There’s a reason why Sauvignon Blanc is such a crowd pleaser: The crisp white wine is refreshing, food friendly and made around the world with unique regional expressions. It’s no wonder that 2024’s Enthusiast 100—our annual list of the top-rated wines we reviewed—was notable for its many Sauvignon Blancs, often from California, but also from Chile and Australia. In a great year for wine, many of the best bottles are also $20 or less.
“The diversity of wine varietals, flavor profiles and fruit vibrancy offered in the wine selection marketplace has never been better,” says Tonya Pitts, the wine director of the San Francisco restaurant One Market and a Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large who reviews wines from California, Arkansas, Illinois and Colorado, among other states.
That wide range of expressions extends to the world of Sauv Blancs, too. Among the versions Pitts enjoyed most? A mouthwatering organic bottle from Bonterra with aromas of lemon curd and orange blossom and bottle from Lodi’s Oak Farm with notes of candied lime and green papaya.
“There is a thumbprint being shown region by region in California,” says Pitts. “It’s great to see the range of style and flavor profile vary by region. The selected Sauvignon Blancs have a similar core nuance, structure and flavor profile interlayered by vibrancy and acidity.”
Read on for the full list.
Tribute 2023 Sauvignon Blanc (California)
This wine is fresh, bright with aromas of white peach, lemon
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
