Entertaining - New Zealand's Sauvignon Blanc

Much like art, the greatness of any given wine is often subjective. Those who claim to understand the subtle nuances of the regions where a wine is produced have probably sampled a few too many glasses. That said, we have found one wine that has absolutely, unmistakably been perfected in a single region of the world: Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. One of our favorites (and a favorite of others as well, having landed at #40 on Wine Spectator's top 100 list in both 2006 and 2008) is the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough:

If you try it, you'll note a crisp, tart flavor unlike any other wine you've tried, with strong grapefruit undertones--great for the spring and summer that are creeping up on us. For fun, grab another Sauvignon Blanc from anywhere else in the world, be it South America, Australia, California, and compare the two. For once, you'll be able to taste a marked distinction between the same wine being produced in one area of the world as opposed to another. That said, it's also relatively inexpensive, with the Kim Crawford running in the middle of the pack at about $15, and the upper end running under $30 with bottles such as this Saint Clair Pioneer Block from Marlborough, New Zealand:

You'll no doubt drink the whole bottle, but if you intend to save some of the second one you open, see us for one of our erasable wine stoppers, which have been featured on HGTV and in several magazines: