It's rumored that Sauvignon Blanc wine got its name from the French word 'sauvage' (which means 'wild') and blanc (which means 'white') due to the indigenous origin of the grapes used in the process. It's no wonder people love it. Hardly limited to France, you can find variations from Chile, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and of course, California. In fact, New Zealand is often considered to be the best producer, though you'll love plenty from other places.

In terms of taste, what you get depends on where the grapes are grown. But in general, this wine is typically crisp, elegant, light and fresh. New Zealand versions often have a bit of a skunky taste to them, while California variations tend to be sweet. What's great about this wine is that it can work with a lot of food, and is said to be one of the few wines to compliment sushi.

You might notice that most come with a screw cap -- that's because the wine rarely benefits from aging, and is mean for drinking within the year it was made. Another bonus? This is one wine you can get incredible quality and flavor without much cost, with few brands going over $20-$30, and a lot of $10-$15 options like many of these shown at right.

Left to right: Bonterra, organic (California); Tik Tok (Australia); Lucien Crochet (France); Kono (New Zealand); Indaba (South Africa)