Benziger Family Winery 2013 Sauvignon Blanc North Coast

This summer, I have been drinking a lot of California Sauvignon Blanc. It has become our white wine of choice. I have found California Sauvignon Blanc to be less grassy and more refreshing in the South Carolina hot weather than the New Zealand versions. Further, I have found several bottles from wineries such as Joel Gott and from Trader Joe's that I liked and could buy for less than $10. Without a doubt, our favorite has been the Benziger Sauvignon Blanc North Coast.

I have some bias toward Benziger from visiting their winery in Sonoma and learning of their sustainable grape growing program. The balance of insects, bees and birds that they maintain is impressive. The grapes for this Sauvignon Blanc are not predominantly grown at the Sonoma Vineyards but instead come from multiple vineyards in the 6 county North Coast AVA.

As with much Sauvignon Blanc, this wine features a lot of citrus and floral aromas and flavors. This wine has been aged entirely in stainless steel and has more flavor of lemon and grapefruit than some Sauvignon Blanc. There is also a minerality to the taste. You can enjoy this with seafood or by itself. Our local Costco has been selling this for $7.99 but you will pay more for it at most other stores.

This is a strong recommendation for a white wine for summer.

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