Savvy California wine fans head to Lodi for fantastic flavor and value. While the region is better known for Zinfandel, Lodi also produces top Sauvignon Blanc. Pure and tongue-tingling, this gorgeous white was named after the Lodi Arch, a beautiful piece of architecture that commemorates the annual Lodi Grape Festival. The wine was inspired by the pioneering history and bright vinous future the arch represents.

Rising in popularity over the last 30 years, Sauvignon Blanc has traveled a long way from its spiritual home in France’s Loire Valley. Notably, it’s taken on new life in California, where it develops vibrant, tropical-fruit notes. Like Napa Valley, Lodi’s warm summer climate is tempered by occasional morning fog, which helps increase grapes’ ‘hang time’ on the vine, for extra-concentrated flavors.

Overflowing with vibrant yellow fruit, green grape and fresh-cut grass notes, this wine is a lovely aperitif and is as food-friendly as it is refreshing. Start the evening with a goat’s cheese salad or a platter of crudités and hummus. For the main course, try tarragon chicken, herbed pork chops or other white meats. You could also pair it with seafood dishes (we love baked tilapia with a squeeze of lemon) or creamy, white-sauced pastas.