Sauvignon Blanc
Location: Worldwide
Origin: Bordeaux, France
Top Growing Sites: Bordeaux, Northeastern Italy, Central Spain, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, California, Loire Valley, Romania, Moldova
Climate: Thrives in cool to moderate climates; If the temperature is too warm, the grapes will ripen too quickly and the variety’s distinctive herbaceous aromas will not develop.
Soil Type: Limestone, Alluvial Gravel
Wine Style: Dry Still White Wine
Acidity: Medium to Medium-High
Glassware: Narrow glass with long stem
Serving Temperature: Unoaked: 46 ºF (8 ºC) / Oaked: 52 ºF (11 ºC)
Cellar: Varies on the bottle; 18 months to 2 years; some bottles can age 20 years!
Genetics: Possibly a descendant of Savagnin
Vine Species: Vitis Vinifera
Flavor Profile: Lime, honeydew, kiwi, passion fruit, fresh cut grass, gooseberry, peach, jalapeño, green bell pepper, pineapple, green apple, pear, guava, nectarine, lemongrass, basil, chalk, wet concrete/petrichor, pie crust, vanilla, cream, coconut, sea spray, minerals
Synonyms: Fumé Blanc (USA), Muskat-Silvaner (Austria), Feigentraube (Germany), Sauvignon (Italy)
Blending: Sauvignon Blanc is commonly blended with Semillon and Muscadelle in White Bordeaux
Fun Facts:
- Sauvignon Blanc gets its name from the French word ‘Sauvage’ (wild/savage) and ‘Blanc’ (white) since it requires a lot of hand-on vineyard work to keep this vigorous vine from growing out of control, as well as its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France. Cheers to this wild white!
- Some new world Sauvignon Blanc’s, particularly from California, may be called ‘Fumé Blanc,’ a marketing term coined by Robert Mondavi in reference to France’s Pouilly-Fumé.
- Centuries ago, in some sunny vineyard in France, Sauvignon Blanc vines met up with Cabernet Franc. The two ‘crossed’ and it was… well, magic. They created Cabernet Sauvignon. How romantic!
- Sauvignon Blanc was one of the first wines to utilize a screw cap closure in place of a cork.
- The first Friday in May is International Sauvignon Blanc Day.
- Sauvignon Blanc was first planted in New Zealand’s Marlborough region in the mid-1970s. Almost every bottle, approximately 90%, of Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand comes from this region today.