by Sarah Bray
I love a good Sancerre, but recently it's the non-French sauvignon blancs that have been really catching my attention. Cool, coastal climates in the southern hemisphere from New Zealand to Chile are producing outstanding takes on the variety, each leaving its own stamp of terroir on the grape. Bright and deep, with notes of lush tropical fruit, it's the perfect wine for early fall. You can't go wrong with these three bottles:
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $25
New Zealand's Marlborough region is known for its sauvignon blanc, and this is the bottle that introduced it to the world. I first tried it many years ago, hunting through New York's wine shops for a bottle after reading a mention of it in a book. I've since tasted many other sauvignon blancs from New Zealand, but none with the elegant balance of tropical fruit, citrus, and acidity that this wine achieves. And after sipping it with clams fresh from the Pacific Ocean and seawater in my hair, I couldn't imagine a more perfect pairing than shellfish.Viña Leyda Classic Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $12
Under winemaker Viviana Navarrete, Leyda has been producing outstanding wines on Chile's coast since its first harvest in 2001. Producing wines in this cool, dry, hilly region is not easy-they must pump water from the nearby Maipo river to irrigate the vines-but the struggle is well worth it. This fresh white, with its bright tropical nose and notes of green grass, lime zest, and grapefruit is a crowd-pleaser. Refreshing and citrusy, its crisp acidity makes for an excellent pre-dinner glass.Reyneke Sauvignon Blanc 2011, $25
As grape-growing regions in South Africa reach toward the ocean, cooler climates create environments for more delicate wines. Reyneke's sauvignon blanc is a gorgeous, cool white, produced with organic farming methods. The fruit and acid are well integrated, with a hint of lime and papaya, melon, and pink grapefruit on the nose. Deliciously refreshing and light, this sauvignon blanc is perfect for an elegant dinner party-soft and crisp enough to sip late into evening's haze.
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