Aveta

The Aveta is the Sauvignon Blanc from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars — one of the most defining wineries of the Napa Valley, founded in 1972 by Warren Winiarski and world-famous due to the 1976 Judgment of Paris. That a house of this class also seriously devotes attention to Sauvignon Blanc is noticeable in this wine: It is not a filler in the range, but an independent expression of the Napa soils.

In the glass, the Aveta shows a fresh, clearly structured profile. The nose opens with citrus zest, white peach, and a hint of fresh herbs — tarragon, a touch of mint. On the palate, a lively but never aggressive acidity carries the wine; the body is slim and precise without emptiness. The finish is clean and mineral, with a slight saltiness that calls for more. No warmth, no melt — this is consciously cool-calculated freshness, as one knows it from well-made Napa white wines of the newer generation.

Best served at 10–12 °C. In the kitchen, it works well alongside goat cheese salad with walnuts, grilled sea bass with herb butter, or a light pasta with lemon, capers, and arugula. Also as an aperitif on a warm evening — without accompaniments, just well-chilled in the glass — it is a clear recommendation.