Is Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc good?
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc is a good, crisp New Zealand white that tastes a lot like Kim Crawford for a few dollars less.
Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc · Sauvignon Blanc · Marlborough, New Zealand · most grocery stores
- Alcohol
- About 13%
- Sweetness
- Dry (about 4 grams of sugar per liter)
- Grapes
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Made by
- Delegat, a family-run New Zealand company
- From
- Marlborough, New Zealand
- Price
- About $9 to $13
- Calories
- About 120 in a 5 oz glass (estimate)
What it tastes like
Lime, grapefruit and a bit of tropical fruit, with that green, herby freshness New Zealand is known for. Light and bright, and it ends clean.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
Is it worth $11?
Yes. At around $11 it's one of the easiest wins in the white wine aisle. It's a great house white to keep in the fridge.
Who it’s for
Fans of zesty, citrusy whites and anyone looking for a cheaper Kim Crawford. Not for people who want soft and creamy.
How to serve it
Fridge-cold. It also takes well to a few minutes in an ice bucket.
The backstory
Oyster Bay comes from the Delegat family, Croatian immigrants who planted a few acres near Auckland in 1947. Their kids Jim and Rosemari launched Oyster Bay in Marlborough in 1990, and the very first Sauvignon Blanc won a big trophy at an international show. It's made in steel tanks with no oak at all, fermented cool and slow, and bottled young, which is why it tastes so bright and zingy.
How it compares
- Oyster Bay vs Kim Crawford
Kim Crawford is a bit juicier and more tropical, and a few dollars more; Oyster Bay is zestier and herbier, and the better deal most weeks.
- Oyster Bay vs Matua
Matua is slightly softer and rounder; pick Oyster Bay if you want more lime and snap.
- Oyster Bay vs Ecco Domani
Ecco Domani is gentler and less tangy; better for anyone who finds Sauvignon Blanc sour.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- Is Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc sweet or dry?
- It's dry. The winery's own spec sheet puts leftover sugar at about 4 grams per liter, which is well under what your tongue reads as sweet.
- How many calories are in Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc?
- Oyster Bay doesn't print a number, but at 13% alcohol and almost no sugar it's about 120 calories in a 5 oz glass, like most dry whites.
- Where is Oyster Bay wine from?
- Marlborough, at the top of New Zealand's South Island. No relation to Oyster Bay in New York, in case Google sent you here by mistake.
- Who makes Oyster Bay wine?
- Delegat, a New Zealand wine company still led by the Delegat family. It also owns Barossa Valley Estate in Australia.
- Is Oyster Bay a good wine for the price?
- Yes. At about $10 it's one of the most reliable cheap whites around, and it tastes close to bottles that cost more.
If you like this, try
- Kim CrawfordSauvignon Blanc · about $15Good buy
- MatuaSauvignon Blanc · about $10Good buy
- Ecco DomaniPinot Grigio · about $10Good buy
Where Moxie recommends it
- What wine goes with tacos?
- What's the best wine under $15?
- What is Sauvignon Blanc?
- What does dry wine mean?
- Pinot Grigio vs Sauvignon Blanc: what's the difference?
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Oyster Bay; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: Oyster Bay Wines.