Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Case-Only)

When it comes to good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Still, there are a few must-haves that, in my eyes, are non-negotiable.

For one, the wine has to be crisp and refreshing with good acids and no sugar. It needs to be easy to drink on its own as well as pair with summer cuisine like goat cheese salads and grilled fish. It also needs pristine fruit – so many of these wines are all grass clippings, lacking what makes Sauvignon Blanc so delightful. It needs the tropical, citrus, and stone fruit flavors we crave. And lastly, of course, it has to have a stellar price. There are too many good cheap ones to overpay for NZ Sauvignon Blanc.

As easy as it sounds, if you add up all those requirements, very few New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs actually make the cut. Why? Most producers chase increased demand with quantity, not quality.

But I can tell you with extreme confidence that Villa Maria checks every box.