1. Pinot Grigio
Quintessential pinot grigio, particularly from Italy, is known for being dry and easy-drinking, making it one of the world's most popular wines. It's also known by a few different names around the world, including "pinot gris" in France, the U.S., Chile, Australia and Argentina, and "Ruländer" in Germany.
Styles of pinot grigio and pinot gris wines vary depending on where they're grown and how they are made. Italian, Austrian and German pinot grigio is most often produced in stainless-steel tanks, so is light and fruity with lower alcohol levels (10-12.5% ABV). These acidic pinot grigios pair easily with fish, chicken and shellfish. Pinot gris, on the other hand, may be aged in wood and have some malolactic fermentation, meaning a fuller-bodied wine with less acidity and peach undertones.
2. Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the most planted grape in the world and the U.S., though many either love it or hate it. That's because wine with the chardonnay grape can be produced in two very different ways: one aged in oak and with malolactic fermentation, and the other in stainless steel and no malolactic fermentation, also known as unoaked chardonnay. The latter process results in clean, crisp wines that taste nothing like the buttery, oaky chardonnays you may be used to.
For chardonnays that tend to be less buttery and oaky, look to Chablis, a region in Northern Burgundy making wines of the same name, though they can be pricy. For oaked chardonnays with flavors of ripe pineapple, lemon curd and toffee, look to California and South America.
3. Pinot Noir
Lighter than other grapes, such as merlot, malbec and cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir is fruity and soft, making it a crowd pleaser for red-wine drinkers. Depending on where it's made, the flavors found in a pinot noir range from dark fruit and earthy mushrooms to spicy horseradish. French Burgundy is the most famous, and generally the harshest on the wallet, but ideal for special occasions. For more affordable versions, look to the U.S., New Zealand and Germany, where pinot noir is called Spätburgunder.
4. Rosé

5. Cabernet Sauvignon
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