White wine covers a lot of ground. Here's a plain-English rundown of the key varietals and what to expect from each one.

Chardonnay - The world's most popular white grape and one of Australia's finest. Incredibly versatile, it can range from lean and racy to bold and buttery depending on the region and winemaking style. Unoaked styles are crisp and citrus-driven. Oaked styles are richer, with vanilla, butter and stone fruit. Adelaide Hills, Margaret River and Tasmania are among Australia's best regions for it.

Sauvignon Blanc - Bright, aromatic and refreshing. Vibrant acidity with intense flavours of passionfruit, citrus and grassy herbaceousness. Currently Australia's favourite white wine and easy to see why, it's crisp, food-friendly and endlessly drinkable. New Zealand is famous for this wine, but Adelaide Hills & Tasmania produce some great examples of it.

Riesling - One of the world's most age-worthy white grapes and Australia does it brilliantly. In Australia, Riesling is often dry and light-bodied, showcasing crisp acidity and lime, lemon and green apple flavours. Clare Valley and Eden Valley are the benchmark regions. Give it time in the cellar and it develops into something extraordinary.

Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio - Same grape, two styles. Pinot Grigio is the lighter, crisper Italian-influenced style, pear, lemon and a clean finish. Pinot Gris tends to be richer and more textured with stone fruit and spice. Australian expressions range from crisp and mineral-driven to textured and complex depending on region and winemaking approach.

Semillon - Seriously underrated and uniquely Australian. Young Semillon is vibrant, crisp and citrusy. Age it and it transforms into a full, buttery wine with remarkable complexity, similar in style to an oaked Chardonnay. The Hunter Valley is famous for its Semillon, producing some of the most age-worthy white wines in the country.

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc - A classic Australian blend. Semillon adds texture and structure; Sauvignon Blanc brings freshness and aromatic lift. The result is a wine that's more than the sum of its parts - crisp, layered and incredibly food-friendly.

Chenin Blanc - Versatile and food-friendly, Chenin Blanc ranges from dry and crisp to off-dry and honeyed. Apple, pear and floral notes with a natural acidity that keeps it fresh. Often overlooked but worth seeking out.