Nikita Malhotra
December 2, 2025

I am sitting thinking about writing about my favorite holiday wines, or a new wine bar, or a good recipe as a probable next article for this newsletter - and then I let Rosalía’s new album LUX wash over me and in particular her song titled Sauvignon Blanc - my cue to explore what young musicians might be drinking these days. And I am just so tickled about this song, as her voice swells with every Sauvignon Blanc I just sit here in awe and wonder. The AI generated response about the meaning of the song is: “Rosalía's song "Sauvignon Blanc" uses the wine as a metaphor for a simple, fundamental aspect of a spiritual and less materialistic life. In the song, she renounces worldly luxuries, but keeps her love for the wine, which represents a humbler and more loving existence.”

Besides my distrust of AI, I really appreciate this theme in Rosalía’s song, it’s a theme that pulls and tugs at my heart strings, it’s a great mission statement for wine in general. Sometimes as you pour wine worth thousands of dollars into fancy glassware in expensive dining rooms you begin to crave those simple moments, an afternoon watching the sunset in the vineyards, dirt caked shoes and a bistro glass of honest wine. I found a translated article from two years ago that confirms Rosalía’s love of this grape variety, and specifically for Sancerre. I have a bit of distrust of those who claim Sauvignon Blanc as their favorite grape, but there is something endearing with Rosalía’s preference, I might skip getting a bottle of white Burgundy or Riesling and join her in imbibing on some Sancerre, maybe a bottle of Vacheron?

The song itself is also inspired by the story of Saint Teresa of Ávila, a a mystic and writer from Spain who gave up materialistic things due to her devotion to God. Rosalía’s calling out of Sauvignon Blanc is like a contemporary version of Gregorian chants.In a modern world where wine is very much a commodity, how refreshing to see a pop culture moment where it is referenced as a product of nature? Another singer that champions wine is Dua Lipa, and sometimes she writes about it as well on her website, Service95, where you can find an array of talented writers and themes. Dua embraces the world of natural wine and in this article she gives a little background into that. I find both Rosalía and Dua Lipa to have compelling stories and relationship to wine because they are embracing wine in a sense that is detached to the claims of modernity. Whereas some other celebrities might make moves to buy a winery and diversify their financial assets, these two singers are appreciating wine in the same space that wine lovers exist in. Wine brings people together, and brings comfort to us in all matters of life.

As the holidays take hold and suddenly I find myself at holiday parties and moments where I want to uncork the flashy bottles in my eurocave, maybe I should enjoy the simple act of drinking a glass of wine, no frills, and with the same sentiment that I did on a warm day in August. Maybe it might be the unusual choice for me, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a toast to Rosalía.

Rosalía’s Love of Sauvignon Blanc: Pop Culture Musings

1996 in Champagne. What happened?