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Sauvignon Blanc is a green grape originating in the French Bordeaux region but is today grown in most wine producing countries. Nonetheless France remains the worlds largest growers followed by New Zealand and Chile.
Generally the wine is crisp, elegant and fresh, but it can carry flavours from grassy earthiness through to tropical fruits depending on the climate it is grown in.
The most popular Sauvignon Blanc's come from France, especially the Loire region and From the Marlborough region of New Zealand. Expect citrus notes, apple, apricot, lime and grapefruit.
One of the most popular white wine varieties, sauvignon blanc, produces fresh and grassy wines that are well-loved. New Zealand has been a major contributor in this regard, and its Marlborough region even more so after it was first planted there in the mid-1970s. What sets the New Zealand style apart is its pungent aromas and exotic flavours. Outside of NZ, sauvignon is also found in France's Loire Valley where it makes the famous Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé wines. It is also used in oak-aged white Bordeaux blends, often paired with sémillon. Other countries known for their success with sauvignon blanc include Chile and South Africa.
The flavour profile of sauvignon blanc wine typically includes greenness such as cut grass, green pepper, and tomato leaf. In New Zealand-style wines, elderflower and passionfruit are often found, in addition to gooseberry. French examples lean more toward citrus and minerality. Sauvignon is usually unoaked, with keen lemony acidity, while barrel-fermented styles often have a hint of smokiness, cedar, and vanilla. As it ages, it can take on truffle and quince character.
Sauvignon blanc is usually harvested while still possessing good acidity and is then pressed and fermented in stainless steel. It can also be barrel-fermented. It pairs well with salads, fish, seafood, white meats, and goat's cheese.
Interestingly, the sauvignon blanc grape is also one of the genetic parents of cabernet sauvignon, alongside cabernet franc. Also the first 500 hectares of Marlborough vineyards were planted in 1973, but sauvignon wasn't included until two years later!.
