Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: New Zealand
Cost: $26

Pale straw in color with hints of green and featuring blackcurrant and gooseberry on the nose with concentrated fruit and tropical fruit on the palate.  Pairs well with crab, salmon, chicken, and cheeses.

Recommendations: This time of year, I drink a lot of Sauvignon Blanc, which is why I’m always happy to get a sample sent my way.  I’d never heard of Brancott Winery before I got this wine, but the description sounded good and like I said, I like Sauvignon Blanc this time of year.

I didn’t really catch the hints of green in the glass, but the wine was certainly straw colored and given as how I’m not particularly familiar with gooseberry, I mostly got citrus on the nose.  On the palate the wine was full of citrus with a finish of lemon-grass.  Paired with a dinner of salmon and risotto, the Brancott B did a great job of cutting the richness of the risotto and the fattiness of the salmon.

My only real complaint with this wine is the cost.  While it’s certainly not a rip-off at $26, I feel as though I can get a quality Sauvignon Blanc for less.  That being said, I would still recommend this wine, especially for a dinner of seafood.

Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: New Zealand
Cost: $8

Light in color with a bright, acidic nose and flavors of Meyer lemons and Key limes in the mouth. Pairs well with seafood and creamy soups.

Recommendations: Ok, full disclosure, I picked up this wine at my local Costco while doing some shopping because the name of the vineyard caught my eye and I just couldn’t resist.  I figured it would be funny, and would give me the opportunity to write about a bad Sauvignon Blanc.  I was half right.

I’m not going to say that this is my favorite Sauvignon Blanc by any stretch of the imagination, but for an $8 wine that I can enjoy on the deck during the warm days of Spring and Summer while munching on some light food, it’s hard to beat the Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc.

Good citrus flavors, though absent the grapefruit that I’ve come to love from South American Sauvignon Blanc, it was light and refreshing on a warm afternoon on the deck and the wife and I were rather surprised by it.  I’m not saying I’m going to rush off and buy a case of it, but I’d certainly consider picking it up again when I’m doing my regular shopping at Costco.

While you can certainly do better than this wine, and for not much more, you can also do a lot worse.  If you’re looking for a cheap deck wine it’s worth a try, especially for the price.

Light and juicy with just enough grapefruit flavor to let you know it’s a Sauvignon Blanc wthout overwhelming you with citrus flavors.  Great for seafood, sushi, appetizers, or on the patio.

Recommendations: While Terra Andina Sauvignon Blanc has take its place in my heart as my go-to summer deck wine, Ponga is certainly giving it a run for the its money.  Light and crisp with just enough citrus to be refreshing without beating you over the head with it, this white from New Zealand was the perfect compliment to a lunch of cheese, crackers, hummus, and home made bruschetta that my wife and I enjoyed this past weekend.  That being said, I would definitly recommend pairing the Ponga with a piece of spicy tilapia or even some sushi.

If you’re in the market for a deck wine and don’t want to spend a lot of money on it, the Ponga Sauvignon Blanc is a great value with a great taste.  Half the fun of drinking it is just saying the name, but you’ll get a lot of enjoyment drinking this on the deck as the temperature continues to climb.  Grab this one.