Year in and year out good Sauvignon Blanc ranks as one of the most refreshing and appealing of all white wines and the 2007 Rio Bueno from Chile is not only refreshing and appealing but delightfully affordable as well. The source of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes in this wine is the vineyards of the Curicó Valley, south of Santiago and one of several winegrowing valleys wedged between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific.

It has an effusive and forward bouquet of ripe melon, peach, flowers, lemon and subtle herbs. The flavors show the quintessentially refreshing style of the Sauvignon Blanc grape--crisp and fresh with melon, lemon and peach-like fruit infused with the classic delicate herbal nuances of the Sauvignon followed by a brisk, minerally-clean, dry and refreshing finish. This wine is a stellar aperitif, and a sensational seafood accompaniment. If you love the succulent delicacy of very fresh fish or shellfish, you'll find that the exuberant style of the Rio Bueno Sauvignon Blanc marries wonderfully with those flavors.