Study and careerWhite grapes
Seven white grapes to know, and how to say them
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Gewurztraminer and Chenin Blanc: what each tastes like, where it grows best and how to order it without stumbling.
Alper Billik · Advanced Sommelier
Updated October 2026 · 4 min read · Edited with AI
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On this page
- The seven at a glance
- Chardonnay: the shape-shifter
- Sauvignon Blanc: green and zesty
- Riesling: from bone-dry to very sweet
- Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris: one grape, two styles
- Viognier: peaches and flowers
- Gewurztraminer: the easiest to recognise
- Chenin Blanc: every sweetness, every style
- Which one should you try first?
- Quick quiz
- Questions people ask
Learn seven white grapes and you can read most of the white side of any wine list. Each one has a clear personality: some are crisp and green, some are perfumed, some change completely with the place and the winemaker. Here is the short version of each, how to pronounce it, and where to go next.
The seven at a glance
| Grape | Say it | Tastes of | Classic places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chardonnay | shar-doh-NAY | Lemon, apple, or ripe peach and butter if oaked | Burgundy, Champagne, California, Australia |
| Sauvignon Blanc | soh-vee-nyon BLAHN | Grapefruit, gooseberry, cut grass, passion fruit | Loire, Bordeaux, Marlborough |
| Riesling | REES-ling | Lime, green apple, white flowers; petrol with age | Mosel, Rheingau, Alsace, Clare Valley |
| Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris | PEE-noh GREE-joh / PEE-noh GREE | Pear, green apple, almond; richer in Alsace | Northeast Italy, Alsace, Oregon |
| Viognier | vee-oh-NYAY | Apricot, peach, honeysuckle | Condrieu, Château-Grillet, California |
| Gewurztraminer | geh-VOORTS-trah-mee-ner | Lychee, rose, ginger | Alsace, Alto Adige, Germany |
| Chenin Blanc | SHEN-in BLAHN | Apple, quince, honey, a waxy note | Loire, South Africa |
- Chardonnay
- Say itshar-doh-NAY
- Tastes ofLemon, apple, or ripe peach and butter if oaked
- Classic placesBurgundy, Champagne, California, Australia
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Say itsoh-vee-nyon BLAHN
- Tastes ofGrapefruit, gooseberry, cut grass, passion fruit
- Classic placesLoire, Bordeaux, Marlborough
- Riesling
- Say itREES-ling
- Tastes ofLime, green apple, white flowers; petrol with age
- Classic placesMosel, Rheingau, Alsace, Clare Valley
- Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris
- Say itPEE-noh GREE-joh / PEE-noh GREE
- Tastes ofPear, green apple, almond; richer in Alsace
- Classic placesNortheast Italy, Alsace, Oregon
- Viognier
- Say itvee-oh-NYAY
- Tastes ofApricot, peach, honeysuckle
- Classic placesCondrieu, Château-Grillet, California
- Gewurztraminer
- Say itgeh-VOORTS-trah-mee-ner
- Tastes ofLychee, rose, ginger
- Classic placesAlsace, Alto Adige, Germany
- Chenin Blanc
- Say itSHEN-in BLAHN
- Tastes ofApple, quince, honey, a waxy note
- Classic placesLoire, South Africa
Chardonnay: the shape-shifter
Chardonnay itself is fairly neutral, so it shows the place and the cellar more than most grapes. Cool Chablis is lean and stony; a barrel-fermented Meursault or Napa Chardonnay is round, toasty and creamy. It is also the white grape of Champagne. Full guide: is Chardonnay sweet or dry?
Sauvignon Blanc: green and zesty
High acidity and loud aromas: grapefruit, gooseberry, fresh-cut grass and, in New Zealand, passion fruit. In the Loire it makes Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé; in Bordeaux it is blended with Sémillon. Full guide: Sauvignon Blanc: the grape, regions and aromas.
Riesling: from bone-dry to very sweet
Riesling keeps its acidity even when it is sweet, which is why sweet German Riesling never tastes heavy. Expect lime, green apple and blossom; older bottles can smell of petrol, which is a classic sign, not a fault. Full guide: Riesling, dry vs sweet.
Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris: one grape, two styles
The same grape, a greyish-pink mutation of Pinot. The Italian name usually means light, crisp and dry; the French name usually means a richer, rounder wine in the Alsace style. Full guides: the aromas of Italian Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio.
Viognier: peaches and flowers
Full-bodied, low in acidity and very perfumed: apricot, peach, honeysuckle. Its home is the northern Rhône, where Condrieu and the tiny Château-Grillet are made from Viognier alone. A little is also co-fermented with Syrah in Côte-Rôtie. Outside France, look to California and Australia.
Gewurztraminer: the easiest to recognise
Lychee, rose petal and ginger, with low acidity and an oily texture. Once you smell it, you will spot it blind. Alsace is the reference; Alto Adige makes fresher versions. Full guide: Gewurztraminer.
Chenin Blanc: every sweetness, every style
High acidity, apple and quince, often a waxy or honeyed note. The Loire makes it dry (Savennières), off-dry to sweet (Vouvray, Coteaux du Layon) and sparkling. In South Africa, where it was long called Steen, it is the most planted white grape. More: Chenin Blanc is the friend who always gets you.
Which one should you try first?
- You like crisp and refreshing: Sauvignon Blanc, or an Italian Pinot Grigio.
- You like rich and creamy: an oaked Chardonnay.
- You like perfume: Gewurztraminer or Viognier.
- You like a touch of sweetness: a German Riesling labelled Kabinett, or a Vouvray demi-sec.
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Quick quiz
Question 1
Condrieu is made from which grape?
- a)Chardonnay
- b)Viognier
- c)Chenin Blanc
- d)Riesling
Show answerAnswer
b) Viognier. Condrieu, in the northern Rhône, is 100% Viognier.
Question 2
What is Chenin Blanc traditionally called in South Africa?
- a)Steen
- b)Hárslevelű
- c)Rolle
- d)Pigato
Show answerAnswer
a) Steen. Steen is the old South African name for Chenin Blanc.
Question 3
A white wine smells strongly of lychee and rose. Which grape is the best guess?
- a)Sauvignon Blanc
- b)Chardonnay
- c)Gewurztraminer
- d)Pinot Grigio
Show answerAnswer
c) Gewurztraminer. Lychee and rose are the textbook markers of Gewurztraminer.
Question 4
Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are…
- a)Two unrelated grapes
- b)The same grape
- c)A cross of Riesling and Pinot
- d)Red grapes
Show answerAnswer
b) The same grape. One grape: Pinot Gris in French, Pinot Grigio in Italian.
Question 5
Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé are made from…
- a)Chenin Blanc
- b)Chardonnay
- c)Sauvignon Blanc
- d)Viognier
Show answerAnswer
c) Sauvignon Blanc. Both are Loire Sauvignon Blanc.
Questions people ask
How do you pronounce Sauvignon Blanc?
“Soh-vee-nyon BLAHN”. The final c in Blanc is silent.
Which white grape is the driest?
Grape doesn't decide sweetness; the winemaker does. Most Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are dry. Riesling and Chenin Blanc come in every level from dry to sweet, so check the label.
Which white grapes are aromatic?
Gewurztraminer, Viognier, Riesling and Muscat are the classic aromatic whites. Sauvignon Blanc is aromatic in a green, citrus way.
Is Pinot Grigio the same as Sauvignon Blanc?
No. They are different grapes. Sauvignon Blanc is sharper and more aromatic; Pinot Grigio is softer and more neutral.
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