Sauvignon Blanc-flavored popcorn from artisan popcorn maker Populence

Sauvignon Blanc-flavored popcorn? Who’s going to be the first to try it?

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Looking for a wine to go with shellfish? Or a bottle to help you celebrate something special? Wine critic S. Irene Virbila shares her favorite white wine picks -- plus pairing notes. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

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Crisp and refreshing, mineral-driven and with the characteristic aromas of green apple and white pepper. Drink this terrific summer white with chilled shellfish, smoked trout, lobster and crab. Seafood pasta and risotto too. It’s also a great match with Thai or Indian food. Price: $22 to $29 (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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What I love about this Napa Valley white is the crisp minerality, beautiful acidity and laser focus, not to mention the flavors of lychee and white peach and its fresh clean finish. Great with sushi, chilled shellfish platters, oysters and cheese. Price: About $28 to 35 (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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Crisp and floral, this Italian white is also richly fruity. But that’s balanced with a tart acidity and a bit of minerality. Pair it with peel ‘n’ eat shrimp, seafood pasta and risotto, lobster and crab. Price: About $16-$19 (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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This California Chardonnay is lean and focused, yet complex and long in the finish. This is a terrific entry-level Chardonnay at a great price for the quality. Pair it with scallops, spot prawns, smoked trout. Price: $25 to $31. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

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This French wine is scented with flowers and peaches, crisp with ripe fruit and a thrilling complexity. Pair it with Tarte flambe, seafood salad, poached salmon, and even Asian and fusion cuisines. Price: About $22 (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

By S. Irene Virbila

Sept. 6, 2013 7:31 AM PT

Wine-flavored popcorn? I can’t quite wrap my head around the idea.

The luxe popcorn company Populence in Manhattan’s West Village has teamed with populist New Zealand wine company Kim Crawford to produce Sauvignon Blanc Kettle corn. Here’s the way the site describes it: “The candied popcorn’s final flavor is bright and zesty and pairs beautifully with the wine, just as it is meant to be enjoyed.” OK, that I don’t get. Sauvignon Blanc on Sauvignon Blanc? Plus, the popcorn is candied, which would make Sauvignon Blanc, the wine, taste sour.

Oh, and get this note, “Due to the summer heat, the Pinot Noir-infused chocolate drizzle is only available for in-store purchases.” I’m glad they set me straight on that. But, and this is a big but, if you want to create your own wine-infused flavors with Kim Crawford wines, Populence will email you the recipe. You just have to ask.

I’m curious enough that the next time I’m in New York I’ll ask for that drizzle, and maybe try the Sauvignon Blanc popcorn, too. But frankly, other flavors such as salted caramel, ginger caramel and even sun-dried tomato sound much more appealing.

If you’re really, really curious, you can order a one-gallon tin of Sauvignon Blanc Kettle online for $35. That’s why the term “popcorn artisans” follows the name Populence on the website.

Me, I’m going for the salted caramel popcorn. Here’s another option: popcorn infused with white truffle butter at Bar Bouchon ($5 during happy hour) and it was, I have to admit, pretty good with a glass of Burgundy.

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Twitter: @sirenevirbila