CHARDONNAY:  The King of White wines.  A dry wine, it tastes of butter, butterscotch, and oak.  Can age but generally not as long as red wines.  Grown around the world, it is among the most expensive white wines.  Consider matching it with saltwater fish, shellfish, pork, ham, pasta with butter, chicken, fowl, or even duck.	CABERNET SAUVIGNON: The King of Red wines.  "Cab" is a wine that is dark colored, almost black, and dry.  Generally it becomes more approachable with age. Grown around the world, it is among the most expensive red wines.  Great with steak, chicken, lamb or beef.
SAUVIGNON BLANC:    A wonderful smelling and tasting wine that can be consumed young, and more affordable than Chardonnay.  Not as dry as Chardonnay, this wine has a lower alcohol content and therefore is not as heavy.  Among the New World wine-producing countries, New Zealand makes the best Sauvignon Blancs hands down.  Matches well with poached, grilled, or sauteed freshwater fish, chicken, turkey, or roast pork loin.	MERLOT:   More approachable than a Cab and generally more affordable too.  In traditional Bordeaux wines Merlot is used to soften the Cabernet Sauvignon.  Still dry, it has more of an upfront fruit flavor than a Cab.  Fruit flavors can be of black cherry, strawberries, plums, or figs.  Generally not as expensive as Cabs.  Grown not only in France but in Chile, Italy, Washington State, Oregon and California.  Goes well with grilled meats, fowl, chicken, and pork.
PINOT GRIGIO:    One of the great white wines of Italy.  It is also grown in France, Oregon, and California.  It has a golden-yellow color and an herbaceous, vegetative, exotic fruit-type bouquet.  Pinot Grigio is a bargain compated to many French and American white wines.  Serve chilled with chicken, turkey, seafood pasta, fish, or shellfish.	SYRAH OR SHIRAZ:    A dark-colored wine, it tastes of pepper, spice, black cherry, earth, tar, leather, and roasted nut flavors, and has a smooth, supple texture and smooth tannins.  Australian versions can be 100% Shiraz or blended with Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon.  Examples of French blends are Cahteauneuf-du-Pape and Languedoc-Roussillon.  Shiraz is generally more affordable than Cabs, particlarly Australian versions.  Goes well with grilled chicken, turkey, stews, duck, pork chops, and lamb.
RIESLING:    The most versatile white wine grape in the world.  It is grown most famously in Germany where it is made from dry to super-sweet.  The best part of Riesling other than it's taste, is the fact that it is low in alcohol.  Riesling is also grown successfully in California, Washington State, New York State, and Austria.  Try Riesling with your favorite Chinese or Asian food and hold on!	ZINFANDEL:    Dry, fruity, and full-bodied with a dash of spice.  It is a dark-colored red wine that is among my favorites.  Mainly grown in California.  Its cousin, Primitivo, is made successfully in Italy.  More affordable than many other red wines.  Matches well with turkey, steak, hamburgers and beef.