Sauvignon Blanc is the anti-Chardonnay. This light-bodied white wine is a lively, tangy, herb- and citrus-flavored alternative to latter top-selling, buttery beverage, which many of us regularly imbibe.
Sauvignon Blanc comes in a wide variety of styles, from crisp and—not kidding—grassy versions to riper, peach- and mango-scented selections. Produced in many wine regions of the world, Sauvignon Blanc is often one of the most affordable options for a white wine.
Made traditionally in the Loire and Bordeaux regions of France, the Sauvignon Blanc we drink in the U.S. today owes a lot to winemakers in New Zealand, who championed a lean style of wine that smells like fresh-cut grass and has plenty of tangy acidity, but no oak flavors from barrel aging.
What Foods Pair with Sauvignon Blanc?
Sauvignon Blanc goes with cheese, with appetizers, salads, lighter entrees and especially with seafood. Oysters on the half shell, crab cakes, sautéed cod or halibut take to Sauvignon Blanc like mushrooms take to Pinot Noir.
Where Do You Find Great-Value Sauvignon Blanc?
We’ve chosen to define great-value wines as bottles that achieve the highest scores for the lowest cost. In compiling Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Best Buys list, we found that such great-value wine is not limited to any one region. Rather, it can be found in areas spanning the globe.
Below, we’ve pulled 10 Sauvignon Blancs from the recommended $15-and-under category. Altogether, they speak to the incredibly wide variety of affordable wines available to U.S. consumers.
Best Buy Sauvignon Blanc From California
Edna Valley Vineyard 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (California)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This medium-bodied wine shows the classic snap peas and fresh herbs in the nose, and tangy citrus and green veggie notes on the palate. A savory, brothy expression sets it apart. Best Buy—Jim Gordon
$14 Wine-SearcherGeyser Peak 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (California)
Bogle 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (California)
88 Points Wine Enthusiast
Ripe green apples and a touch of citrus give this medium-bodied wine a good core of fruit flavor, while a tangy balance and smooth texture make it very pleasant to sip. Best Buy—J.G.
$11 VivinoBest Buy Sauvignon Blanc From Chile
Morandé 2021 Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Aromatic and intense notes of white grapefruit, guava and a hint of asparagus in the glass of this Sauvignon Blanc sourced from Casablanca. The palate is creamy with rich citrus and exotic fruit flavors blended with subtle chamomile flower notes. It has refreshing acidity and a crisp citrus finish. Best Buy—Jesica Vargas.
$14 Wine-SearcherVeramonte 2021 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley)
89 Points Wine Enthusiast
Herbs and lime appear on the nose of this fresh and lively white. It’s medium bodied with vibrant acidity. Citrus and green flavors are intense leading to a lemony finish. It’s great value. Best Buy—J.V.
$14 Wine.comCono Sur 2021 Bicicleta Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Central Valley)
86 Points Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of lime and grass shape the nose. The palate shows herbaceous and mild citrus fruit flavors alongside light acidity. Best Buy—J.V.
$10 Wine.comBest Buy Sauvignon Blanc From New Zealand
Babich 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Youthful and fruity, this perfumed wine opens with juicy lemon and lime, peach skins and chalky dust, underscored by green herbal notes. The palate is round and lightly creamy with crisp acidity and a lovely herbal and citrus skins quality. Best Buy—Christina Pickard.
$13 VivinoGiesen 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Aromas and flavors are subtle and layered, reminiscent of peach skin, lime, grapefruit and jalapeño. There’s a roundness to the midpalate and the acidity is bright and well integrated, with the flavors flowing gently through to the finish. Best Buy—C.P.
$14 VivinoKoha 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
This is a bright, zippy and balanced Sauvignon for drinking cold in the height of summer. Passionfruit and lime burst from the glass followed by fresh herbs like fennel fronds and lavender. There’s a slipperiness to the palate, the juicy fruit lingering on the finish. Best Buy—C.P.
$15 Wine-SearcherBest Buy Sauvignon Blanc From South Africa
The Beachhouse 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Western Cape)
86 Points Wine Enthusiast
Pungent and fruity from first sniff, this white leads with aromas of mango, peach and melon that are kissed with a spray of lime juice. It’s light on the palate, though with a soft impression of fullness thanks to the ripe fruit flavors that carry through to the close. Best Buy—Lauren Buzzeo.
$10 Wine-SearcherWhy You Should Trust Us
All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
Last Updated: July 12, 2023
