Is Matua Sauvignon Blanc good?
Matua Sauvignon Blanc is a good, budget-friendly New Zealand white: crisp, citrusy and refreshing for around $10.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc · Sauvignon Blanc · Marlborough, New Zealand · most grocery stores
- Alcohol
- About 12.5% to 13%
- Sweetness
- Dry
- Grapes
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Made by
- Matua, owned by Treasury Wine Estates
- From
- Marlborough, New Zealand
- Price
- About $9 to $12
- Calories
- About 120 in a 5 oz glass (estimate)
What it tastes like
Lime, passion fruit and a little fresh-herb character. It's light and tangy, a touch softer than some of its louder neighbors.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
Is it worth $10?
Yes. It's often the cheapest of the big New Zealand names and holds its own against bottles that cost more.
Who it’s for
Anyone who likes bright, crisp whites on a budget. If you want something rounder, try Josh Chardonnay instead.
How to serve it
Fridge-cold. Ideal for warm days and big batches of friends.
The backstory
Matua is where New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc started. Brothers Bill and Ross Spence planted a few hundred vines near Auckland in 1968 and made the country's first Sauvignon Blanc in 1974, all 400 bottles of it, in a tin shed. Australia's Treasury Wine Estates (the Penfolds people) has owned Matua since 2001 and calls it one of its key brands. Today the grapes come from Marlborough, the region that turned the grape into New Zealand's calling card.
How it compares
- Matua vs Kim Crawford
Kim Crawford is louder and more tropical for a few dollars more; Matua is the softer, cheaper option.
- Matua vs Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay has a bit more lime and green zing; pick Matua if you want the gentler of the two.
- Matua vs Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling
Same price, but the Riesling has a touch of fruitiness that tames spicy food better; Matua is crisper and drier.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- Is Matua Sauvignon Blanc sweet?
- No, it's a dry white. The passion fruit flavor can make it seem fruity, but there's very little sugar in it.
- Where is Matua Sauvignon Blanc made?
- In Marlborough, New Zealand. The brand started near Auckland in the 1970s, but the Sauvignon Blanc now comes from the top of the South Island.
- How many calories and carbs are in Matua Sauvignon Blanc?
- Matua doesn't publish nutrition info, so treat this as an estimate: about 120 calories and 3 to 4 grams of carbs in a 5 oz glass, typical for a dry white.
- Who owns Matua?
- Treasury Wine Estates, the Australian company behind Penfolds and 19 Crimes, which bought it in 2001. The Spence brothers who founded it are no longer involved.
If you like this, try
- Oyster BaySauvignon Blanc · about $11Good buy
- Kim CrawfordSauvignon Blanc · about $15Good buy
- Ecco DomaniPinot Grigio · about $10Good buy
Where Moxie recommends it
- What wine goes with pasta?
- What's the best cheap wine?
- What is the best wine for sangria?
- What is dry white wine?
- What is Sauvignon Blanc?
- Pinot Grigio vs Sauvignon Blanc: what's the difference?
- Chardonnay vs Sauvignon Blanc: what's the difference?
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Matua; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: Matua.