Shaina Wizov is the founder of South Florida blog, Take A Bite Out of Boca. She is an avid wine drinker with a passion for all things bubbly! In September 2019, she traveled to Northern Italy to increase her knowledge about wine and continues to educate herself regularly. Shaina is a social media influencer and content creator, working with various clients in food and beverage, fashion, beauty, wellness and lifestyle. You can find her on Instagram at @takeabiteoutofboca.

Let’s talk about Sauvignon Blanc. This popular white wine originates from the Bordeaux region of France, but is also popular in various other regions such as New Zealand, California, Chile, Italy, South Africa and Loire Valley.

What type of wine is a Friulano? 

There are a lot of different styles of Sauvignon Blanc which totally depends on the part of the world in which the grapes are grown. The climate, the terrain… it makes all the difference in the flavors, aromas, and even color of the wine. Since Sauvignon Blanc is known to be a pretty versatile grape, there are other grapes that are comparable, one of which is Friulano, which is what the SYLTBAR Silk Friulano is made with. We even call Silk the ‘Sauvignon Blanc of Italy’ because of this!

Friulano has high levels of acidity, similar to Sauvignon Blanc, which is why the two wines are sometimes confused with one another. However, Friulano is typically more floral and fragrant than most Sauvignon Blanc wines. We always tell wine drinkers, though, if you like Sauvignon Blanc, we know you will love Silk!

McBride Sisters Sauvignon Blanc Review 

One of the most popular Sauvignon Blancs, that we are sure you have tasted or at least have seen on restaurant menus and retail shelves, is by the widely known, big brand company Kim Crawford, which is from New Zealand, but lately we have been seeing a lot of attention being placed on another brand that includes a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc in its portfolio: the McBride Sisters Wine Company.

The company is owned by two sisters and has grown to become the largest Black-owned wine company in the United States. Although the bulk of their wines are produced with California grapes, they do have a small selection of wines from New Zealand, including a Sparkling Brut Rosé, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gamay, and, of course, a Sauvignon Blanc.

McBride Sisters Sauvignon Wine vs SYLTBAR Silk Friulano

So, let’s compare the current 2019 vintage of Silk Friulano from Friuli, Italy to the McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand, currently a 2021 vintage.

Typically, Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand have a very distinct taste: herbal, grassy, and citrusy. At first sip of the McBride Sisters Sauvignon Blanc, you’ll experience notes of citrus and herbaceousness. The brand describes its aromas as also having notes of tropical fruits, ripe peach, mango, passion fruit and Fuji apple, and flavors of key lime. It’s tart, with a firm acidity and a slight mineral finish. Silk is less tart and citrusy, and more focused on freshness and fragrance, heavy on florals.

Transparency in Wines  

Both of these wines have the same alcohol level, at 13%. Although we don’t have the information about calorie or sugar content of McBride Sisters, we know that SYLTBAR wines are produced 100% naturally with no added sugars or chemicals, and that our Silk is 125 calories, by glucose level, and only 0.65 grams of sugar per 6 ounce glass. 

Sauvignon Blanc Food Pairings

When it comes to food pairings, McBride Sisters Sauvignon Blanc is said to go well with fresh oysters, spicy Asian stir-fries, and herb-heavy dishes with mint, cilantro and basil.

Silk Friulano is meant for an entirely different palate. It pairs well with ham and salami, strong tasting fish like sardines or Baccalà, which is codfish. Its only similarity is its tendency to pair really nicely with herbaceous dishes, but not so much spicy. Instead, we suggested something rich and creamy, like a risotto.

As we know, McBride Sisters is made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, while Silk is made with 100% Friulano, the signature grape from the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia (Friuli for short).

This region is in the northwestern part of Italy, and is known best for its white wines. There is no region in the world that produces grapes like Friuli, due to its unique location being between the Alps and the Adriatic. That means there are two climates affecting the production of grapes: the mild climate from the Mediterranean Adriatic Sea, and the cold air from the Alps. This creates the perfect weather conditions for making white wine, and solidifies the region as the most important white wine producer in Italy.

Friuli is also widely known for its Prosecco production, which is why Mr loves it there so much. There was a time when the Glera grape (Prosecco) was exclusive to the Veneto region, which is not too far away, but new Italian law states that it can now be grown in Friuli as well.

Most wine drinkers might not be too familiar with this particular area in Northern Italy, but it clearly offers a lot of options for wine lovers, especially if white wine is your preference, and should not be ignored. SYLTBAR is proud to come from such a highly regarded region of the world of wine making.

McBride Sisters Wine vs SYLTBAR Silk Results

Overall, if you are a Sauvignon Blanc drinker and prefer the grassy, citrusy notes, then the McBride Sisters version is right up your alley. Silk may be a little different, we encourage you to try something new, especially since the Friulano grape is so special and it is usually very much enjoyed by people who like Sauvignon Blanc. Who knows? You might end up discovering a new favorite!

To shop SYLTBAR Silk Friulano, visit our online store. Silk is available to purchase on its own, or you can get it as part of our White Wine Trio, which allows you the opportunity to taste all three of the SYLTBAR white fine wines.