Swill or Swell: Episode 32

House Wine Sauvignon Blanc

Watch 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

Today I'll be tasting the canned Sauvignon Blanc from House Wine. I purchased this for $4.99 at my local Kroger QFC. Don't let these canned wines fool you, they're actually half a bottle! I'm curious to give those wine a try as I've tried the red wine from this producer and very much enjoyed it!

HOUSE WINE SAUVIGNON BLANC FUN FACTS

Let's start by talking about the Sauvignon Blanc grape:

• ​Originated in France: Loire Valley & Bordeaux
  • Parent of Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Name means Wild White
• Known for green and herbaceous flavors, makes it unique from other white wines like Chardonnay
• Fun Fact: A real tasting note for Sauvignon is “cat pee!” And it's actually proven by science!
  • The aroma is caused by a unique chemical compound, “4MMP,” which is found in both elements!

Now let's talk about the region - Western Cape, South Africa:

• ​Before the last 10 years South African Wines weren't much of a thing.
  • Most of the wine produced in the country went directly to be distilled into brandy. 
• The flavors of Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa have a lot of similarities to New Zealand
  • They are zesty, grapefruit-y and grassy
  • Plus it's a good deal at only $10 on average a bottle!

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: Medium Yellow
Smell: Unfortunately, this wine does present with the common budget canned wine aroma: reductiveness. This smell often comes forth as cabbage, canned asparagus, or a recently burnt matchstick. Luckily, this aroma often dissipates if you let the wine sit for some time. (It took about 35 minutes in my case.) Underneath the reductiveness I get citrus (lemon, lime, grapefruit) and a fresh herbal note.
Taste: While I had high hopes for this can...the first taste I experienced was a very metallic taste. The alcohol was also quite strong, felt as a sharp burn in the back of my mouth.
Think:
Food Pairing - I'm thinking you don't want anything fancy with this. Think backyard cookout or picnic. It's meant for simple foods!
Occasion - My guest @lexiswinelist and I both agreed that while we weren't the biggest fans...we could definitely see ourselves drinking this wine if it was offered to us at a cookout or at a bachelorette party on the beach.
Rating - This wine did not mean expectations, the metallic taste was overwhelming as was the alcohol, and because of this I’m giving it a swill.

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!