Chardonnay…What are your first thoughts when you hear the varietal's name? White, golden, buttery, creamy, oaky, tropical fruit flavors - all easily come to mind. The varietal is an intriguing subject as it is grown and produced by wine rookies and veterans alike around the globe. Chardonnay produces menial, mass-produced wines and highly specialized wines alike. Everyone has heard of Chardonnay, but where did it originate?
Imagine a Chardonnay with no butter, no vanilla and no cream. Forget lattes, cappuccinos and all the creamy business… we just want black coffee. For those who’ve elevated their wine tasting chops to something beyond milk fat, unoaked Chardonnay sounds pretty compelling. 
Pinot Blanc (or Pinot Bianco) is a semi-dry white wine that is often compared to Chardonnay. It is typically crisp and refreshing and, depending on where it's made, it can be sweet or have nutty flavors. It's very common for winemakers to use the Pinot Blanc grape when making sparkling and sweet dessert wines as well.
In the early 19th Century, the variety was introduced to the United States, under the name Zinfandel. It proved extremely successful there, earning a reputation as the American 'national grape'. It caused significant consternation on both sides of the Atlantic when DNA analysis proved that Zinfandel and Primitivo were the same variety.
Grenache noir is the world's most widely planted grape used to make red wine, sometimes made into a stand-alone varietal, frequently as a Rosé, but most often as a backbone of red blends.
Unfortunately, as you travel the world, and even up the California coast, you find that wine tasting can be a bit stiff. You often find yourself feeling belittled by wine snobbery. You just don’t feel at home. To help remedy that problem, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when you are away from your home - A Taste of Monterey.
Zinfandel truly is California's unique contribution to the world of wine. Unlike ubiquitous Cabernet and Chardonnay there is no European yardstick to compare itself against. It has had to find its own way, its history modeling that of the settlers who first brought it to America's west coast. 
Viognier is a full-bodied white wine that originated in southern France. Most loved for its perfumed aromas of peach, tangerine and honeysuckle, Viognier can also be oak-aged to add a rich creamy taste with hints of vanilla. If you love to brood over bolder white wines like Chardonnay, Viognier is definitely something you’ll like to swirl.
The origins of Petite Sirah are equally as ambiguous as Syrah. We know Petite Sirah has been grown in California for at least 130 years. In fact, it was, until twenty years ago, the most planted red grape varietal in the state, mostly planted in the San Joaquin and Monterey Counties.