Day 24: Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc

The idea of this series is to “stand in the shoes of Jane-and-Joe-in-front-of-a-wall-of-wine.” Today I have a chance to stand in the shoes of someone who orders wine through an on-demand delivery service for wine, beer, and spirits.

Here are the top ten wines that have been ordered this year through Minibar, which promises users that their wine, beer, or spirits will arrive at their door in 30 to 60 minutes.***

1. Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc
2. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label
3. The Pinot Project Pinot Noir
4. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
5. Whispering Angel Rosé
6. Alamos Malbec
7. La Marca Prosecco
8. Mark West Pinot Noir
9. Apothic Red
10. Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc

Three Sauvignon Blancs. Two Pinot Noirs. Two sparkling wines. One red blend, one Malbec, and one rosé.

Not much of a pattern, there.

Two of the wines come from New Zealand, and two are from France. One is from Italy, one is from Argentina, and the remaining four are from California.

Not much of a pattern there, either.

Here’s something that does stick out, however: two of the top four of the wines listed here are New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. Another popular option from this category, Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, was a featured post earlier this week.

“I think the Kiwis perfected that varietal,” my friend Julie said, when I asked her what exactly makes Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand so popular. She is fiercely loyal to that specific grape from that specific place, far preferring it over other widely available and similarly-priced Sauvignon Blanc options from France, South Africa, or California. For her it’s the “strong citrus impact and tart finish” that she’s come to recognize, expect, and love.

Julie has never taken advantage of the on-demand option for her wines to be delivered to her door, but for the Oyster Bay label to land at the top of Minibar’s most-ordered list this year signals that it’s being consumed in much the same way that Julie consumes it.

Which is often, predictably, and immediately.

*** There are significant factors to consider when reading through this list, that underscores the skewed rather than comprehensive nature of this information. For example, the Minibar service doesn’t deliver alcohol directly; instead it partners with local liquor stores who provide the delivery service, which means the wines that are ordered are dependent in part on the wines that are carried by those retailers. In addition, the service is available is some major markets (but not all), including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, and Washington DC.

Quick Background Note: The Blue Collar Wine Guide is a 30-day, 30-wine experiment that looks at some of the world’s most popular, consumer-friendly wines. The idea is to take off my wine-writer shoes and stand instead in the shoes of Jane-and-Joe-in-front-of-a-wall-of-wine. Thank you for reading today’s post!