And now, for the less-familiar white wines

The last two articles have been a basic buying guide for red wines other than Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz/Syrah and Pinot Noir. This week the focus is white wine.

Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauvignon Blanc are the three most popular white wines in the United States, but there are so many others that are now available. I selected the three "other" white wines that seem to be the most popular within the not so popular category.

Alvarinho / Albariño — This white varietal thrives in Portugal where it is called Alvarinho and Spain where it is called Albariño. It is a low-yielding, thick-skinned grape that produces grapes that have high sugar content and high degree of acidity. Most are fermented aged in stainless steel and the wines tend to be fruity and due to the skin to juice ratio, the wines can be very rich on the palate.

Burgans Albariño, Spain, $14.99 — Citrus flavors dominate the palate, but this wine is definitely not as tangy as a Sauvignon Blanc. A hint of white peach softens the wine and gives it some richness on the palate.

Solar Alvarinho, Portugal, $18.99 — One of the best I have tasted. Elegant on the palate with fruit flavors of peach and pear, backed up with a bit of lemon zest. A great wine to pair with our local scallops!

Grüner Veltliner — This varietal grows primarily in Austria and produces light- to medium-body wines that are known to have a hint of white pepper. They tend to be incredibly refreshing, and are considered excellent food wines. Grüner Veltliner enjoyed a more popular role in the American market until 1985, when some Austrian wineries were accused of adding small amounts of antifreeze to the wine to make them bigger bodied in order to appeal to the changing American palate. Consumers lost trust in the Austrian imports and sales fell off the charts. It took 20 years, but the wine is finally making a well-deserved comeback. Grüner Veltliner is often referred to as Gru-Ve (pronounced groovy).

Velt 1 Grüner Veltliner, Austria, $12.99 — Crisp apple flavors with a hint of lemon zest make this wine incredibly refreshing and food friendly. There is a hint of white pepper that the varietal is known for, but it's not too powerful.

Verdejo — This varietal that grows primarily in the Rueda region of Spain. Verdejo produces full-bodied, rich whites that are fruity but crisp. If the wine is at least 50 percent Verdejo and grown in the Rueda region, the wine can be labeled as Rueda. Wines designated "Rueda Verdejo" must contain 85% Verdejo, but are often 100 percent Verdejo.

Sueño Verdejo, Spain, $12.99 — A medium-body white that has a perfect combination of heavier fruit flavors like pear and peach and lighter fruit flavors of lime and orange. This is a great wine for just sipping, but can easily pair with lighter dishes.