With fresh, earthy aromas and plenty of minerality, Sauvignon Blanc has earned its place as one of the most popular white wine varieties in the world. Originating in France’s Loire Valley, the grape is now grown all over the globe — from Marlborough to Bordeaux, and beyond.
And while Australian, Greek, and even Virginia Savvy Bs also received top scores from our tasting panel this year, American offerings impressed us the most — with over half of our top-rated Sauvignon Blancs from California and Washington. With fruit-forward flavors and restrained acidity, the Sauvignon Blancs coming out of Napa and Sonoma especially blew away the competition.
Whether you prefer notes of tropical fruit or savory minerality, there’s a Sauvignon Blanc for every palate. VinePair compiled a list of the best the variety had to offer this year to help you get started.
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Table Of Contents
Best Sauvignon Blancs Under $25
Sunday Funday Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Just like its name, this punchy wine is bursting with tropical fruit and is as fun as it is easygoing. Uncomplicated yet well balanced, it’s the perfect bottle for poolside sipping and summer activities.
Average price: $12
Rating: 88
Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2021
A crowd pleaser, this New Zealand-style Sauvignon Blanc is fruit-forward with quiet pepper notes and minerality. At less than $15, this wine is a great option for sharing among friends with different palates.
Average price: $13
Rating: 88
Lavis Classic Sauvignon Trentino DOC 2021
Wines from Italy’s mountainous Trentino-Alto Adige region are expressive and crisp, and this Sauvignon Blanc is no different. There are traces of minerality that are distinct to mountain fruit, and a soft yet comfortable fruit taste as a result of the region’s sun-kissed valleys.
Average price: $14
Rating: 90
Bread & Butter California Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Uncomplicated and affordable, Bread & Butter’s Sauvignon Blanc is ideal for weeknights and relaxed weekend gatherings. Its soft aromatics are solidly balanced, with lively acidity that delivers a crisp finish. Bring this easy-sipper along to outdoor activities and fun game nights, and more.
Average price: $15
Rating: 90
Sean Minor Sauvignon Blanc 2020
An easy-drinking wine, this Sauvignon Blanc from husband and wife winemakers, Sean and Nicole Minor, is mouthwatering and refreshing. It has soft, expressive aromas of fruits, such as melon and citrus, and is a nice option for casual drinking with friends.
Average price: $16
Rating: 88
Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Fans of Marlborough-style Sauvignon Blancs will love the upfront aromas and classic flavors of this wine. It’s packed with ripe bell pepper notes and is nicely balanced with fruit and just the right amount of acidity.
Average price: $16
Rating: 90
Famille Dubard Sauvignon Blanc ‘Coeur du Mont’ 2021
This fresh Sauvignon Blanc from Bergerac, France depicts the terroir-driven characteristics of the region. It artfully balances bold minerality, crisp fruit, and creamy texture, and absolutely delivers for a beautiful wine that is more than worth its price point.
Average price: $17
Rating: 89
Robert Hall Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Hailing from Paso Robles, this wine is bursting with tropical fruits and has the refreshing acidity that California Sauvignon Blanc has become known for. Priced just under $20, this wine will impress without breaking the bank.
Average price: $18
Rating: 89
Decoy Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Want to impress your friends without spending too much? Look no further than this Sauvignon Blanc from Decoy. It has aromas of juicy tropical fruits, refreshing acidity, and a creamy texture to finish.
Average price: $20
Rating: 90
Balletto Sauvignon Blanc 2021
A staple in the Sonoma wine region, the Balletto family is known for their sustainable winemaking and quality Californian wines. This Sauvignon Blanc is a good example of their practices: it’s tart with just the right balance of acidity and minerality.
Average price: $20
Rating: 90
Dogwood and Thistle Sauvignon Blanc 2020
The grapes used to make this Sauvignon Blanc come from Northern California where the cool climate helps preserve its acidity, making this wine zippy and bright. It has vibrant citrus notes and a fresh taste that makes sipping it enjoyable and easy.
Average price: $22
Rating: 89
Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2020
A passion project from Kim Crawford, the Loveblock wines are rooted in sustainable agriculture and organic winemaking. As a result, the brand’s Sauvignon Blanc exhibits classic characteristics like green bell pepper, good acidity, and a subtle earthiness.
Average price: $22
Rating: 89
Alma de Cattleya Sauvignon Blanc 2021
An easy-sipping Sauvignon blanc, this wine that delicately balances gentle fruit flavors with pops of pepper. With its equally pretty label, this bottle is sure to please a crowd of distinguished palates.
Average price: $23
Rating: 92
Stinson Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Unique in style, this Virginia Sauvignon Blanc is filled with subdued fruit aromas, such as waxy melon and sweet peach skins. And lots of racy acidity keeps it lively and alive on the palate.
Average price: $24
Rating: 92
Macari Katherine’s Field Sauvignon Blanc 2020
If you’re new to Long Island white wines, Macari’s Sauvignon Blanc is a great place to start. It’s fermented in stainless steel so it has a clean and crisp taste. Offset by its vibrant acidity, this lively wine is the perfect window into New York’s prized North Fork wine region.
