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Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $10.94
13 Celsius Sauvignon Blanc is crafted from exceptional grapes grown in the world-renowned region of Marlborough, New...
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $9.26
12 bottles: $8.80
An expressive wine with bright citrus, lemon zest, grapefruit and undertones of fresh cut grass. The mouth feel is...
Sale
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $13.82 $14.73
This leaps out of the glass, with expressive, intense fruit flavors of silky smooth lemon meringue, mango, tangerine...
WS
93
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $18.94 $21.20
Packs honeysuckle, peach, dried apricot and lemon zest notes that are fresh and juicy, with candied ginger accents....
WS
88
White
750ml
Bottle: $16.94
12 bottles: $15.94
Packed with vibrant grapefruit, peach and fresh herbs with a luscious texture and a zingy, citrus peel acidity....
DC
95
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $16.87 $18.74
12 bottles: $14.81
Pale yellow in color, with delightful aromas of dried herbs, citrus, jalapeno, crushed nettle and tomato leaf. One...
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $13.90 $15.59
Richly perfumed with mango and nectarine, mineral and lime. Sweet herbals and a hint of fresh pea out of the pod....
White
750ml
Bottle: $17.49
12 bottles: $15.83
Lime and gooseberry aromas with fennel, a hint of blackcurrant, and a spice/ mineral note. Expansive fruit salad...
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $14.03 $15.59
12 bottles: $13.99
Perfumed and lifted with passionfruit, blackcurrant and sweet herbs. Mandarin notes also. Juicy and mouth-filling...
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $14.99 $16.66
The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Select Blocks Organic (Marlborough) comes from two organic blocks, one in the Awatere and...
VM
89
WS
89
White
750ml
Bottle: $22.52
12 bottles: $13.99
Highlights of pink grapefruit, melon and gooseberry.
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $17.94 $18.88
12 bottles: $12.35
A stunning, vibrant and refreshing low-alcohol wine.
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $26.90 $28.08
12 bottles: $26.36
Perfumed aromas of tarragon, passion fruit, mango and grated nutmeg. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a saline...
JS
90
White
750ml
Bottle: $14.30
12 bottles: $14.01
A nuanced and structured 100% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is crisp and refreshing with notes of white peach, green...
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $42.94
12 bottles: $39.94
A special cuvée launched in honor of this top biodynamic winery's 20-year anniversary, Clay is, as the name...
12 FREE
WE
98
JS
95
Sale
White
750ml
Bottle: $16.94 $17.91
12 bottles: $15.83
Formerly Petit Clos, it is originally named for the young vines from which they were lovingly crafted. Moving away...
White
750ml
Bottle: $21.94
12 bottles: $21.50
This French-owned biodynamic estate had a rebrand in 2023. Otira, grown on glacial river stones, is part of a new...
WE
93
White
750ml
Bottle: $44.94
12 bottles: $44.04
This new special cuvée, launched for this biodynamic winery's 20th anniversary, is a finessed and beautiful bottling...
12 FREE
WE
96
JS
95
Sale
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $28.23 $30.36
Stands out for its intensity, with ruby grapefruit, yuzu and lemon essential oil details, plus notes of...
WS
92
JS
91
Sale
Rapid Ship
White
750ml
Bottle: $28.78 $30.95
Leaps out of the glass with effusiveness, featuring flavors of apple blossom, Key lime, Honeycrisp, lemon thyme and...
WS
93

Primitivo Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 750ml

As with many European grape varietals, there is some debate regarding the precise origins of the Primitivo grape. Most people now agree that it probably came from Croatia, where it is still used widely in the production of red wine, and it known as Tribidrag. However, today it is a grape most commonly associated with the powerful red wines of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, where the intense sunshine and brisk Mediterranean breezes produce grapes of remarkable character and balance. Primitivo is a dark grape, known for producing intense, inky, highly tannic wines, most notably the naturally sweet Dolce Naturale and the heavy and complex Primitivo di Manduria wines. Primitivo tends to be naturally very high in both tannin and alcohol, making it ideal for both barrel and cellar ageing, which brings out its more rounded and interesting features.


Primitivo is not the easiest grape to grow or manage, and it has had something of a difficult century. Indeed, by the 1990s, there was little interest in Puglian wines in general, and winemakers were neglecting their Primitivo vineyards and looking to other, more commercially viable varietals. However, the last decade has seen this grape come well and truly back into fashion, with new techniques and a heightened interest in native Italian grape varietals bringing Primitivo back into the spotlight. It is now widely loved for its intensity and ability to be paired with strongly flavored foods.

The green skinned grapes of the Sauvignon Blanc varietal had their origins in Southern France, where they are still widely grown and used for many of the excellent young and aged white wines the region is famous for. Today, however, they are grown in almost every wine producing country in the world, and are widely revered for their fresh and grassy flavors, full of tropical notes and refreshing, zesty character. Sauvignon Blanc grapes thrive best in moderate climates, and ripen relatively early in the year. This has made them a favorite for many wineries in the New World, where they can still produce healthy and high yields in the earlier part of the summer before the temperatures become too hot. Too much heat has a massively adverse effect on Sauvignon Blanc, as the grapes become dull in their flavor, and the wine produced from them loses all its unique character and high points. As such, Sauvignon Blanc farmers have had a lot of trouble from global warming and climate change, as they are being forced to harvest their crops increasingly earlier in the year when it is cool enough to do so.

As with nearby Australia, New Zealand has over the past century proven itself to be a superb location for producing high quality wines in vast amounts, with much of the cooler regions of both islands being used primarily for vine cultivation. New Zealand wineries are notable for their enthusiasm in regards to experimentation, and for utilizing modern technologies and methods to make the most of the imported grape varietals which flourish in the rich, fertile soils and oceanic climate. In recent years, it has been the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines which have gained the most attention, as a result of their smoky character and ability to carry the mineral rich nature of the terroir they grow in. Changing consumer interests have brought about a considerable rise in the production of organic and sustainable wines in New Zealand, of which again, the Sauvignon Blanc varietals are leading the way in regards to excellence, flavor and overall character.