White wine is mainly from "white" grapes,

which are green or yellow in color

The Most Popular Types of
White Wine Grapes
 Chardonnay is one of the world’s
most popular white grape varieties, and
wines made with Chardonnay can be found
on just about any wine list in the world. The
legendary Burgundy wine region of
France is traditionally acknowledged as
the home of Chardonnay, although
Chardonnay wines from California and
Australia are also popular.
Sauvignon Blanc is a white grape variety
best known for its crisp, dry and refreshing
white wines. The traditional home of
Sauvignon is in France, especially within
the wine-growing regions of Bordeaux and
the Loire Valley. Sauvignon Blanc is very
expressive of the local terroir, and can range
in flavor from grassy to sweet, and in aroma
from floral to fruity, depending on whether
the grape is being grown in a cooler or more
tropical climate.
 In terms of wine production,
Riesling ranks among the top three white
grape varieties worldwide (along with
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc). The
traditional home of Riesling is the Rhine
region of Germany, especially the wine-
growing sub-regions of Mosel and
Rheingau. Riesling wines are noteworthy for
being highly aromatic and high in acidity,
usually with floral or tropical fruit notes.
Unlike other grape varieties, Riesling is almost
never blended with other grapes.
Semillon is a golden-skinned grape that is
used to make both dry and sweet white
wines. The most famous Sémillon wine
producers, such as Château d’Yquem, are
based in France’s legendary Bordeaux
wine region, where they make Sauternes
sweet wines as well as dry white blends
known as Bordeaux Blanc. In addition to
Bordeaux in France, Sémillon can be found
in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, South
Africa, and Argentina.
Gewurztraminer is a white, aromatic grape
variety that is named for a German-speaking
province of Italy. However, the traditional
home of Gewurztraminer is Alsace, the
French wine region located along the
German border. In addition to Alsace,
Gewurztraminer can be found across Europe in
Germany, Austria, Italy and Eastern Europe.
Gewurztraminer wines are known for having
aromas of lychee, roses, passion fruit and
flowers.
Viognier is a white grape variety that is most
commonly grown in France, California and
Australia. The traditional home of Viognier is
the Rhone wine region of France. Over the past
two decades, however, California’s Central
Coast has emerged as an important new
producer of Viognier wines. White wines made
from the Viognier grape tend to be full-bodied,
with a lush, soft character.
Chenin Blanc is a white grape variety most
closely associated with the Loire Valley of
France. In the 21st century, however, South
Africa has surpassed the Loire Valley as the
world’s top producer of Chenin Blanc wines.
Within France’s Loire Valley, the best
examples of Chenin Blanc come from Anjou,
where it produces dry white wines with notes
of apple and quince, and Vouvray, where it
produces off-dry white wines with floral notes
and honey-like flavours.
Gruner Veltliner is a white grape
variety that is generally considered to
be the national grape of Austria. In
fact, Gruner Veltliner now accounts
for one-third of all vineyards in
Austria, with most of them clustered
in the northeast of the country. The
best Gruner Veltliner wines come
from three Austrian wine regions –
Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal – that
are located along the steeply sloped
terraces of the Danube River.
Torrontes is a white grape variety that is
grown almost exclusively in Argentina,
where it is used to create fresh, aromatic
wines with moderate to high acidity and
a very smooth texture. Aromas from the
best Torrontes wines include peach and
apricot. In terms of drinkability,
Torrontes wines are most similar to those
made from Muscat grapes.
The traditional home of Pinot Blanc is the
northeast of France, in the Alsace wine
growing region. In addition, Pinot Blanc is
grown in France’s famed Burgundy wine
region. Outside of France, Pinot Blanc is
also popular in the Baden and Palatinate
wine regions of Germany (where it is
known as Weissburgunder), in Austria
(where it is known as Klevner), and in
Spain and Italy (where it is known as Pinot
Bianco).
Muscat ranks among the oldest
domesticated grape varieties, with its
history stretching all the way back
thousands of years to the ancient
Egyptians and Persians. There are actually
200 different types of Muscat grapes, but
only four primary types typically used to
make wines: Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains,
Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat of
Hamburg and Muscat Ottonel. As young
wines, they tend to have aromas of citrus,
rose and peach.