Average price: $25
Rating: 89
La Crema Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Promising mass appeal, this Sauvignon Blanc is as aromatic as it is tasty. It offers quiet fruit notes and has a creamy mouthfeel with just a hint of minerality running through it. Priced under $30 and highly accessible, this wine is a steal!
Average price: $25
Rating: 90
Best Sauvignon Blancs Under $50
Alpha Estate Sauvignon Blanc Fumé 2021
Oak exposure is not often seen with Sauvignon Blanc and can be an acquired taste for many. This fumé-style Sauvignon Blanc from Greece offers some unique flavors and textures, and brings a creaminess better associated with Chardonnay.
Average price: $29
Rating: 92
Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Subtle aromatics work themselves well to the weight and grip of this Sauvignon Blanc from the famed Cakebread Cellars. It’s mineral-driven and lightly kissed with barrel oak to deliver a taste that is refreshing and elegant.
Average price: $30
Rating: 89
Armida Sauvignon Blanc Redwood Road Estate 2021
Slightly creamy and highly aromatic, this California Sauvignon Blanc is a treat for seasoned and novice palates alike. It has a calm yet active acidity that speaks to winemaker Brandon Lapides experience working with Sauvignon Blanc, first in Marlborough before moving to the vineyards of California.
Average price: $30
Rating: 92
Ram’s Gate Sauvignon Blanc 2021
A vibrant Sauvignon Blanc from the Carneros AVA, this wine is mineral-driven and fruit-forward. Its natural acidity balances its concentrated flavors, making this a solid choice for Sauvignon Blanc lovers.
Average price: $33
Rating: 90
Ehlers Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2021
The artistic label of Ehlers Estate’s Sauvignon Blanc is just a preview of what’s inside. With its whispery aromatics and river-rock minerality, this wine is an elegant choice for meals and casual sipping.
Average price: $33
Rating: 92
Gamble Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2021
If you’re familiar with Gamble Family Vineyards’ agricultural approach, then you’ll appreciate this sustainably made Sauvignon Blanc. True to the farmer Tom Gamble’s style, this wine is soft with spirited herbaceous notes that nod to the land. Its balanced palate lends itself well for food pairings or simple sipping.
Average price: $35
Rating: 92
Ladoucette Comte Lafond Sancerre Blanc 2020
The Sancerre region is known to produce the purest expression of Sauvignon Blanc, and this bottle is a great example of why. On the nose, you’ll find superb aromas of chalky minerality that lead seamlessly to the wine’s active acidity and soft fruit aromas. An ideal option for lunch, brunch sipping, and a fresh cheese board, this wine is a great introduction to the Sancerre region.
Average price: $42
Rating: 90
Russiz Superiore Sauvignon Collio DOC Riserva 2016
This Italian Sauvignon Blanc has all the makings of a sophisticated white wine. It’s bright and mineral-driven, with soft aromas of fruit, and excellent acidity. A first-class bottle for classy wine and cheese nights or special occasions, this wine is a find that is meant to be shared.
Average price: $43
Rating: 92
Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Unlike most Sauvignon Blancs, this bottle offers unique earthiness that is balanced by subtle floral notes. With its headier flavors and weighty texture, this wine is a great example of how diverse this grape can be.
Average price: $48
Rating: 89
FAQs
Which country makes the best Sauvignon Blanc?
Originally from France, Sauvignon Blanc now grows all over the world. The most notable regions for Sauvignon Blanc are California, New Zealand, Chile, Italy, Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, and South Africa.
Why is New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc so popular?
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has notes of tropical fruit, grapefruit, grass and lime that make the wine easy to sip and appealing to a wide range of tastes. It also pairs well with popular dishes such as seafood and fresh vegetables.
Is Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc?
Sancerre is a region of France that grows the most pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Sauvignon Blanc wines from this region have notes of tart lemon, wet stone, and green apple and are known for their light flavor profile.
What’s the correct serving temperature for Sauvignon Blanc?
The best serving temperature for Sauvignon Blanc is between 45–49 degrees Fahrenheit. A general rule of thumb is that the lighter a wine is in color and flavor, the colder it should be served. We recommend chilling Sauvignon Blanc in the fridge for roughly an hour and a half and letting it come up to temp on the kitchen counter for 20 minutes before serving.
VinePair’s Tasting Methodology
Throughout the year, VinePair conducts numerous tastings for our popular Buy This Booze column, and wine and spirits reviews. Our mission is to provide a clear, reliable source of information for drinkers, providing an overview applicable to day-to-day buying and drinking.
Tastings are not typically conducted blind. In alignment with our reviews mission, we believe in purposefully tasting all products as our readers typically would, with full knowledge of the producer, the region, and — importantly — the price.
For Buy This Booze roundups, we typically include a maximum of one expression per brand, though we do allow multiple products from the same production facility (i.e., released under different labels).
For this Sauvignon Blanc roundup, we aimed to showcase the best current offerings made from the variety at multiple price points. From the (relatively) inexpensive bottles, we sought out wines whose profiles went beyond one-dimensional flavors and sufficient acidity. As for the higher-priced inclusions, these wines had to succeed on delivering (pleasantly) unexpected aromatics and flavors, and a textural component. We are confident that all bottles on this list justify their price point.
