Fast Facts:
- 2019 Sacrata Alvarinho, Minho, Portugal ($8.99 @Costco in California – Item #1535819)
- 2020 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($6.99* @Costco in California – Item #343916)
*net price after $2 discount
After months of days that were literally and figuratively dark, we have arrived on the doorstep of Daylight Saving Time (DST) and the vernal equinox. Amen!
With these seasonal changes, our food and thus, wine preferences shift as well. Whether those shifts for you mean more sushi, more seafood, or simply lighter fare like simple pastas, these two wines – both bright, fruity and pleasantly acidic – will be great house wines to see us through the warmer days that are just around the corner.
Let’s get started…
2019 Sacrata Alvarinho
Grown in the extreme far north of Portugal in granite and schist soils on the southern banks of the Minho River, this Sacrata Alvarinho is a terrific value and a different take on the grape that is produced in excess to the north and bottled as Vinho Verde.
Tasting Notes:
Young and fresh with bright acidity, aromas of white flowers and peach blossoms. The wine is delicate, with notes of chalk, crisp citrus, stone fruits, steely acidity and a salty minerality. It may be cliché, but this wine is made for seafood. But it would also pair well with white pasta sauces, chicken dishes and soft cheeses.
Phonetic twins, Albariño and Alvarinho are made from the same grape variety. It is called the former when the wine originates in Spain, and the latter when it is grown in Portugal.
2020 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc
After the $2 discount, this wine is being sold at my local Costco for $6.99, making it the best value for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in their wine section IMHO. As evidenced by its 2020 vintage, this wine is bottled shortly after harvest to showcase the youthful, fresh and vibrant characteristics of Marlborough.
What separates it the Kirkland Signature Sauvignon Blanc at the same price is the presence of tropical fruit flavors which give it a softer, rounder mouthfeel.
Tasting Notes:
Cool climate aromas jump out of the glass, such as lemongrass, jalapeño peppers and fresh herbs. The wine shines on the palate with ripe citrus and tropical fruit flavors. You can discern the hand of a winemaker blending cooler vineyard and riper fruits here. A perfect aperitif wine, serve chilled on warm summer days. Fresh herbal flavors match well with most salads, whereas the riper tropical flavors match well with any fish recipes. It would be sublime with fresh oysters.
Need More Wine Picks from Costco – or Trader Joe’s Even?
If your wine shopping excursions land you in Costco, prepare by grazing our most recent reviews of Costco wines here in our Lucky 13 list.
And if your shopping finds you at Trader Joe’s, you can find our Lucky 13 list of TJ’s wine here.
Happy hunting.
Cheers!