I drink chardonnay.

There, I said it.

A large number of people, when asked what kind of white wine they drink, will answer A, B, C … anything but chardonnay. However, it is the most popular dry white wine in the world and is America’s most popular wine, red or white.

Because of its popularity, chardonnay is the world’s most widely planted grape and can be found growing in just about every wine region. Originating in Burgundy, France, this is the area where it is still known for some remarkable wine. There are four regions within Burgundy — Mâconnais (Pouilly-Fuissé and Mâcon-Villages), Côte Chalonnaise (Rully and Mercurey), Côte de Beaune (Montrachet, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet) and Chablis. Chardonnay is also one of the primary grapes used in champagne, but that’s another story.

The United States produces some extraordinary chardonnays as well. The cooler climates of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma and the Carneros Region in Napa, within California as well as the Columbia Valley in Washington are ideal for growing chardonnay.

What I like about chardonnay is its complexity. It is produced in three distinct styles; crisp, oaky or elegant. Crisp has little to no oak aging and gives you clean and fresh fruit. You can expect acidic flavors and aromas such as citrus or tropical fruits. It is best served with fish, seafood and light hors d’oeuvres.

Oaky is lusher and round with heightened fruit flavors from the oak aging. Tree fruits (such as apple or pear) become more prominent on the palate. You also begin to pick up some vanilla, spice and oak flavors. Serve this style with cream sauces and white meats.

Elegant has the most complex fruit flavors and can be defined by its smooth and buttery texture. It is best with veal, pork roast or grilled chicken.

So the next time you open a bottle of chardonnay, see if you can identify the style in which it was made.

Here are three good examples to get you started:

UNOAKED

Mer Soleil Silver 2013 – Offered in a ceramic bottle to reflect the small cement wine tanks used in production, this wine offers a bright minerality with pink grapefruit and key line characteristics on the nose followed by notes of lemon meringue, quince and citrus on the palate.

OAKY

Definitive 2011 Napa Valley Chardonnay - Layered with green apple, pear, figs, lime and tangerine zest, this wine has an exceptional richness with mineral notes and cocoa and crème brulée flavors from the oak.

ELEGANT

Ramey 2011 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay – With full native malolactic fermentation taking place in barrel and 12 months of aging in 27% new French and Hungarian oak barrels, this Chardonnay offers a vibrant and impeccably balanced wine with a rich creamy buttery taste.