A pair of stylish Tuscan beautiesTenuta di Arceno is located in the southernmost commune of Chianti Classico region of Tuscany – Castelnuovo Berardenga. Bordered by the ancient walled town of San Gusmè, this estate makes three Chiantis and three IGT Toscana wines, and I have very much enjoyed their kindly, entry-level, Merlot-dominant Bordeaux blend, il fauno, in the past. Having said this, my featured wine is a cut above, and if there is one bottle to get you in the mood for the rest of the portfolio at this estate, then this is it!While I am very keen on this classy red wine, it is not what I call a ‘firework wine’. There is nothing showy, explosive or shocking about this creation – thank goodness. By contrast to so many freakshow Tuscan wines found on this famous region’s catwalk, Tenuta di Arceno’s portfolio is measured, calm and sophisticated. With a medium-bodied chassis, admirable control throughout the experience, a surprising amount of juiciness and completely controlled oak, this is a treat for the senses. If only more Chiantis could capture the grace and resonance of this wine. If you are a little disillusioned with the musculature, forestry and astringency found in hosts of wines that seem to garner much admiration and also nose-bleed scores from some of the world’s wine, commentators then find solace here.

29 Best Dry Wines For Different Palates in 2021The bright colors of the California Pinot Gris are not just a stunning sight to behold; they're indicative of what lies inside. The wine is packed with fruit flavors and juicy texture that give it excellent food pairing potential. Stainless steel fermentation helps preserve this lively personality by retaining its vivid fruit and fresh taste while adding depth in flavor notes like pear, honeydew, or tangerine naturally coming with the grape variety itself. The Vintner's Reserve Pinot Gris wine is a unique blend of grapes from the Rhône region, including Roussanne, Viognier, and Muscat. The winemaker also added Albariño to create this complex yet floral flavor that will be sure to please your taste buds.

29 Best Dry Wines For Different Palates in 2021Treat yourself to one of the best white wines that are refreshing and fruit-forward. The crisp lemon and lime aromas meet a crushed seashell tone to create an inviting smell that is sure to please.The Nielson Vineyard is a hidden gem in Santa Barbara. One of the most beneficial features in this area is the unusually cool mesoclimate. The cool Pacific winds whip through this area, so there’s no surprise that the perfect soil, complete with marine sediments and alluvial material from riverside forests, combine to create an ideal land for cultivating Pinot Blanc. The aroma is sweet and fruity like peaches and tangerines, while flavors reflect a light fruit salad of pineapple, pear, grapefruit. Its long finish leaves your mouth watering in anticipation of more!

29 Best Dry Wines For Different Palates in 2021Wine enthusiasts who love crisp and refreshing wines will find the Monterey County Riesling to be a go-to drink. It features delightful apricot, peach, and pear flavors intermingle with aromatic jasmine for an extra flavorful taste. To live up to their reputation for producing only the finest quality wine, Kendall-Jackson Riesling wines carefully match climates, soils types, and vineyards with each varietal. These signature rich layers of flavor have made them world-renowned since 1982. They committed themselves relentlessly to this high standard through a proprietary approach that guides every lot throughout the entire winemaking process.

29 Best Dry Wines For Different Palates in 2021It's time to experience a white wine that not only tastes amazing but looks impressive too. Embark on a sensory journey, and explore the unique taste of the Brewer-Clifton 3D Chardonnay. The first vines planted on their family farm were 3D in 2007, and the wines in this collection are sourced from the bottom of one field, mirroring a tuna's body. They're leaner and firmer at the top, where there is less sand, closer to their Wente and Mount Eden selections. They become more fleshy or oily as they descend into darker soil with Chotoro and Otoro. This wine was fermented on its lees for 16 months before aging in barrels used many times over.

If the aromas of jasmine and lychee jumping out of the bottle don’t entice you, then perhaps knowing this wine was produced by Greg Brewer, who was named the Wine Enthusiast’s 2020 Winemaker of the Year, will persuade you to give it a try. The grapes for this citrusy whole cluster Chardonnay were grown on a two-acre plot in the sandiest portion of Brewer-Clifton’s Machado vineyard. The wine is fermented in neutral barrels to promote its bright and elegant taste.

Cambria Estate Winery has been a sustainable winery, focusing on single vineyard wines since Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke bought the property in 1986. Most of the grapes are sourced from Cambria’s biggest vineyards, named after the couple’s daughters, Katherine and Julia, who now serve as proprietors of the family company. This 2017 offering displays red fruit characters but gets a savory kick from notes of baking spice.

This citrusy, low-alcohol Chardonnay is made from a percentage of wine that has been de-alcoholized and wine from grapes harvested at full ripeness. Winemaker Randy Ullom say, "I'd rather do it this way than pick unripe grapes and make a low-cal, low-carb wine that tastes horrible."

This pale straw-colored Chardonnay from Oregon opens with a green apple and smoky oak bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied and slightly acidic. The flavor profile is an oak and flinty mineral influenced Bosc pear with notes of white pepper, vanilla, and butter cream. The finish is dry, and its flavors and acidity linger for a while. I would pair this Chard with chicken and wild mushroom ravioli with a light butter cream sauce.

Nielson Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2019 delivers admirable complexity and tasty easy drinker at the price. Excellent QPR (quality-price ratio). Soft, supple in the mouth. Ripe fruit-forward with food-friendly pinch of salinity in the mid-palate and finish. Hits the middle-ground between austere un-oaked chards and oak and butter bruisers. Nice wine, worth a try. Pair with pork; rich fish; shellfish; poultry, vegetarian fare; excellent with soft cheese, young cheese.

Ten Great RedsI have adored each iteration of this cuveé since its inception. This is no exception. A pallid ruby. Brilliant aromas of wood smoke, campfire, orange peel and sour cherry, sapid and intense. The mid-weighted palate is framed by a spindly web of tannins that are almost chiffon-like as much as granular, edgy and nebbiolo-esque. Less mid-palate mettle than in the past, but delicious earlier drinking.

This estate-grown sparkler is lean and bracing, leading with scents of wild strawberry and orange peel. The flavors broaden to juicy apple, framed by fine toasty lees, rounded, composed and balanced for a filet of arctic char.

Rich cabernet aromas of blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate lock in an embrace with shiraz's red berry and plum flavours. Fine tannins, balanced acidity and an incredibly long finish are hallmark characters of the historic 1850 Clarendon Vineyard.

Hawks Butte shows blackberry, cherry bouquet with hints of licorice, black pepper and blueberry. On the round balanced palate proper tannin/acidity supports plum, blueberry, cigar box and cumin flavors through a long clean finish. I was surprised at its flavors and long finish due a medium purple color which suggested a less complex wine.

Inviting notes of warm brioche, honeysuckle and candied orange peel are layered with flavors of green fig, melon and salted almond in this elegant white. Bright acidity is lightly mouthwatering and refreshing throughout, defining the lush and lingering, spiced finish.

Rich and toasty, a medium-bodied white, with a lush range of glazed apple, smoky grilled brioche, lemon curd and candied ginger notes reined in by sleek, well-knit acidity. The lasting finish is lightly mouthwatering, with pretty lime blossom and flint notes. Drink now through 2026.

Fine-textured, with good lift to the luscious pear tart and apple pastry flavors. Plenty of toast notes midpalate lead to a long, spicy finish, with tropical fruit and buttery nuances. Drink now through 2025.