Swill or Swell: Episode 1

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc

Check out the episode here

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain!

CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it!

LET’S INTRODUCE THE WINE

For my first episode, I chose a wine that holds a special place in my heart: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc.

I first tasted this wine at a dinner party with my husband’s relatives after we moved here to Seattle. I had just graduated college and this wine really made me feel like an adult for some reason. After the dinner party, I always made sure to have a bottle in the fridge. Years have now passed and it’s been a while since I tasted this wine, so I’m excited to see if it lives up to my expectations!

Before we get into the review, let’s talk a bit about this wine. ​

NOBILO SAUVIGNON BLANC FUN FACT

• The grape varietal, Sauvignon Blanc, originated in France. It’s particularly famous in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux regions of France. Ever had White Bordeaux? You were likely drinking Sauvignon Blanc. How about Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume? Also Sauvignon Blanc!
• Sauvignon Blanc soon made a home for itself in New Zealand where it tends to produce wines with more tropical fruit notes and a touch of residual sugar to balance acidity. These wines from New Zealand are also famous for unique aromas such as grass, hay, and cat pee! 
• The producer of the wine, Nobilo, was originally founded by a Croatian immigrant named Nikola Nobilo in 1943. We actually have Nikola to thank for all the delicious Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand as he led the move from hybrid grapes (European grape varietals mixed with varietals indigenous to New Zealand) to more popular grapes like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Nobilo is now owned by Constellation Brands, a huge wine & spirits company that also owns Robert Mondavi and Kim Crawford wines!

WINE TASTING NOTE

Look: Very pale, translucent, straw with hints of green
Smell: Tropical fruit - kiwi, passionfruit, green melon; vegetal/grassy note; slight minerality, like seashells or wet rocks
Taste: High Acidity, very refreshing. Light body. Perfect for a sunny day. Honestly, it tastes just how I remember it tasting.
Think:
Food Pairing - Salad, especially with goat cheese! Green vegetables - pesto or pasta primavera. Also thinking this would be great with seafood, in fact I had it for the first time with grilled shrimp.
Occasion - First Gorgeous Day of Spring, Family Dinner Party
Rating - Two thumbs up! 

In summary, this wine did not disappoint! It might be the good memories influencing my taste buds, but I would say this wine is most definitely swell!

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!

​Cheers!