All the best sauvignon blancs in our Ratings (available to subscribers) are from New Zealand. That demonstrates how what wine types call a "new world" country can take a varietal that Europeans or Americans once dominated and do it better, at least at prices below $20.

This white wine is on the tart, acidic side. It's generally dry and has herb flavors and notes of tropical and citrus fruits such as banana, melon, and mango. It pairs well with poultry dishes, including roasted chicken and turkey with herbs; pasta in cream sauce; baked fish; and grilled shrimp, raw bar, and steamed clams and mussels. It also works well with spicy Asian food and Spanish tapas, or as an aperitif.

All of the excellent sauvignon blancs in our Ratings (available to subscribers) are sealed by screw caps, which eliminates "corkiness," a musty off-taste a wine can acquire when it's sealed with a wood cork.