So, it was time for my first Sauvignon Blanc. It is a beautiful sounding name…Sauvignon Blanc…is a dry white wine produced in California, France, Chile, Argentina, Italy, Washington, and growing in popularity in South Africa and New Zealand. There are various flavors within the S.B. varietal. It can taste like grass, green pepper, asparagus, grapefruit, lime and even “catbox.”
Now, catbox is not a way I would like my wine to be described as tasting or smelling like, but some people really get into this. I remember watching someone taste wine and described it as being “earthy” and like manure. That’s just gross. But some people really look for this and savor this. Perhaps I just still have a whole lot of wine-ing to do.
But, after going into the store and digging into my pockets for as much spare change that I could, I finally had enough to buy my first New Zealand bottle of S.B. I couldn’t help it, something just sounds cool about getting a wine from New Zealand! I am a complete nerd, but I found good old Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc. (It’s a very interactive website and very cute!) For about $9 I was able to buy my first bottle of dry wine!
I was extremely nervous about trying a dry wine. But after the initial sip where I wrinkled my nose and puckered my lips, I got more used to it. It is very fruity and very light and it started to grow on me. It wasn’t so bad once I got used to the unsweetness of the wine. I am intrigued and once I work another shift in the journalism school, I should have enough money in my pockets to scrounge up enough for another bottle. Any other suggestions on cheap bottles of S.B.?
collegeandwine 
It is great that you have taken the plunge into the realm of dry whites. Sauv. Blanc is one of the “Nobles” of the Alsace region of France as well as being one of the greats in the Loire and Bordeaux. New Zealand has been a leader in Sauv. Blanc for years as Kim Crawford’s Sauv. Blanc has been a perennial top 100 Wine Spectator wine for many years. Washington State has all the necessary elements for great Sauv. Blanc as well. In fact if you can get your hands on Chateau Saint Michelle Horse Heaven Hills 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($12 here in WA) you will be partaking in a wine that is perfectly characteristic of the varietal. The wine has value far beyond it’s price and is very akin to some of the fine Sancerres out of the central vineyards of the Loire in France.
Again, in the UK, NZ Sav Blanc is the biggest and most popular SB these days for regular folk(!) We go wild for it here. At a public event I was at in October, the wine riot at the NZ Wines table was insane. 6 deep with people at all times for 9 hours solid all clamouring for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Because there is now so much being produced, the prices are beginning to come down a little too which is a bonus. Just before Christmas we experienced the first occurrence of three for £12…this had never happened before!
If you can push your budget, Greywacke is a definite winner.
Wow! That sounds crazy! I would definitely say that the NZ Sauv Blanc was my favorite out of the few that I tried. I will also look into the Greywacke. That sounds very interesting. Thank you for reading and commenting on the site. It is very appreciated