ver the last four months, I have tasted approximately 250 white wines to come up with some excellent values in different price ranges. This list is almost exclusively American. We ’ll consider French, Australian and South American whites at a later date.

Sauvignon Blanc:

Clos la Chance White-Tufted Sunbeam Sauvignon Blanc Central Coast 2008 – Lovely, fresh cut grass and citrus flavors. Very good acidity and a refreshing, rather than overwhelming, dollop of grapefruit. 78 percent Sauvignon Blanc, 22 percent Semillon. Try with shellfish or slightly spicy veggie hors d ’oeuvres.  $15

Starmont Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2008 – Produced by Merryvale. Very impressive effort—first try for me. Crafted in Starmont’s solar-powered cutting edge winery in Carneros. Eco-friendly. Excellent taste profile.  $18

Robert Mondavi Fume-Blanc Napa Valley 2007 – Mondavi invented Sauvignon Blanc as a California stand-alone varietal in 1966, and gave it the name it still carries. No wild, overly grassy or overblown grapefruit notes like some I ’ve had from New Zealand. This wine exhibits beautiful Napa fruit tasting of citrus and ripe melon. Try with Oysters Rockefeller.  $20

Dry Creek Estate Fume-Blanc DCV3 Dry Creek Valley 2006 – Probably the best Sauvignon Blanc you’ve never heard of. This vineyard was planted in 1972—first Sauvignon Blanc vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. Intense and seamless. Bright fruit flavors.  $25

Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2007 – Along with the Dry Creek DCV3, one of my favorites of this varietal anywhere, any time. Try with goat cheese crostini or a goat cheese salad with tomatoes, a little olive oil, herbs and freshly squeezed lemon juice.  $27

Chardonnay:

Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay Livermore 2007 – From vineyards planted on the cool west side of Livermore Valley, with 60 percent barrel fermentation, 40 percent stainless. Nice touch of oak from six months of both new and used. All-purpose white.  $11.99

Clos du Bois Chardonnay North Coast 2007 – Tasted against another two California Chardonnays, one at $15 and another at $38, both reasonably good for their price range, the Clos du Bois was clearly the best value. Through just a hint of oak and spice, the pure Chardonnay flavors came shining through. All-purpose white.  $15

Wente River Ranch Chardonnay Arroyo Seco 2007 – Even cooler growing conditions. Kept six months sur lie for enhanced richness. Lovely aromatics and flavors.  $15.99

Michael & David Seven Heavenly Chards Lodi 2007 – Bouquet of guava nectar with hints of pineapple. “Light lime with a touch of butter” on the palate. Very pleasing. 8,000 cases produced.  $17

Macari Chardonnay Reserve Long Island 2007 – A tantalizing Chardonnay from New York, aged in French oak for 12 months. Not a blockbuster, rather an elegant offering with toasted almonds and tropical fruit. Lovely finish.  $22

Cambria Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley Bench Break Vineyard 2006 – “Intense, powerful and well-structured.” Nice texture with peaches, pears and a hint of well-integrated oak. Lovely wine from very long growing season.  $25

Byron Chardonnay Historic Vines Santa Maria Valley 2006 – One gorgeous, underpriced beauty. Touch of honey and a kiss of oak. Noticeable, beneficial  minerality.  $27

Chappellet Chardonnay Napa Valley 2007 – From mountain grown grapes with very low yields, resulting in intensely concentrated fruit flavors. The relatively high alcohol level is well-integrated and only adds to the sweetness, not from sugar, but from ripe fruit!  $28    

Dry Creek Chardonnay DCV10 Russian river 2006 – From a vintage with nearly perfect growing conditions for Chardonnay, this wine boasts of figs, apricots and tropical fruits. Memorable finish.  $30

Talbott Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 2006 – From old Wente clone vines on two prized vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Add meticulous care combined with extremely low yields and you get this remarkably concentrated fruit that definitely carries a “Wow” factor. Try with seafood or chicken entrée.  $40

Patz & Hall Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch Russian River Valley 2006 – This top vineyard was planted in 1990 by fifth-generation grape growers. Quintessential Russian River Chardonnay. Excellent acidity and rich, drop-dead gorgeous fruit. Another entr ée wine—or rich seafood appetizers.  $45

Kesner Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard Carneros 2006 – From Houstonian Lee Hudson’s vineyard, this beauty exhibits intriguing white peaches and orange peel in the bouquet, followed by a delicious, elegant taste. Fabulous food wine. How about red snapper topped with crabmeat? Last vintage for winemaker Jason Kesner, who has moved on to Kistler. 336 cases.  $50

Other:

Tamas Pinot Grigio 2007 – Full in the mouth with good fruit and acidity. Best seller for Wente, who produces this wine. All-purpose white. 25,000 cases produced.  $9.50

Brennan Vineyards Three White Chicks White Wine Comanche County (Texas) 2007 – Intriguing blend of Semillon, Chardonnay and Viognier. Went down so fast, I didn ’t realize it was gone. Pat Brennan calls it “a breath of fresh air.” Guava nectar in the nose followed by a lively, fresh taste.  $15

Michael & David Incognito Lodi 2006 – Eye-catching, recherché mask for front label. Mostly Viognier with Marsanne and Roussanne. A hint of sweetness along with ripe fruit makes for a memorable experience. Try with grilled shrimp.  $16

Domaine Wachau Gruner Veltliner Terrassen Smaragd (Austria) 2007 – Perfect wine for the “anything but Chardonnay” crowd. Actually stunning if you’ve never tried one.  $18

Velikal Piesporter Goldtropfchen Spatlese (Germany) 2007 – Wow, if you haven’t tried anything like this lately, ask your wine merchant to find the closest wine available. Refreshing is an understatement. Slightly sweet, but with excellent balancing acidity. No food necessary, but great match for spicy Asian fare.  $25