Sauvignon Blanc is now the most popular white wine sold in the UK, having taken over some time ago from Pinot Grigio.
The growing and making of splendid Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand has also helped a huge amount to help make it popular. Before the promotion of grape varietals, only professionals or connoisseurs would have known that Sancerre, Pouilly Fume, Touraine Blanc, and Bordeaux Blanc were all made from Sauvignon Blanc. Now this grape is grown all around the World, but New Zealand takes the lead.
Laithwaite's most popular white wine, unsurprisingly, is from New Zealand. Their Sunday Bay Sauvignon Blanc, from one of the best growing areas in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough, is at the northern end of the South Island which has perfect cool nights and sunny, warm ripening days.
The latest vintage has a bright crisp citrus/grapefruit nose, some ripe tropical fruit character of mango and pineapple and a grassy herbaceous palate, characteristic of newly mown grass and even nettles. Very aromatic crisp bright wine which is a great aperitif or good with summer salads and fish dishes.
Christopher Burr, Master of Wine