A classic French grape, Sauvignon Blanc has been the star player in Loire Valley Sancerre and a key supporting role in white Bordeaux wines for centuries. With a variety of flavor profiles that reflect its terroir (Old World Sauvignon Blancs tend to have a prominent minerality, while versions grown in Australia, California, and New Zealand are known for their grassiness and notes of tropical fruit,) and ease of growing in sunny climates, it’s no wonder Sauvignon Blanc remains one of the most popular wines in the world.
Regardless of where it comes from, Sauvignon Blanc’s crispness and acidity make it ideal to pair with food — especially light, fresh vegetable dishes and zingy goat cheese. To help you find the perfect Sauvignon Blanc the next time you’re looking for a dry white with plenty of character (and history), we’ve pulled together a list of the best we’ve tried in the past six months. The wines on this list all scored a B+ or higher in our wine reviews, and are arranged by score and price.
Here are 25 of the best Sauvignon Blancs you can buy right now, with reviews written by VinePair tastings director Keith Beavers.
Oak Farm Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A) ($19)
A Sauvignon blanc worth the higher price point, with notes of wet flint rock and pear. With a swirl, honeysuckle and a subtle hint of mint and nectarine emerge. The palate has a nice, peppy, medium acidity that delivers a clean and creamy mouthfeel. It’s a great wine to share with your wine friends.
Marco Felluga Russiz Superiore Sauvignon Collio 2018 (A) ($21)
A focused and angular white wine, with sharp notes of ripe Bartlett pear (the ones mom put in your lunchbox), mint, and beeswax. The wine also releases some wet rock and cut grass with a swirl. The mouthfeel is clean, with acidity calming the deep fruit notes just enough to be refreshing. For the price this is a wonderfully made Sauvignon Blanc if you’re looking to switch up your Savvy B source.
Château Rieussec R de Rieussec Blanc Sec 2018 (A) ($25)
Salty and sweet all at once with notes of wet rock and green apple along with a hint of coconut. The palate is dry and zippy, with nice sharp edges softened by vibrant acidity and good fruit integration. This is on the expensive side for a Bordeaux blanc, but wow is it worth the pennies.
Le Domaine Saget Pouilly-Fumé 2017 (A) ($32)
The nose greets you with rich pear and tarragon aromas that mingle with ripe gooseberries and jasmine. Among these aromas is a persistent flinty wet rock aroma that really brightens up the wine in tandem with the medium acidity. The palate is very balanced with the slightest grip. This a beautiful, mature, and focused wine; you can’t go wrong here.
Justin Vineyards & Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($15)
Gotta say I think this might be one of the best Savvy B deals from Cali. It is crazy balanced, smells like apricots, pineapple, and orange pith, is under screw cap, and costs under $20. The acidity is bright, the palate is refreshing, and the flavor lingers for a moment after sipping to remind you how fun it is. The success is in the fact that all elements of this wine are where they need to be, giving every aroma and texture its due time for you to enjoy. Did I mention it was under $20?
Château Sainte-Marie Vieilles Vignes Entre-Deux-Mers 2018 (A-) ($15)
This wine is a Sauvignon Blanc-dominant blend but it only plays a supporting role. The aromas we associate with Savvy B (bell pepper, gooseberries) are way in the background as the Semillon and Muscadelle take center stage, creating earthiness. What I am saying is this wine reminds me more of a Chardonnay from southern Burgundy (Macon) but with frothy, well-rounded acidity, and notes of white flowers and lemon-mint yogurt. It is such a pleasure to drink and is only $15.
Outlot Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (A-) ($19)
Salty caper brine and lemon zest with white floral vibes open the nose of this wine. There’s even some basil leaf and mineral-driven crushed concrete. The palate has a fullness to it, and a nice grip, while all the aromas fold into each other among medium acidity. This is a great food white for grilled veggies and a summer salad with goat cheese and walnuts.
Priest Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($19)
Easy-drinking and mineral-driven, with notes of pear, the slight bitterness of gooseberries, and sweet tarragon aromas. With a swirl some white peach (sweeter than yellow peach) and flinty wet rock emerge. The palate has a leanness, with a nice medium acidity, making it an easy-drinking wine even though the alcohol is up there. A great wine for sharing with friends at the end of the day.
Gamble Family Vineyards Gamble Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($25)
Zippy, creamy, and dry all at once. That’s what we got going on here. All the smells of tropical fruits, like kiwi and mango, and a whiff of white pepper are kept in check by extremely refreshing acidity. The palate will give you a nice drying sensation, making this a great wine for ceviche or anything that incorporates fresh goat cheese.
Rusack Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (A-) ($26)
Going against the current style in California is this dry, crisp, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit is lean and smells like fresh sliced pear and mint yogurt. The mouthfeel is grippy, with very high acidity stabbing the fruit notes on the palate, keeping them in check. This is a great wine to sit and drink with good friends, and just let the wine do most of the talking.
