Brander
Brander Vineyards was founded in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1975 by Fred Brander. Originally from Argentina, Fred moved with his family and settled in Santa Barbara, California. He was hired by a local wine merchant and later started his own wine import company, focusing on wines from France and Argentina according to our Brander wine reviews. Brander Vineyards initial planting was mainly Bordeaux grape varietals and in 1977, his original Sauvignon Blanc wine captured Santa Barbara County's first gold medal for a wine at a major wine competition which was the 1978 Los Angeles County Fair. Brander Winery is known as a top Sauvignon Blanc producer, and for many years the only Brander Vineyard wine was an estate-bottled Sauvignon Blanc according to our Brander wine ratings. This mostly still holds true today but they produce several different Sauvignon Blanc wines and a handful of red Bordeaux style wines are produced as well. To see which of these wines are right for you check out Brander wine buying guide below.
Showing 1 thru -9 of 86
Brander 2005 Au Naturel Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- Online Exclusive
- $30
Brander’s stainless steel fermented Sauvignon is an exciting wine, simply brilliant in pure fruit and mouthwatering acidity. It’s as fresh as a harvest morning, with intense flavors of lemongrass, gooseberry, tangerine zest, green grass and vanilla. Certainly at the top of its class.
— S.H.
(11/15/2006)
Brander 2004 Cuvee Nicolas Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $26
Shows a return to form after the ’03, with brilliantly ripe guava, nectarine and herb-infused citrus flavors and clean, crisp acids. Totally dry, the wine has a good chunk of new French oak, which assists with a creamy texture, but doesn’t take over. This is great California SB.
— S.H.
(12/1/2005)
Brander 2004 Au Naturel Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $30
California's top Sauvignon Blanc specialist continues on a roll with this wonderfully pure, clean wine. It's crisp and bone dry in gooseberry, lemon and lime and fig flavors, with an intense cassis or blackcurrant flavor that's unusual and thrilling in a dry Sauvignon Blanc. You'll savor every sip of this exceptional wine.
— S.H.
(5/1/2006)
Brander 2005 Purisima Mountain Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $25
From one of California’s greatest Sauvignon Blanc producers comes this very interesting wine from a well-regarded part of the appellation. It’s a big wine, packed with concentrated citrus, fig, melon and peppery spice flavors. With fresh acidity, it’s right up there with the best.
— S.H.
(12/1/2006)
Brander 2009 Cuvée Nicholas Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
- $25
A blend of Sauvignon Blanc, with one-quarter Sémillon, this white blend was aged on the lees in oak barrels. It shows the balanced elegance this bottling by Brander usually displays. Entirely dry, with a crisp burst of acidity, its flavors are of citrus fruits, white flowers, vanilla, minerals and a touch of tart, New Zealand-style gooseberry. Great with roast pork…
— S.H.
(9/1/2010)
Brander 2009 Au Naturel Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
- $32
There’s no oak on this wine, so it’s hard to believe it’s this rich and complex. The flavors are of citrus fruits, white peaches and tart green apples. Hard to say why it’s so good, beyond some fabulous contribution from the vineyard that offers a complex minerality. Best of all is the racy acidity. Brilliant with shellfish.
— S.H.
(10/1/2010)
Brander 2010 Mesa Verde Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $22
This is the best of Brander’s 2010 Sauvignon Blancs, and the price is very good. It’s rich and stylish, especially considering it never saw any oak. Brisk in acids and minerals, it offers flavors of citrus fruits, peaches and white pepper.
— S.H.
(11/1/2011)
Brander 2007 Cuvee Nicolas Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley)
- Editors' Choice
- $25
Just beautiful, a crisp wine of authoritative structure that brilliantly shows off the ripeness of its fruit. Waves of Meyer lemon purée, Key lime pie, white peach, tangerine and spice flavors wash over the palate and last for a long, rich finish. Drink this bone-dry wine now.
— S.H.
(12/31/2008)
Showing 1 thru -9 of 86
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