This week’s Wine of the Week is a refreshing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with a special focus on respecting Mother Earth.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has some big fans around the world. It’s an aromatic and zippy style of wine that can have you saying, “more, please!” as the temperatures rise.
Known for its tropical, citrus notes, and grassy characteristics that you either love or hate, this wine is easy to pick out of a crowd – even if the crowd includes other Sauvignon Blancs from around the world. It’s that special!
Villa Maria EarthGarden New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
This bottle, by New Zealand’s most awarded winery, Villa Maria, is an ode to the land. The winery is a founding member of the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand organization, and it is focused on environmentally friendly farming practices. This involves encouraging biodiversity in the vineyard, and not using any synthetic pesticides or fungicides. This sustains healthy vines, which is reflected by the life and natural vigor in the bottle.
Villa Maria’s EarthGarden Sauvignon Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc and 100% acceptable for those adhering to a strictly plant-based diet. It’s full of zest with tropical fruits, citrus, and refreshing acidity. Not as much of the grassy stuff, if that’s what you’re looking for, but plenty of invigorating summer fruits.
The grapes for these wines come from vineyards that are naturally farmed in Marlborough, with wildflower gardens between the rows of vines, and soils nourished by grape compost, not chemicals. Truly a representation of what the land intended for a bottle of wine.
“The Villa Maria EarthGarden is one of the most revolutionary Sauvignon Blancs I’ve tasted in my exploration of the variety. It is approachable to all palates while displaying truly refreshing flavors of the grape — a result of the natural winegrowing, planting of wildflowers, and regenerative viticulture that goes into producing the sustainably focused range.”
– Lisbet Lopez, Sommelier at Amara at Paraiso
You can purchase Villa Maria’s EarthGarden Sauvignon Blanc at Finding Wine for $16.40.
Check out our other “WOTW” picks and other articles about wine in Miami on Wine Guide Miami.
Jacqueline is a professional wine + travel writer, radio host, wine columnist, and consultant based in Miami, FL.
She is the monthly “Vino” columnist for Biscayne Times newspaper, a guest host covering the drinks segment on Linda Gassenheimer’s podcast show, “Food, News, and Views,” and Star Wine List’s Miami Ambassador.
Jacqueline is a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist & WSET 3.