Jean Reverdy et Fils Sancerre La Reine Blanche 2018 (A-) ($26)
Sancerre is always going to be a little expensive so finding quality is key to enjoying wines from here. This is a great example of said quality. This is a very refreshing wine with quiet aromas of bell pepper balanced by notes of mint yogurt and wet flint rock. The acidity is focused and vibrant, lifting the wine on the palate. If you see this bottle, you are guaranteed good quality for spending a few extra bucks.
Domaine Vincent Delaporte Sancerre 2018 (A-) ($27)
If you see the word “Cavignol” on the label of a Sancerre bottle, know that it will not be as sharp as you are used to. And that’s a good thing. Imagine all that flinty wet stone and lemon with the laser sharp acidity fattened up just a bit. It’s still crisp, but there is a salty roundness on the mouthfeel that soaks in and grips the palate for a moment before letting go. It’s pricey (most wine from here is) but with some goat cheese drizzled with honey and walnuts flecked with fresh cracked black pepper you might as well be in the Loire Valley.
Lismore Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (A-) ($28)
Sauvignon Blanc in wood is now happening, and this wine is a good example of how well this can be done. The nose opens with candied pineapple, peaches, and pears. There is also some vanilla from a kiss of oak. The palate is grippy and well balanced, doing away with classic bell pepper notes to make room for minty yogurt and coconut.
Aperture Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (A-) ($40)
A unique take on the grape with barrel fermentation bringing notes of vanilla and coconut. With a swirl there is a sweet, flaky pastry aroma drizzled with lime oil and a hint of basil. The acidity is calm, and the mouthfeel is slick, with the well-integrated high-alcohol slipping and sliding. It’s a hefty price, but interesting enough to justify the coin.
Mason Cellars Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($11)
A great go-to in a pinch with notes of lemons and pears combined with a hint of pepper. There are aromas of green apple and lime as well with a swirl. The palate is sharp and crisp with wet stone minerality. It’s under screw cap, well under $20, and under the umbrella of anytime wine.
Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($11)
Balanced notes of gooseberries and lime form the nose, along with a hint of pear. The palate is clean and mineral-driven, with a slight note of wet flint rock. It is a very balanced wine from a region with such aggressive flavors. This is a zesty, crowd-pleasing wine that’s affordable and great for sipping at sunset and just chillin’ with friends.
Kenwood Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (B+) ($11)
This wine is creamy and clean with nice medium acidity and notes of pear and chamomile. There is a subtle gooseberry aroma, along with some orange peel, as the wine opens. On the palate the wine is calm and creamy with a minty tinge. You can’t go wrong with this $11 Cali Savvy B and it will please any crowd.
Kono Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($13)
Cannabis mingles with gooseberries and pear, with some hints of aloe and basil not far behind. The palate is calm, with a little bit of weight and a little bit of sweet. And that’s totally fine, because this wine is really good for the price and the bottle looks cool, too. At $13 it pairs well with beach bonfires, suburban cookouts, and rooftop blowouts.
Benziger Family Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($13)
A great quality-to-price value, with notes of wet flint rock and gooseberry along with some white pepper. With a swirl some citrus and lemongrass emerge, along with a hint of basil. The palate is soft, the acidity is almost frothy, and there is a nice weight while still being refreshing.
Nautilus Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($15)
Prominent aromas of gooseberries and pear dominate the nose, along with subtle hints of quince. There is a hint of grapefruit and lime oil as the swirls begin. The palate is bright and it has a nice high acidity, amplifying the aromas. This is a great example of how the lower price point of this wine should taste.
Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($16)
This is a great, clean, and crisp wine with a good grip on the palate. It has a nose that smells like nectarines and watermelons, and a dry palate that begs for a picnic. For a bottle from New Zealand to be under $20 is a big deal, and the quality is so there.
Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (B+) ($19)
More of a subtle example from the land of aggressive aromas, with focused notes of wet concrete, gooseberries, and lemon. Hovering over these aromas is ripe pear, which carries over to the palate. The mouthfeel is soft and creamy, with great structure.
Balletto Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($20)
It’s always interesting when this grape sees oak, and here it works, creating a unique nose of capers and lychee. With a swirl some lemon crops up, along with some grapefruit. On the palate the oak comes around with vanilla and coconut aromas. It has a zippy acidity as well, so none of the more intense aromas overwhelm.
Reyneke Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (B+) ($23)
Peaches and cream mingle with white peach and tarragon aromas. This is a unique style for this grape, as it sees some oak bringing a nice yogurt-like mouthfeel with an added aroma of lemon curd. The acidity is calm, and a bit honied, due to the oak exposure. It’s a very balanced and interesting wine.
Patient Cottat Sancerre Anciennes Vignes 2018 (B+) ($28)
Ripe and peppery up front with heady aromas of dill and mint yogurt. This wine is made from old vines, which gives it a rich concentration on the nose. The palate, however, is steely and lean, with wonderful wet stone and white peach notes. In the higher range of the $20s for Sancerre, but it’s a great one for a wide range of palate preferences.
