Monroy Wines Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch Vineyard Sonoma County 2023

Whoever said Sauvignon Blanc isn’t a fall wine hasn’t met this earthy 93-point dreamboat. Chock-full of soft vanilla-kissed florals, ripe orchard fruits, and a kick of citrus zest, it’s the ideal wine to pair with roasted squash, rotisserie chicken, or pomegranate-dotted kale salads – though it’s just as easy to sip before or after your meal for under $20 a pop!

Adolfo Hernandez takes a notably holistic approach to viticulture and winemaking, allowing the land to play the biggest role in the wine’s final expression. But, his approach didn’t always look this way. Growing up with his family of Guatemalan expats in Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is strictly prohibited, he helped his father from a young age make homemade wine in a carboy in the bathtub using just some Greek grape juice, sugar, and yeast, and that’s where his interest was sparked. His family moved to California in the late ‘90s, where Adolfo would get his molecular biology degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and begin working in organic pesticide production.

A few years later, he made his move into wine as a laboratory supervisor at Clos du Bois in Geyserville. His childhood interest in wine officially took off, and professional stints at Araujo Estate, Checkerboard Vineyards, Pahlmeyer, and Benovia followed, ultimately leading him to the creation of Monroy Wines alongside his wife, Nohelia, a Healdsburg native whose father spent his life working in wine, inspiring her to do the same. The pair – who had their first date over a flight of Spanish wines – have earned significant acclaim for crafting wines with a distinct, restrained style that demonstrate both balance and elegance, and showcase their families’ heritage and history with wine.

This 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Kick Ranch Vineyard in Sonoma County’s Fountaingrove AVA, just west of Napa’s Spring Mountain District. The silty-volcanic soils on the hillside vineyard give the wine a steely minerality that marries with the richness of fruit so seamlessly. It’s lush yet crisp, with heavenly notes of lemon meringue, apricots, thyme, lemon blossoms, lime zest, Tahitian vanilla, and a touch of damp earth. For an under $20 bottle, you truly couldn’t ask for better quality, pedigree, and sourcing! This is going to be on my own weekly fall dinner rotation, and I’d highly recommend you get enough to do the same.

PAIRING IDEAS: I’m a sucker for roasted, skin-on chicken thighs (give me the crisp, baby!) – and this maple-glazed version with acorn squash and carrots is destined to sing so pretty alongside this lush Sauvi B.