Learn to pick white wines like a sommelier with some helpful notes from our Test Kitchens resident wine writer.

You need not be a master sommelier to make your way through this white wine guide.

Some are dry white wines, and some are sweet white wines.

white wine glasses close up

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All have their place as general sippers orfood-pairing wines.

The ultimate rule forwine pairingand drinking: Pour what you enjoy regardless of what others deem popular or classy.

(More on this below.)

Red winesare known for their bolder, more robust flavors and higher alcohol content.

Red wine is fermented with the skins and seeds of the grapes.

It helps to know what makes the best white wine glasses and white wine serving temperature.

However, you could achieve this sweet spot without any extra appliances.

Once youopen the wine, keep the bottle cold in the same bucket.

Read on for the rest of our white wine guide for beginners, broken down by food pairing category.

Often grassy, vegetal, or mineral-strong, these crisp and dry white wines are the ultimate summer refresher.

Think you’re not a fan of sweet white wines?

The Best White Wines for Cooking

Wondering what’s a good white wine to cook with?

The answer is any white wine you enjoy drinking!

Cooking with wine concentrates the flavor.

Here are some of our favorite recipes to make with white wine.