Chenin Blanc is a versatile white-wine grape variety that has been cultivated in France for nearly 1300 years. It is most commonly associated with France's Loire Valley, and its high acidity levels mean it can be vinified in a number of different styles: Nowadays, a shift in attitudes to this noble grape has seen an upsurge in quality in South Africa, rich wines that tend to be more tropical in character than their Loire Valley counterparts, displaying flavors of pineapple, melon, guava and banana.

Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. The Chardonnay grape itself is very neutral, with many of the flavors commonly associated with the grape being derived from such influences as terroir and oak. In cool climates Chardonnay tends to be medium to light body with noticeable acidity and flavors of green plum, apple, and pear. In warmer locations the flavors become more citrus, peach, and melon, while in very warm locations more fig and tropical fruit notes such as banana and mango come out. Chardonnay is an important component of many sparkling wines around the world, including Champagne.

Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the Bordeaux region of France. Sauvignon blanc is planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. Depending on the climate, the flavor can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. In cooler climates, the grape has a tendency to produce wines with noticeable acidity and "green flavors" of grass, green bell peppers and nettles with some tropical fruit (such as passion fruit) and floral (such as elderflower) notes. In warmer climates, it can develop more tropical fruit notes but risk losing a lot of aromatics from over-ripeness, leaving only slight grapefruit and tree fruit (such as peach) notes.

Pinot Grigio is more than just the Italian name for Pinot Gris. Although the two names refer to a single grape variety, the wine styles they represent are clearly distinct from one another. The difference between Pinot Grigio wines and Pinot Gris wines is so clear and well-established that the two are often treated as if they were two distinct varieties. The Grigio style is achieved by harvesting the grapes relatively early, in an attempt to retain as much fresh acidity as possible; the variety is naturally quite low in acidity.

Riesling is a light-skinned, aromatic grape of German origin which is - if the majority of top wine critics are to be believed - the world's finest white-wine grape variety. Riesling is conspicuously absent from the core wine regions of France, Spain and Italy. Riesling's spiritual home is unquestionably the regions that trace the middle Rhine and the lower Mosel, two of Europe's great wine rivers.