The 33 Greatest Sauvignon Blancs, from $16 to $60

Not way back, we despatched out a ballot to Meals & Wine readers and requested what their favourite white wine was. Typically, in case you ship out a ballot with that query, the solutions are available, the gears whir, and the huge equipment spits out a solution: Chardonnay. It’s been the most well-liked white wine selection within the U.S. for many years. Nevertheless, F&W readers — a far-sighted, eclectic, authentic bunch to make sure — beg to vary. Your fave white grape? It’s Sauvignon Blanc.

And why not? Sauvignon Blanc is zingy and contemporary; it does the jitterbug whereas Chardonnay is doing the waltz. In some locations, New Zealand notably, it takes on notes of reduce grass and bell peppers (beloved by many, loathed by some). Elsewhere, it’s flinty and austere. In nonetheless others, it mellows into melon or mango notes.

All the time, Sauvignon Blanc suggests citrus of 1 kind or one other — grapefruit, lemon, lime. It’s hardly ever aged in oak (although it may be) and barely wealthy in model (although it may be). Finished effectively, it’s obtained a type of finger-snap zip that wakes up your palate, one purpose that it’s additionally so good as an aperitif.

Nearly each wine-producing nation grows Sauvignon Blanc, although not essentially all of them ought to. It isn’t a grape that does effectively in super-warm climates, the place it loses its hallmark vibrant acidity and finally ends up pudgy in a bizarre manner.

However there are many locations the place it does brilliantly, from New Zealand to California to Chile to France. Some are stunning — Austria’s Styria, for instance — and a few are completely basic, like France’s Loire Valley, dwelling to the Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé appellations.

So right here, Meals & Wine followers, are 33 of the perfect Sauvignon Blancs to purchase proper now.

$20 or much less

2022 Château Bonnet Sauvignon Blanc ($16)

Like many Bordeaux blancs, this zesty white blends Sauvignon Blanc with some Sémillon. It’s appealingly direct, with a type of lemon-gumdrop character and a vibrant, tangy end.

2023 Los Vascos Colchagua Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($15)

This Sauvignon, from the Chilean arm of France’s Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, leans extra towards the variability’s lime and grapefruit facet, with contemporary, energetic flavors and a vivid end.

2021 Montes Restricted Choice Leyda Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($15)

Individuals who love New Zealand Sauvignon will take to this cool-climate Chilean white instantly. (Those that don’t, effectively, remember that it isn’t missing in new-mown grass and inexperienced pepper notes.) It’s distinctive, and the tangy end lasts and lasts.

2022 Lapostolle Grand Choice Sauvignon Blanc ($20)

Lapostolle is one in all Chile’s benchmark wineries, producing spectacular wines (and a number of them) at costs starting from the reasonably priced to the super-pricey. This Sauvignon is a particular cut price, stuffed with melon and lime notes, interesting and juicy.

2022 Hanna Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($20)

Longtime Hanna winemaker Jeff Hinchliffe blends fruit from 10 completely different vineyards for this chrome steel–fermented and –aged Sauvignon. It’s an appealingly pure expression of Russian River Valley Sauvignon, its flavors suggesting pomelos and inexperienced apples.

$20 – $30

2022 Von Profitable Lime Rift Sauvignon Blanc ($29)

Von Profitable in Germany’s Pfalz area is a good Riesling producer, however additionally they make distinctive Sauvignon Blanc. It’s tingly on the palate, with a taste that remembers pineapple oil (if there may be such a factor) and a touch of herbaceousness. It made me consider a brass band on a summer time day—presumably too far a metaphorical leap, however I’ll stand by it.

2022 Cantina Puiatti Sauvignon Blanc ($25)

No oak and fermentation solely with native yeasts leads to a really pure expression of Sauvignon from this Friulian producer. The wine mingles melon and citrus flavors with a evenly natural tomato leaf character; it’s finely balanced, and a steal for the worth.

