While consumer white wine continues to be Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc enjoys an increasingly strong second place. It is one of the world’s most widely planted grape varieties, originating in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley, also notable in New Zealand, Chile, South Africa and Australia.

The grape’s flavor profile comes in several styles, though it’s usually assertively aromatic, with refreshing acidity. Generally, expect brisk green citrus but also other citrus (grapefruit) and occasionally stone fruit and a distinctive (sometimes spicy) herbaceousness. Riper wines fruit often display melon, nectarine, peach, or even tropical fruits.

Note: These California wines are listed in order of preference within each category but all are recommended.

There are many good values. These tend to be ebullient and spry with the focus on varietal fruit but all display the grape’s trademark character. Most of the wines are fermented and aged in stainless steel to emphasize freshness, while some use various amounts of mostly neutral oak to round out flavors and texture.

— 2024 Rodney Strong Alexander Valley ($25) some time with oak and yeast compliment vibrant peach, tropical fruit, almond

— 2024 Matanzas Creek Sonoma County ($25) crisp, grapefruit, fresh herb

— 2023 Markham Napa Valley ($24) fresh grapefruit, lemon, tangy, stony note

— 2024 Charles Krug Napa Valley ($23) zesty citrus, melon, lemongrass

— 2024 Brassfield High Valley ($22) pleasant lemon, grapefruit, tropical fruit

— 2024 Cuvaison Carneros ($28) estate fruit; juicy tropical fruit, spicy herb

As consumer friendly as those wines are, for a few extra dollars, I found more complexity, intensity and flavor interest as prices escalated.

— 2024 Brandlin Estate Mt. Veeder ($50) richness, complexity from mountain grown fruit; fermentation and aging in large oak barrels gives texture and depth; juicy tropical flavors, mineral notes

— 2022 Cliff Lede Napa Valley ($38) richness from semillon, intensity and aromatics from old vine musqué clone of sauvignon blanc; unctuousness from barrel fermentation and aging

— 2024 Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley ($40) first sauvignon blanc from famous cabernet sauvignon producer; some time with oak and yeast add complexity and rich texture; lively lemon, peach, toast, almond

— 2024 Freemark Abbey ($35) refreshing citrus, stone fruit, bright yet polished

— 2024 Priest Ranch “Block 71” Napa Valley ($38) peach, melon, tropical fruit, mineral

— 2021 Duckhorn North Coast ($32) with semillon; bright citrus, tropical fruits

— 2023 Whitehall Lane Napa Valley ($30) some time with oak and yeast add complexity and rich texture to its crisp citrus, pear, fig, tropical, biscuit