Eric Asimov’s column in today’s New York Times featured a comparative tasting of California Sauvignon Blancs with prices ranging from $15 to $33. Yikes! He candidly admits that these are not ‘terroir-driven’ wines, but that his favorites mimicked the terroir of the French Sauvignon blancs of the Loire or the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.

Which brings us to the dearth of Cali SB at The Greene Grape – we have only one in Manhattan Brander’s SB at $18.75. In general, we find Cali SB too expensive for what it is. Why buy a California vintner’s pricey interpretation of a nice Loire SB when you can get the real thing for as low as $11.75 in the case of our Amepelidae Marigny-Neuf Sauvignon Blanc 2007. Even if you select the ne plus ultra of Loire Sauvignon Blanc – a Sancerre – from one of the best producers, it will only set you back $22.75. Jean-Luc Picard makes a critically acclaimed Sancerre that is a store favorite. As for New Zealand, why buy an imitation when you can get Cairnbrae’s “The Stones” SB 2007 from Marlborough (generally acknowledged as the best region for NZ SB) for $15.75? Brander’s SB represents an exception for us because of the price ($18.75) and the fact that Fred Brander’s been making stellar SB for 30 years and has never adopted the overoaked, tutti frutti style that Asimov says destroyed California’s SB reputation. Sometimes it takes 30 years to prove you were right all along and we’re proud to support his tenacity.

If you really want value and don’t mind going to pioneering territory for Sauvignon Blanc, go to Chile where you can pick up a bottle of our Rayun SB for $8.50 (!) From South Africa, Fair Valley Cooperative’s SB is only $11 and was ‘best of tasting’ in a recent Wall Street Journal column on South African white wines. Or try New York State SB from Osprey’s Dominion for $12.00. An added benefit — while you’re drinking the Osprey’s Dominion, you can breathe easy because you are saving money AND saving the environment from the carbon footprint of shipping all the way from Cali!

Don’t believe us that you can get the same crisp, zesty, minerally flavors found in Cali SBs from these lesser-priced options? Join us this weekend – all day every day we’ll uncork a rotating selection of our Sauvignon Blancs – the proof is in the bottle.