| Chardonnay |
The most desired grape variety in the world, originating
in Burgundy but now widespread. Makes full-bodied, potentially
complex wines. |
| Chenin Blanc |
Makes great wine in the Loire valley and much
ordinary (but occasionally good) wine in South Africa. |
| Colombard |
A good workhorse variety in the south of France;
it is also widely planted for making neutral wines in South
Africa, California and Australia. |
| Furmint |
Described as "fiery," this grape is
the great variety of Hungarian tokay and has potential for table
wine. |
| Garganega |
Neutral variety, but can make wines
of great texture and character in Soave. |
| Gewijrztraminer |
A most distinctive variety, with lychee and rose-petal
characters. At its best in Alsace. Planted widely but not densely
elsewhere. |
| Malvasia |
Heavy but interesting variety, little known but
widely planted in southern Europe. |
| Marsanne |
Mainstay of white wines in the northern Rhone
valley, and surprisingly concentrated in central Victoria, Australia |
| Melon de Bourgogne |
The variety of muscadet. Neutral and light. |
| Mfiller-thurgau |
Widely planted, early ripening, but mediocre "flowery"
variety. Planted mainly in Germany but with an outpost in New
Zealand. |
| Muscadelle |
Generally a minor supporting variety, but the
grape behind the great fortified tokays of Australia. |
| Muscat |
A wide family of grapes, but at its best (muscat
blanc a petits grains) responsible for dry aromatic wines in
Alsace, good sparkling wine in Asti and great fortified wines
in southern France and Australia. |
| Palomino |
Boring variety, but it does make exciting sherry. |
| Pinot Blanc |
Restrained variety, at its best in Alsace and
Italy. The subject of interesting experiments in the United
States. |
| Pinot Gris |
Makes full-bodied, slightly aromatic wines. Best
in Alsace, but also used in Italy and central Europe, and attracting
attention elsewhere. |
| Riesling |
The world's greatest white variety, making stunning,
focused wines (from dry to very sweet) in Germany, Alsace, Austria
and Australia. Misunderstood and mistreated elsewhere. |
| Sauvignon Blanc |
A classic in the central Loire and New Zealand.
Other regions are still trying. |
| Semillon |
Makes great wines in Bordeaux (especially botrytized
dessert wines) and the Hunter valley. Ignored elsewhere. |
| Trebbiano |
The world's most widely planted and boring white
grape variety. Ideal for cognac |
| Viognier |
Makes full-bodied and aromatic white centered
on the northern Rhone, but now attracting attention elsewhere
in the world, especially in California. |
