SAUVIGNON Blanc. Sauv Blanc. SB. Good old Sauvy Blancy. The go-to white wine for any occasion.

Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are crowd-pleasing whites, of course, but do they come close to Sauvignon Blanc in popularity?

A quick glance down the aisles at Sainsbury's (plus a bit of adding up) suggests not. Of the 15 or so bottles of white presently on discount offer, almost half of them are Sauv Blanc. God knows how many SBs there are in total, not just here but in any supermarket.

It's pretty much the default white. Want an aperitif that isn't fizzy? Sauv Blanc. Want a white that goes with various foods? SB. Want to crack open a bottle on a warm day and have a crisp, greeny clean, refreshing drink with the perfect hint of fruit? Sauvy Blancy.

The Sauvignon Blanc grape hails from France, from Bordeaux or the Loire Valley, but it also does well in northern Italy, Chile, South Africa, California and, of course, the famous Marlborough region of New Zealand, where the local growers could hold realistic claims of producing the best of the lot.

Not that the French would accept that. Indeed, go to the Loire Valley, particularly the villages of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé on either side of the river, and they'd run you out of town for even discussing it.

With that in mind, how about putting the French assuredness to the test by trying the Pouilly-Fumé Les Champalouettes while it's down from £12 to £9 at Sainsbury's, an offer which runs until May 17.

Loire Valley SBs are notable for their minerality and flintiness, and this one typifies that, with its nettley fragrance and flinty apply gooseberry fruit making it hard to put down.

But wait, how about an alternative to Sauv Blanc?

Just up the aisle is a Taste The Difference Gavi, which is down from £8 to £6 until May 17.

Hailing from Piedmont in northern Italy, Gavi is made from the Cortese grape and brings a grapefruit lemon twist.

Pithy, light, crisp and elegant, this isn't like Sauvy Blancy - but it is a bargain.