Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc

Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc is a 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Lake County, California, bottled at 12.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2023 vintage earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, placing it among the better-valued California Sauvignon Blancs on the market. Limited to roughly 4,000 cases per release, this is a small-production white that punches well above its weight class.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Lake County AVA, California  |  Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc  |  Winemaker: Jim Milone

Production & Heritage

Winemaker Jim Milone sources fruit from premium vineyards in Lake County AVA, one of California's North Coast appellations prized for its volcanic soils and warm days tempered by cool lake-effect breezes. The wine is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks, a deliberate choice that preserves the grape's natural aromatics and bright acidity without introducing any oak influence. Milone crafts and bottles in Healdsburg, located in Sonoma County, keeping the entire operation within the North Coast. The pure, reductive winemaking approach lets the Lake County terroir — particularly its mineral-rich sedimentary soils — speak clearly through the finished wine.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe green mango and guava before giving way to citrus blossom and lime zest. Dried herbs and a faint wet-stone minerality emerge with a few minutes in the glass.

Taste: On entry, the palate is immediately zesty with lime zest and crisp Granny Smith apple. The mid-palate broadens into green papaya and white nectarine, layered over pink grapefruit pith and a subtle sedimentary minerality. White peach rounds out the profile with a juicy, textured mouthfeel that stays vibrant throughout.

Finish: Clean and mouthwatering, the finish carries persistent citrus and green apple with a dry, mineral-tinged close. It lingers at moderate length without any bitterness or excess weight.

How to Drink Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc

Serve well chilled at 45–50°F for the best aromatic expression; this wine shows its full range of tropical and citrus character straight from the bottle and needs no decanting. A classic warm-weather sipper neat, it also works in several cocktails. A White Wine Spritzer plays up the wine's natural effervescence and citrus notes. A Hugo Spritz — with elderflower, mint, and prosecco — pairs naturally with the wine's floral undertones. A Sangria Blanca built around seasonal stone fruit amplifies the nectarine and peach notes already present in the glass.

Best For

• Summer patio sessions where crisp, refreshing whites are essential
• Introducing a friend to quality California Sauvignon Blanc beyond the usual suspects
• Pairing with a seafood-forward dinner party menu
• Stocking a by-the-glass program or home wine fridge with an overperforming daily white

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc taste like? It leads with bright lime zest and crisp green apple, transitions through tropical notes of green mango and white nectarine, and finishes dry with a distinctive mineral streak. The overall impression is zesty, fruit-forward, and clean.

How does Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc compare to Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc? Kim Crawford hails from Marlborough, New Zealand, and tends toward a more herbaceous, grassy profile with sharper acidity, while Matthew Fritz leans into riper tropical fruit and a rounder mouthfeel characteristic of California's warmer Lake County AVA. At 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, the Matthew Fritz also carries a stronger critical endorsement at a similar price tier.

Is Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the stainless-steel fermentation preserves bright, unoaked fruit character that makes it refreshing and easy to enjoy chilled without any food. Its balanced acidity keeps each sip lively rather than flat.

Where is Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc made? The grapes are grown in Lake County AVA, a high-elevation appellation in California's North Coast known for volcanic and sedimentary soils. Winemaker Jim Milone vinifies and bottles the wine in Healdsburg, Sonoma County.

What foods pair well with Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc? Grilled shrimp or ceviche match the wine's citrus brightness. Fresh goat cheese or a summer caprese salad complement its acidity and herbal undertones. Pan-seared halibut with a lemon-caper sauce mirrors the mineral finish, and Thai green papaya salad echoes the tropical fruit notes on the palate.

What sizes does Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc worth the price? It positions as an entry-level to mid-tier California Sauvignon Blanc, but its 90-point Wine Enthusiast score and limited 4,000-case production suggest value that exceeds its price bracket. For a stainless-steel California white at this level, the quality-to-cost ratio is strong.

Why Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc?

A 90-point score from Wine Enthusiast on a production run of just 4,000 cases signals a wine that overdelivers relative to its availability and price tier. The all-stainless-steel approach is uncompromising — there is no oak masking the fruit or terroir, which means what you taste is a direct reflection of Lake County's volcanic soils and North Coast climate. Jim Milone's decision to source exclusively from this AVA, rather than blending across broader appellations, gives the wine a specificity of place that many California Sauvignon Blancs at this level lack. For anyone seeking a clean, expressive American Sauvignon Blanc without the markup of Napa Valley, this is a compelling bottle to know.