Here is a summary of the major white wines organized by wine region.
Alsace (France) — Located in northeastern France near the German border, Alsace is known for producing aromatic, full-flavored white wines. The main grapes are Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat. Unlike most French regions, Alsace wines are labeled by grape variety rather than by appellation.
Beaujolais (France) — Less than 2% of Beaujolais wines are white, produced from Chardonnay. These wines may also include Aligoté.
Burgundy (France) — White Burgundy is made from the Chardonnay grape. Styles range from lean and mineral in the north (Chablis) to rich and oak-influenced in the Côte de Beaune (Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet).
Chablis (France) — A region within Burgundy, Chablis wines are made only from the Chardonnay grape with little to no oak aging, allowing the fruit to shine through with flavors of apple, pear, and a distinctive flinty minerality.
Loire Valley (France) — The Loire produces two of France’s most celebrated white grapes. Sauvignon Blanc reaches its most expressive form in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, with vivid flavors of grapefruit and green herb. Chenin Blanc drives the wines of Vouvray and Savennières — ranging from bone dry to lusciously sweet.
Mosel (Germany) — Famous for producing some of the world’s finest Rieslings, the Mosel’s slate-covered slopes yield wines that are light-bodied, high in acidity, and intensely aromatic, ranging from bone dry to nobly sweet.
Rhône Valley — Northern (France) — The northern Rhône produces celebrated white wines from Viognier (Condrieu, Château-Grillet) and from Roussanne and Marsanne blends (white Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage). These are full-bodied, richly aromatic whites.
Rioja Blanco (Spain) — White Rioja is made primarily from the Viura (Macabeo) grape. Traditional styles are aged in oak and develop rich, nutty flavors; modern styles are made in stainless steel for a fresher, fruitier character.
Rías Baixas (Spain) — Located in Galicia in northwestern Spain, Rías Baixas is the home of Albariño — a bright, aromatic white wine with lively acidity and flavors of citrus, stone fruit, and saline minerality.
Soave (Italy) — Produced in the Veneto region from the Garganega grape (with a portion of Trebbiano di Soave). Soave Classico, from the original hillside zone, tends to be the most complex and ageworthy.
Pinot Grigio / Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy) — The Friuli region of northeastern Italy is regarded as producing Italy’s finest Pinot Grigio, with more body and complexity than typical commercial bottlings.
Vinho Verde (Portugal) — Located in northwest Portugal, this large region is dominated by Alvarinho (the same grape as Spain’s Albariño). Vinho Verde wines are typically light, crisp, and slightly effervescent.
Marlborough (New Zealand) — The Marlborough region of New Zealand’s South Island has become the world’s benchmark for a distinctive style of Sauvignon Blanc — intensely aromatic, with vivid flavors of passion fruit, grapefruit, and fresh herbs.
Austria — Austria is renowned for its Grüner Veltliner — a dry, peppery white wine with strong acidity and flavors of citrus, green herbs, and white pepper. Austrian Rieslings are also highly regarded, particularly from the Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal regions.
White Wine Blends
White wine blends combine two or more grape varieties to achieve complexity, balance, or consistency. Classic examples include white Bordeaux (Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon), white Rhône blends (Roussanne and Marsanne), and white Châteauneuf-du-Pape (which can include up to 13 permitted grape varieties).