Angeline Sauvignon Blanc

Angeline Sauvignon Blanc is a 100% varietal white wine from Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, bottled at 13.8% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2023 vintage earned 91 points from James Suckling, who highlighted its textured, fruit-driven character, while the 2018 vintage took Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.8%  |  Origin: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Style: Cool-Climate California Sauvignon Blanc  |  Producer: Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery

Production & Heritage

Angeline is produced by Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery, located in Graton in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The wine is a multi-vineyard blend sourced from three distinct Russian River Valley sites — Dempel, Herrick, and Ricioli — each contributing a different dimension to the final cuvée. One vineyard sits in a warmer section of the appellation, delivering ripe, generous fruit, while the cooler-climate sites bring sharper acidity and intense varietal expression. After harvest, the juice undergoes a cool, slow fermentation in stainless steel tanks over approximately four months, a deliberate approach designed to preserve aromatic freshness and maximize fruit character without any oak influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh floral notes open the glass, followed by bright lime peel, green gooseberry, and a thread of lemongrass. Underneath, there is a subtle hint of honeydew melon and underripe kiwi that adds a layer of complexity.

Taste: The entry is crisp and immediate, with Granny Smith apple and zesty key lime leading into a mid-palate of Asian pear and tangy grapefruit. The wine carries a medium body with a creamy texture that rounds out the vibrant acidity, keeping it lively without turning sharp. Sliced green peach and citron emerge as the palate develops.

Finish: The finish is clean and moderately long, anchored by bright citrus and lingering herbaceous undertones. A final pulse of tart apple and grapefruit keeps things refreshing well after the last sip.

How to Drink Angeline Sauvignon Blanc

This wine shows best served well chilled, between 45–50°F, in a standard white wine glass that allows its aromatic complexity to open up. It drinks beautifully on its own as an aperitif or alongside food. For cocktails and wine-based drinks, try it in a White Wine Spritzer, where its zesty acidity and herbal notes hold up against sparkling water and citrus garnish. It also works in a Sangria Blanca, contributing crisp apple and lime structure to the fruit-forward punch. A Hugo Spritz — typically elderflower liqueur, prosecco, and soda — can be riffed with this Sauvignon Blanc as the base, where its gooseberry and lemongrass notes complement the elderflower beautifully.

Best For

• Warm-weather patio drinking and outdoor entertaining
• Pairing with a seafood-heavy dinner spread
• Introducing someone to quality California Sauvignon Blanc
• A host gift for summer gatherings or garden parties

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Angeline Sauvignon Blanc taste like? It is a crisp, fruit-driven Sauvignon Blanc dominated by green apple, lime zest, and gooseberry, with herbaceous undertones and a creamy mid-palate texture that sets it apart from leaner expressions.

How does Angeline Sauvignon Blanc compare to Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc? Kim Crawford sources from Marlborough, New Zealand, and tends toward a more intensely herbaceous, passion fruit-driven profile, while Angeline draws on Russian River Valley fruit for a rounder, apple-and-pear-centered wine with slightly more body and a creamier texture.

Is Angeline Sauvignon Blanc good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its balanced acidity, medium body, and layered fruit make it a satisfying standalone sipper, especially when served well chilled on a warm day.

Where is Angeline Sauvignon Blanc made? It is produced by Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery in Graton, within the Russian River Valley AVA of Sonoma County, California, using fruit from three distinct vineyards across the appellation.

What foods pair well with Angeline Sauvignon Blanc? Grilled shrimp or ceviche complement its citrus-driven acidity. Goat cheese salads echo its tangy, herbaceous side. Pan-seared halibut works with the wine's creamy texture. Thai green papaya salad mirrors the lime and lemongrass notes. Fresh oysters on the half shell highlight its mineral-edged finish.

What sizes does Angeline Sauvignon Blanc come in? It is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Angeline Sauvignon Blanc worth the price? It positions as a mid-value California Sauvignon Blanc that consistently punches above its weight, with multiple 90-plus-point scores from critics like James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast lending credibility to its quality-to-price ratio.

Why Angeline Sauvignon Blanc?

What distinguishes this wine from the crowded California Sauvignon Blanc field is the multi-vineyard blending strategy across three Russian River Valley sites, each selected for a specific contribution to the final wine's balance. The extended four-month stainless steel fermentation preserves a level of aromatic detail — lemongrass, kiwi, green peach — that quicker-fermented wines at this tier rarely achieve. A 91-point score from James Suckling and Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition confirm that the approach translates into the glass. For drinkers who want more complexity and texture than a simple, fruit-forward Sauvignon Blanc but prefer to stay in California rather than reaching for a Marlborough or Loire bottling, Angeline fills that gap convincingly.