More than 90% of all quality white wine is made from which grape?

• A. Riesling
• B. Sauvignon Blanc
• C. Moscato
• D. Chardonnay

Answer: (D)

Chardonnay is the grape most commonly used in quality white wines because it is incredibly versatile and widely grown around the world. It can produce a broad range of styles, from bright, mineral, unoaked wines in cool climates to rich, oak-aged, full-bodied whites in warmer regions. This flexibility gives winemakers a reliable canvas for crafting high-quality whites, which is why Chardonnay dominates many premium offerings. It forms the backbone of iconic white wines in Burgundy, Chablis, and Champagne, and it’s popular in many New World regions as well.

Riesling, Moscato, and Sauvignon Blanc each excel in their own right and influence specific styles or regions, but none match Chardonnay’s combination of global adaptability and the ability to yield high-quality wines across a wide spectrum of expressions.