By: Virginie Boone

One of California’s most established, historic producers, best known for its majestic Monte Bello, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant red blend, has launched a wine club called Lights & Brights.

As Lytton Springs winemaker Shauna Rosenblum notes in the welcome letter, “This club was inspired by a simple observation: our drinking habits are shifting. Many of us no longer start an evening with a glass of red. When I gather with friends, we often begin with a white or rosé, then move into a lighter red… before opening the more structured reds like Lytton Springs, Geyserville or Monte Bello with dinner.”

Rosenblum and Ridge are responding to the world’s increasing desire to drink more whites. And Sonoma County is well-suited to deliver the goods.

There are just over 19,000 acres of white wine grapes in Sonoma County, with Chardonnay very much leading the way with more than 15,000 acres planted valued at $188,048,700 – more than any red variety in terms of acreage, and surpassing every red in terms of value with the exception of Pinot Noir (though just barely).

After Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc is the next big white in Sonoma County at 2,949 acres planted, worth $32,095,200. Pinot Gris is a distant third at 374 acres worth almost 2 million. Viognier and Semillon hover around that same total value. The top remaining white varieties – Gewurztraminer, Muscat Blanc/Muscat Canelli, Pinot Blanc, Roussanne and Riesling – all weigh in much smaller.

There are also measurable plantings of Albarino, Arneis, Assyrtiko, Chenin Blanc, Fiano, French Colombard, Grenache Blanc, Gruner Veltliner, Malvasia Bianca, Marsanne, Palomino, Picpoul Blanc, Ribolla Gialla, Sylvaner, Viognier and Vermentino.

Analyst Rob McMillan noted in the “State of the US Wine Industry 2025” that amidst a worrying trend of general decline in wine consumption, white wine has had positive growth rates by volume and that “white wine now has better growth rates than red wine.” He added, “the varietal shifts may be another indicator that the rotation to younger consumers is underway.”

It’s a global phenomenon. The International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) reports that world production of white wine has been rising since 2000, from over 46% of all wine since the millennium, to 49% as of 2021.

But last year, white wine consumption officially surpassed red in the U.S. wine market, accounting for 50% of still wine volume sales according to NielsenIQ data.

Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay are particularly of interest, with demand being driven by consumers looking for wines that are crisp, “characterized by acidity, freshness and a light body… playing a big role in the increase in the sale for white wines,” according to research conducted by Metatech Insights, a market research firm that tracks regional and global trends.

It all adds up to real money – the white wine market was worth $47.11 billion in 2025, up from $44.95 billion in 2024. It is projected to reach $79.87 billion by 2035, growing more than 5% between now and then.

“Climate change and the shifts in taste preference have led to an overall movement towards white varieties, which mature earlier and acidify less,” says a study by the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment. “White wine consumption remains constant or even on the rise… the feature of crispness is matching well with health, lifestyle and climatic trends, and white wine is becoming more appealing among consumers who have vast differences.”

The white wine market includes still and sparkling white wines as well as fortified and aged versions. Chardonnay is the most dominant and prominent, the most grown, and produced in places like the United States, France and Australia.

Gallo was ahead of the trend when it bought both Rombauer and Massican in 2023. Jackson Family has long dominated the domestic white wine marketplace with Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay and La Crema Chardonnays. Kistler and Sonoma-Cutrer have long prioritized whites.

Sonoma County knows it can excel with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, two inspirations from France; a 2023 Aubert Sonoma Coast Chardonnay was number two on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list last year. It should be just as ideal for Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Austrian, and even Greek white varieties, wines widely appealing to consumers and are poised to increase in demand and popularity going forward.