Finding a good sauvignon blanc is easy once you have the proper knowledge. Use this guide to navigate the options so you can find the right Sauv Blanc for your taste.
Find Good Sauvignon Blanc You Will Like With These 3 Tips
Depending on your preferences, you might not enjoy Sauvignon Blanc. Think through the following point so you can make a good choice when browsing the white wine varieties options at your local wine merchants.
1 Food Inspiration: Take Your Good Sauvignon Blanc To Great
Sauvignon Blanc is a relatively light-bodied wine known for its tropical fruit notes. Sauvignon Blanc is a good choice if you like eating goat cheese, seafood like sole or oysters, and green vegetables. The natural acidity and balanced alcohol make Sauvignon Blanc a classic food pairing with seafood. The wine also pairs well with white meats like chicken and pork.
Compared to other white grape varieties, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most refreshing wines, which is excellent to enjoy in the summer. The crisp acidity in the wine is a crucial reason why it is so refreshing in hot weather.
Sauvignon Blanc is also an excellent pairing with sushi. Recently, I had an excellent French Sauvignon Blanc (Chateau de Sancerre) with sushi. It was an excellent pairing! If you like to eat such foods, then Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent choice.
2 Reflect On Your Past Wine Experience
Your past wine tasting experience is also essential to consider. Some people are white wine lovers, while others live for red wine. If you have tried red wines and dislike the taste of tannins, then a lighter white wine like Sauvignon Blanc could be a perfect choice. On the other hand, you may have been exclusively drinking Bordeaux red wines for the past few years. In that case, switching to an excellent Sauvignon Blanc bottle of wine may be a refreshing change.
In terms of alcohol levels, a typical bottle of Sauvignon Blanc has 12.5-14% alcohol by volume.
3 Know What Sauvignon Blanc Usually Tastes Like
Before opening a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc wine, it is helpful to know what to expect in your wine glass.
Sauvignon Blanc wine usually tastes like exotic fruit such as white peach, grapefruit, lime, pear, and passionfruit. Non-fruity notes include spices like vanilla, clove, and nutmeg. Some people also notice herbal notes like grassy notes or fresh-cut grass. You will also see the wine described as having a tropical fruit flavor.
What Types of Good Sauvignon Blanc Are There?
In my experience, there are two regions known for producing excellent Sauvignon Blanc: France and New Zealand. That said, you can find great Sauvignon Blanc made in many different places like Sonoma County and South Africa if you do your research.
French Sauvignon Blanc Under $50
French wines made in the Loire Valley have a cool climate, which means relatively lower alcohol than warmer climates. Thanks to wine-searcher.com for guiding the development of this list of French Sauvignon Blanc
- Domaine Fouassier Sancerre Les Romains, Loire, France
- Domaine Delaporte Sancerre Monts Damnes, Loire, France
- Alphonse Mellot Sancerre ‘Edmond’, Loire, France
- Alphonse Mellot Sancerre Generation XIX, Loire, France
- Domaine Vacheron Sancerre Guigne-Chevres
Note that the above wines have an average price under $100 on wine-searcher.com. Prices at your local wine shop may be different.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Under $50
There are many types of affordable wines from New Zealand, including bottles of Sauvignon Blanc. Here are some of the best wine options that have received high scores from wine expert James Suckling.
- Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2019. Priced under $20.
- Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Reserve Clifford Bay 2018. Villa Maria is one of the most well-known Sauvignon Blanc wine brands from New Zealand.
- Te Whare Ra Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2018.
- Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2018.
- Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc. A budget option for Marlborough Sauv Blanc. This bottle has been sold for less than $10 at Trader Joe’s. Expect to taste green apple in this dry wine.
You probably noticed that Marlborough came up several times in the list above. There’s a good reason for that: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is the best-known wine region in the country. It is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The wine region has more than 150 wine producers. The region is the largest producer of wine in New Zealand.
Sauvignon Blanc from the USA Under $60
You can also find enjoyable Sauvignon Blanc made in the USA. The Napa Valley and the Russian River Valley wine regions of California are generally excellent places to look. Note that California is a warm climate, so it will taste richer and have higher alcohol levels than a wine from a cool region. If you prefer low alcohol wines, look for French wines instead.
The following American wines have stood out with high scores.
- Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 2018. This dry white wine is made in the Russian River Valley of California. For a great food pairing experience, Vivino suggests shellfish and vegetarian dishes (e.g., a warm goat cheese salad). Alternately, this white wine works well with a goat cheese plate as an appetizer.
- Stags’ Leap Sauvignon Blanc 2017. This Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc is known for its citrus notes and pear. In addition, oaky notes like vanilla and tobacco add character to the wine. Opening a bottle from Stags’ Leap also opens the door to American wine history. The winery is one of the oldest wine producers in the US – it was founded in 1893.
The Best Way To Appreciate Sauvignon Blanc
Reading about the tropical fruit aroma and green grass associated with the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety will only take you so far. At a certain point, you need to try some wine. To fully appreciate the differences between different styles, buy a few bottles of wine. For example, buy one bottle from a cooler climate like France and a warmer climate like California. Once you have a few bottles, plan a wine tasting at home with a few friends.
Learn About Wine While You Commute (Or Do Errands)
Did you know that the Great Courses offer audio courses through Audible? These audio courses are a great way to develop your wine knowledge. The single best option is “The Everyday Guide To Wine.” This 24 lecture course gives you an excellent introduction to the wine world for less than the cost of a single good bottle of wine. Read my full review of The Everyday Guide To Wine to determine if the course is right for you.
