When it comes to white wines, nothing holds a candle to Chardonnay. I make up facts pretty often, but my guess is that Chardonnay surpasses all the other white wines combined in terms of sales and of consumption. So, describe to me what California Chardonnay tastes like? It tastes like everything. Some are light and focused, some are heavy hitters laden with oak and buttery malo, and everything in between…

Pinot Grigio is another huge growth category and we do well with other white wines, like Sauvignon Blanc and Moscato, but nothing like Chardonnay. So what else is there? Hundreds of choices, it turns out! There are easily thousands of white varieties throughout the world, and literally hundreds of excellent wines most have never heard of. Some have different names once they cross borders; some have similar names but produce completely different styles of wine when they cross those same borders. Think you know Pinot Grigio? Try a comparative tasting (not a blind tasting; nobody would guess they are all the same grape) between an inexpensive national brand Italian Pinot Grigio, a more expensive Pinot Grigio from the Colli Orientali, one from Oregon and the fourth from Alsace, France. So, describe to me what Pinot Grigio tastes like now!

Here is a quick list of some white wines you might like to try. Some use more traditional varieties while others I can’t even pronounce. What I can do is attest to the quality of the wine. Once you look past Chardonnay, there is a whole world to discover. Like eating pineapple your entire life, then someone gives you an apple!

Roussanne:

Shannon Ridge Roussanne, Lake County, California ($17)

Jacquere:

Perrier Apremont, Savoie, France ($14)

Vermentino:

Santa Maria le Palma ‘Aragosta’ Vermentino di Sardegna, Sardegna, Italy ($13)

Chenin  Blanc:

G. Beck The Game Reserve Chenin Blanc, S. Africa ($17)

Les Fosses d'Hareng Vouvray, Loire, France ($13)

Pinot Blanc:

Papas Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($16)

Zinck Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France ($13)

Picpoul:

Ch le Petit Rubie Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc, France ($11)

Falanghina:

Cavalier de Pepe Falanghina, Benevento, Italy ($12)

Greco di Tufo:

Tenuta Cavalier Pepe Greco di Tufo, Campania, Italy ($17)

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida wine supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwineshayne.