8 Popular Types of White Wine

Lazy summer picnics on the beach. Backyard barbecues. Dining al fresco in the park. Any of these activities offers a perfect excuse to break out the white wine.

These days, red wine slightly races ahead in modern American wine consumption, but white wine remains in strong demand. You can find white wines from across the world in a range of styles—from elegant to easy drinking. Join us as we dive into a round-up of the world's most popular white wines.

Discover so many types of white wine to choose from.

Popular Types of White Wine

Chardonnay

Chardonnay’s original home is France’s Burgundy region, which is responsible for eminent wines like Chablis, Meursault and Montrachet, but today you’ll find Chardonnay in virtually every wine region around the world. Beloved by winemakers for its adaptability, Chardonnay thrives in numerous climates. It takes on sharp Granny Smith apple, lemon, and quince in cooler regions, often displaying stunning elegance and minerality. In warmer climates , the grape can express richer aromas and flavors of pineapple, apricot and melon.

Chardonnay is one of the few white wines that takes beautifully to malolactic fermentation, which transforms tart-tasting malic acid to softer lactic acid—giving the wines a softer, creamier texture. It’s also one of a handful of white wines that has a real affinity for oak aging. Chardonnay that has been aged in barrel often exhibits notes of toast, vanilla and baking spices. Oaked or unoaked, with or without malolactic fermentation, Chardonnay is fabulous with food. Mineral-driven light Chardonnay is phenomenal with seafood—oysters, in particular. Lightly oaked Chardonnay is a marvel with roast chicken, while mature barrel-aged examples pair well with game birds (such as wild duck or squab), mushrooms and white truffle.

Love a smooth, full-bodied Chardonnay? We think you’ll adore The Creamery Dunnigan Hills Chardonnay 2019, with its ripe yellow fruit and toasty vanilla flavors.

Sauvignon Blanc

Cool climate-loving Sauvignon Blanc radiates spring and summer vibes. When grown in the Marlborough region of New Zealand's South Island, the grape creates refreshing wines packed with zesty lime, grapefruit, and jalapeño. It becomes a grapefruit-laden, passionfruit and dominant peach wine in warmer appellations.

Some winemakers in regions like Bordeaux and Napa Valley age their Sauvignon Blanc in oak, giving the wine a fuller body and a creamier texture, sometimes with subtle notes of baking spice.

Sauvignon Blanc is just as much of a picnic wine as it is a partner for fine dining. Enjoy Sauvignon with seafood and bright, citrus-driven dishes like ceviche and chicken piccata. Have trouble finding a wine to pair with a vegetable pasta or risotto dish? Reach for Sauvignon Blanc. Herbaceous examples pair effortlessly with vegetables and garlic. Think pasta primavera or garlic prawns.

Pinot Gris

Aka Pinot Grigio. One grape, two names. Pinot Grigio is the Italian name for the grape, and stylistically, it’s fresher and lighter, with notes of green apple, lemon and lime–often with floral hints and a saline minerality.

The French call the grape Pinot Gris, and this style is more full-bodied than its Italian counterpart. On the nose, you’ll experience white peach, honey, and lemon blossoms. Occasionally, Pinot Gris is made into luscious late-harvest wines—a truly luxurious dessert wine that's perfect with apple pie or tarts.

Riesling

Some like it dry. Some like it sweet. However you prefer it, there’s a reason why Riesling is the wine connoisseur's darling: this highly aromatic grape goes with all sorts of tricky-to-pair dishes. Its mouth-puckering acidity means Riesling is particularly food-friendly, and the perfect palate-cleanser to reset your taste buds between bites of a Thai green curry, Szechuan chicken or Madras curry. Off-dry and sweet Riesling are real winners with chili heat. If you’re unsure what to drink with sushi, reach for a bottle of dry Riesling. The wine will always hit the spot with pork dishes, too.

Why not try Green Darner Riesling 2019 with its kiss of sweetness plus pear and apple flavors? This U.S. Riesling will be a delicious addition to flavorful dishes.

Chenin Blanc

As with Reisling, Chenin Blanc comes in dry, off-dry, and decadently sweet versions. The grape calls France’s Loire Valley home, but exceptional bottles can also be found in South Africa, California and Australia.

Terrific when served with pork and cream sauces, it’s also a natural partner for lobster and pairs well with crabmeat’s sweet, delicate flavor. A dessert Chenin is right up there with Sauternes as one of the best foie gras and pâté wines.

