Honig Sauvignon Blanc

Background & The Pour Man's Proof

Honig (which means "honey" in German) is a family-owned, solar-powered, sustainable winery in Napa Valley that has been laser-focused on Sauvignon Blanc for decades. In the world of Napa, where giant Cabernets get all the attention, being "the Sauvignon Blanc guy" is a bold move. As such, Honig has become a "benchmark" wine. It’s that safe, respectable, "I-know-this-will-be-good" bottle you see on just about every steakhouse and seafood restaurant wine list.

This is the classic, "safe" pick. But for a "Value-Driven Explorer," "safe" isn't always what we're after, especially when it comes with a premium price tag. This wine typically retails in the $20-$25 range, putting it at the absolute ceiling of our "Under $25" value category. It’s competing with a sea of fantastic Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, Sancerre, and other parts of California that cost $10-$15. The question is: is this classic Napa bottle worth the extra cash?

Tasting Notes (in Plain English)

This is the "polite" and "polished" cousin to the loud, grassy Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand. It’s not going to hit you in the face with "cat pee" and jalapeño (and thank goodness for that).

Instead, it’s bright, clean, and elegant. On the nose, it’s all about fresh-squeezed grapefruit, lemon zest, and a little bit of white peach. There’s also a really nice "green" note, but it’s more like fresh-cut grass or honeysuckle, not a vegetable garden.

When you taste it, it’s exactly what the smell promises. It's zippy and refreshing with a ton of bright, citrus-driven acidity, but it has a surprisingly nice texture—it's not watery. It’s perfectly balanced, with a clean, slightly mineral finish that just makes you want to take another sip. It is, undeniably, a very well-made and delicious wine.

Final Verdict: Would I Buy It Again?

Score: 3/5 (A "Maybe" / The "Safe" Restaurant Pick)

This is a tough one, and it's the perfect definition of a 3/5. Is this a good wine? Yes, it's a wonderful wine. It’s elegant, balanced, and a textbook example of the high-quality, restrained Napa Valley style. You will never, ever be disappointed if you are served a glass of Honig.

But... here's the "Pour Man's Proof" test: would I spend my own $24 on it at a retail store? Probably not. The "problem" is that it's too polite and too expensive for its category. The Sauvignon Blanc aisle is the most competitive battlefield in the wine shop. I can get a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from producers like Oyster Bay or Kim Crawford that has twice the "wow" factor for $10-$12 less.

You should try this bottle once to understand what a "classic" Napa SB tastes like. But for stocking your fridge, it's just not a smart value. This is the bottle you confidently buy at a restaurant (where it's marked up to $60) because you know it's a crowd-pleaser and won't offend anyone. It's a great wine, but for the "Value-Driven Explorer," it's not a great "buy-again" value.