‘Tis the season for sipping on wine that's white and light. With summer plans on the calendar, here are a few ideas for wine to put in your glass.

Whether you like sweet wine or dry wine, there is a sparkling wine that will fit your palate. Just because it has bubbles, doesn't mean it's sweet. Sparkling wine can be dry (labeled as "brut") or off-dry ("sec" or "demi-sec"). The sweet versions are good for starting an evening out accompanied by a toast. Drier versions work well when pairing food.

In this country, Chardonnay is probably the most well-known of all the white varietals. It's a staple on most wine lists and in every wine shop. The flavor can range from oaky and buttery to crisp and steely. Depending on the region it comes from, the wine will taste entirely different. Try fettuccine alfredo with a solid Chardonnay for a great pairing.

Beyond Chardonnay, we have Pinot Gris. Yes, this is the same thing as Pinot Grigio - It's a "po-tate-o/po-tot-o" situation. This white tends to have more mineral notes and nice levels of acid (when done right). Generally speaking, it's a solid food wine for that reason.

Sauvignon Blanc is another way to go, in terms of white wine. This varietal tends to have huge levels of acid (again, making it great for pairing with food), in addition, it has interesting flavor profiles — depending on where it's from. For example, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc smells and tastes zingy, green and highly herbaceous. When compared with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from California, it will taste nothing alike.

Viognier is a great white to pour in the spring and summer months. It tends to have notes of rose and honey on the nose. To follow that, well-made examples have a tendency not to disappoint on the palate.