(FoxNews) -One of the many things I love about the wine world is how I keep learning about different countries, cultures, histories--and grapes.

Would you believe that there are there are over 10,000 grape varieties in existence? But there are only 1,300 of those are used for commercial winemaking around the world.

And still, many of us really only know about 10 basic ones: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Tempranillo from Rioja and Sangiovese from Chianti.

Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, aka the World Wine Guys, came by to introduce me to some lesser-known varietals.

The guys are award-winning journalists and best-selling authors in the wine/spirits/food world. Not to mention they travel a ton, hence their moniker, “World Wine Guys!”

They say it’s time for the world to know more about the next wave of indigenous grapes, many of them from Eastern Europe or the Mediterranean basin. These are not necessarily new wines. But they are new to us, because thanks to political changes in the last 25 years, they now can export them to us. So get out your map and put yourself on a world tour of wine, because the guys have picked five different countries with a corresponding wine for us to try.

1. Croatia: Trapan Ponente Istrian Malvazija 2012

Did you know Croatia has been making wine since Roman times? This wine is “fresh, crisp white wine, also known here as Malvasia Istriana and great with seafood,” says Jenssen, who is the official Croatia taster for Wine Enthusiast magazine.