The king of reds; a big-structured, dark-fruited wine, the best of which become even more elegant with age

With complex fruit flavors and often a rich, creamy texture; the most popular white wine in the U.S. to date

Crisp, pink wine that combines the rich fruit of red wine with the refreshing, low-tannin nature of white―not to be confused with white Zinfandel

The most popular red wine in the U.S. (the Sideways effect notwithstanding), Merlot has dark fruit flavors like Cabernet Sauvignon, but is generally a little rounder and softer

Pinot Grigio is usually crisp, light, and steely, with great acidity; Pinot Gris (the same grape) is often made into a rounder, more complex wine

A light-bodied, low-tannin, silky, sensual red, handed stardom by the movie Sideways in 2004 (but still only the fifth most-popular red wine in the U.S.)

A crisp, aromatic wine, considered the noblest white of all by much of the wine world, that goes with just about everything

A lean, crisp, white wine that’s extremely flexible with food, and a great alternative to Chardonnay

Made primarily from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, good-quality sparklers are made with the traditional Champagne method, where the bubbles are created in individual bottles

Pair with lamb, sausages, and grilled meats of all kinds

An exotic, full-bodied, rich-textured white wine

The most American wine of all (it’s grown almost nowhere else)―a juicy, jammy, spicy red wine that can turn your teeth purple