2022 Tement Kalk & Kreide Südsteiermark Sauvignon Blanc ($26)

Grapes from 55 completely different biodynamic winery parcels are blended for this perfumed, floral, Austrian Sauvignon Blanc. It’s tingly and chalky, with loads of citrus notes and a touch of crunchy inexperienced papaya taste (consider the basic Thai salad, minus the fiery chilies)

2021 Alice Berthier Coteaux du Giennois Vins de Loire ($24)

U.S.-based importer Mary Taylor sources wonderful, reasonably priced wines from France, amongst them this pear- and lime-scented Sauvignon from vigneron Alice Berthier. The vineyards lie within the little recognized Coteaux du Giennois appellation, simply north of Sancerre.

2022 Honig North Coast Sauvignon Blanc ($24)

The Honig household made Sauvignon Blanc their focus in 1980, when virtually nobody else was making it. The hitch was, that was as a result of nobody was shopping for Sauvignon Blanc. However they persevered, and at present their Sauvignons—like this energetic, citrus blossom–scented wine—are amongst California’s greatest.

$30 – $40

2022 Massican Sauvignon Blanc ($33)

Dan Petroski’s Massican wines deal with northern Italian varieties and wine types regardless of being made in Napa Valley. This channels the savory, crystalline Sauvignons of Friuli by means of California’s local weather, leading to a tart white with flavors suggesting lemongrass and Meyer lemon.

2022 Talley Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc ($34)

Edna Valley’s Talley Vineyards made its title on wonderful single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinots, however the vineyard’s sole Sauvignon Blanc is a winner, too. It’s medium-bodied and pineapple-melony, with lime zest accents and sufficient zippy acidity to make it refreshing.

2021 Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($36)

Getting older in older oak barrels permits this lemon verbena–scented Sauvignon to realize a supple, creamy texture with out taking up any oak flavors or aromas within the course of. The flavors recommend Meyer lemon and mango, and linger appealingly.

2022 Domaine du Nozay Sancerre ($38)

Biodynamically grown grapes go into this floral, citrus-creamy Sancerre from vignerons Philippe and Marie-Hélène de Benoist. They’ve farmed organically since 2011 and biodynamically since 2017.

2022 Russiz Superiore Collio Sauvignon ($35)

Northern Italy makes among the world’s most spectacular Sauvignons, primarily from the hillside vineyards of Friuli. This one from vintner Marco Felluga is stuffed with contemporary citrus and lime zest, ending on a transparent mineral observe.

2021 Sattlerhof Gamlitz Sauvignon Blanc ($36)

This cuvée is known as for the Sattler household’s hometown in Austria, the place their vineyards are planted. It’s intensely fragrant, with lime blossom and delicate honey notes, and a stony end. For those who’ve by no means tried Austrian Sauvignon Blanc, search it out.

$40+

2022 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc ($45)

Spottswoode has lengthy been a benchmark Cabernet producer in Napa Valley, however the vineyard’s Sauvignon Blanc has seen virtually equal acclaim through the years. It presents unimaginable purity of taste, mingling citrus and tree fruits, with a protracted, grapefruit-zesty end.

2022 Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($48)

Made in a richer, riper model, it is a Sauvignon Blanc for Chardonnay lovers, even providing a touch of vanilla-spice from getting old in 18% new French oak barrels. Merry Edwards was lengthy recognized for single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, however the preliminary 2001 classic of this wine’s success made it a mainstay for the vineyard.

2022 Lail Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc ($60)

Robin Lail’s Georgia bottling is arguably the perfect Sauvignon Blanc in California—a stellar wine, however a really dear one ($170). Her Blueprint has a very good share of the identical complexity and layers of taste, and whereas it isn’t cheap, it’s an exquisite wine (and 10% of on-line gross sales of their Blueprint wines go to organizations combating local weather change).

2022 Domaine Vacheron Sancerre Blanc ($53)

Vacheron is without doubt one of the biggest names in Sancerre. Complicated layers of citrus, inexperienced apple and melon play right here, ending on a peppery observe; if you’d like a benchmark to your Sancerre schooling, this wine is it.

2022 Domaine Delaporte Sancerre Chavignol ($43)

Winemaker Matthieu Delaporte’s household has been making wine for the reason that 1600s within the city of Chavignol in Sancerre. That is their flagship wine, full of chic, lasting flavors that recall Bosc pears spritzed with lemon.