2021 Ashfield Lodi Sauvignon Blanc

Perhaps that is the best way to describe how Sauvignon Blanc flies in the world of wine. It’s not the first variety one normally thinks of when ordering a glass at a bar or restaurant. Among whites, that distinction almost always goes to Chardonnay.

And yet Sauvignon Blanc is the eighth-most-planted wine grape variety in the world, and the second-most-planted white — behind only, yes, Chardonnay. It’s the No. 1 white grape in France’s Bordeaux region, and enjoyed a surge in popularity when New Zealand began producing some zesty renditions. The variety even has its own “official holiday,” with Sauvignon Blanc Day celebrated each spring.

If you love seafood, there could be no better pairing partner than Ashfield’s 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from California’s Lodi district. Shellfish, in particular, provides for a match made in heaven, as the food and the wine share a mineral-like quality that is both intriguing and delicious.