Viognier

Hailing from the Condrieu region in France’s Rhône Valley, Viognier is a superb alternative for fans of richer Chardonnays. Elegant and aromatic, the oh-so-sumptuous Viognier washes over the palate with waves of marmalade, yellow peach, papaya and baking spice.

Its richness means it’s a wonderful wine with lobster, crab and scallops. Roast chicken, turkey and pork are fantastic pairings— Viognier is always a safe bet at Thanksgiving dinner. It even suits some spiced dishes, especially Viogniers featuring stone fruit or tropical fruit flavors.

California’s Central Coast and South Australia are the need-to-know Viognier regions outside of France.

Discover our selection of Viognier wines to enjoy with your next seafood feast.

Sémillon

Sémillon is the key variety in the legendary sweet wine Sauternes. Frequently blended with Sauvignon Blanc, the wines come in both dry styles and honeyed sweet nectars that are equally sought after by white wine lovers.

Grown in Bordeaux, the Hunter Valley in Australia and California, more winemakers are now bottling Sémillion as a single-variety wine. Enjoy it with chicken, duck, turkey and virtually all fish dishes, including sushi, which is best paired with an unoaked version.

Grüner Veltliner

Grüner Veltliner is a vegetarian’s best friend. The grape’s herbaceous, white pepper and stone fruit notes make it a good choice of wine to pair with light summer salads and foods that are notoriously difficult to pair with wines, like asparagus and artichoke. Love Thai food? This noble Austrian grape variety makes Thai food sing. Grüner ages well and often spends time on its lees, which imparts a creamy texture that’s hard to resist.

Choose from our selection of Austrian and U.S. Grüner Veltliner wines.

Other Types of White Wine

Albariño

One of Spain’s most famous white wine grapes, Albariño boasts an outstanding purity found in few grapes. Refreshing, full of zesty citrus, blossoms and minerality, it’s often tinged with a touch of salinity. Albariño is a great choice of wine with seafood and lighter dishes. It’s the star of northwestern Spain’s Rías Baixas. Across the border in Portugal (where it’s known as Alvarhino), the grape finds its way into the spritzy, easy-drinking wines of Vinho Verde.

Shop our delicious range of Albariño wines now.

Gewürztraminer

Fallen into a rut and keen to explore other white wines? Pick up a Gewürztraminer. Lychee, rose petals, yellow peach and ample spice notes characterize this lovely pink-skinned grape. France’s Alsace region is the undisputed king of Gewürztraminer, producing both dry and late-harvest sweet wines. Gewürztraminer is a low-acid white wine grape, but its naturally ripe-fruited flavors (which often convey a sense of sweetness) make it a knock-out pairing with South Asian cuisine.

Take a chance and try the crisp, dry Sealicious Gewürztraminer 2020, with its distinct aromas of citrus and lychee.

Torrontés

Unmistakable in the glass and uniquely Argentinian, Torrontés provides a real treat for fans of fragrant, floral wines. We’re talking roses, jasmine and apricot. It’s an outgoing white wine that calls for equally bold fare. The Argentines enjoy it with empanadas (a specialty of Salta, the country’s premier Torrontés region), but curries, glazed roast poultry and vegetable dishes are other combinations to explore.

Muscat

Thanks to its heady aromatics, a sip of Muscat (aka, Moscato) may remind you of Gewürztraminer or Riesling. This ancient grape is amidst a renaissance, with folks falling for its peachy, mandarin and candied ginger flavors. Usually vinified into a low-alcohol sweet wine, Muscat calms the heat in spicy Indian, Thai and specific Chinese recipes, but it’s something else with caramel and custard. Need a wine to take you from appetizer through to dessert? Just ask Moscato d’Asti.

For the ultimate choice for appetizers to dessert, Petticoat Moscato 2021 is sure to hit the spot.

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8 Popular Types of White Wine

Popular Types of White Wine

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Pinot Gris

Riesling

Chenin Blanc

Viognier

Sémillon

Grüner Veltliner

Other Types of White Wine

Albariño

Gewürztraminer

Torrontés

Muscat

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8 Popular Types of White Wine

Popular Types of White Wine

Chardonnay

Sauvignon Blanc

Pinot Gris

Riesling

Chenin Blanc

Viognier

Sémillon

Grüner Veltliner

Other Types of White Wine

Albariño

Gewürztraminer

Torrontés

Muscat

Other Wines of the World Articles You May Be Interested in

Plus 1–Year Laithwaites
FREE Shipping Service