wine is a fruity, sweet and crisp white that originates from Germany but is now grown throughout the world. These can be both sweet and dry, depending on where they’re grown. Then, you have moscato, which is even sweeter than a riesling and is often used as a dessert wine.
Gewürztraminer

: ginger, grapefruit

Moscato

: pear, honeysuckle, lemon

Riesling

: green apple, lime

On the drier side of things, you can’t go wrong with a classic pinot grigio. Grown in Northern Italy, pinot grigio is a popular option and comes with a refreshing, dry taste with hints of sweetness and zest. There is also sauvignon blanc, and it can come in an array of flavors from fruity to zesty. There’s a secret to sauvignon blanc, which is the inclusion of herbaceous flavors that create grassy tones. As a dry variety, this wine sets off cheese and herbs wonderfully.

Looking for something light bodied and dry? Try one of these:
Chenin blanc

: yellow apple, pear, honey

Chablis

: citrus, pair

Pinot grigio

: white peach, lemon

Muscadet

: lime, green apple, brine

Sauvignon blanc

: grapefruit, green apple, honeydew melon

Looking for something that’s a little more full-bodied and robust? Try a chardonnay. Usually pale to dark golden in color, chardonnay can be fruity or citrusy depending on where the grapes are grown. Chardonnays have a reputation for being what people call ‘buttery’ or oily. This is thanks to wood barrel aging. When a chardonnay is aged in steel – it actually has a more similar flavor to a sauvignon blanc. Here’s a few suggestions of full bodied white wines:
Chardonnay

: butter, vanilla, yellow apple

Viognier

: peach, mango, citrus

Muscat

: citrus, pear, honeysuckle

You’ve heard of red blends but you can also make a white wine blend. White wine blends can be difficult to come by, but are certainly worth the journey. Two classic white wine grapes that are often blended together are the semillon and sauvignon blanc grapes.

White wine can be paired with many different foods, but the general rule of thumb is to have it chilled and keep it away from red meat. Feel free to match your bottle of chardonnay with seafood or creamy risotto. You can also try a pinot grigio with antipasto or seafood. Round off your dinner of spicy Indian curry with a riesling. No matter which side of the wine battle, red or white, you stand on, you can’t deny that white varieties are versatile and interesting. Click these links to search for Drizly in your city, and look for liquor stores on Drizly near you.

• White wine under $20
• White wine gifts
• White grapes