Sauvignon Blanc - A white wine that delights kings

Also known as Blanc Fumé or Sauvignon Jaune, Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine grape variety with worldwide distribution. Wines from this white grape variety have a flavour of freshly cut grass and herbs. It is often cultivated in the French Loire Valley (Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé). South African Sauvignon Blancs are enjoying a growing reputation for their quality and complexity. The wine regions are mainly located in the cooler altitudes. The wines are generally fruity with elegant length, flavour and minerality. Sauvignon Blanc sprouts relatively late. This allows it to escape any late spring frosts. It also flowers late. Sauvignon Blanc ripens around 20 to 25 days after Chasselas. The variety has very vigorous growth. Sauvignon Blanc is characterised by medium wood ripeness and moderate winter frost hardiness.

More about Sauvignon Blanc

Profiles

Sauvignon Blanc white wines are very fruity, especially when the grapes grow in a cool climate with intense sunlight. In addition, there is a great minerality combined with a tangy acidity structure. Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa is more restrained in its acidity, with more body and smoky piquancy. When Sauvignon Blanc is matured in new wooden barrels, the intense fruit flavours recede somewhat into the background. These Sauvignon Blanc wines have a powerful body, creamy texture and an exciting interplay between exotic fruit, grassy notes and toasty flavours.

Fruit★★★★★

Body★

Tannin★★★★

Acidity★★★★★

Alcohol★★★★

Flavours

Sauvignon Blanc is a wine for beginners. Even the inexperienced wine drinker will immediately recognise its aromas: Notes of passion fruit, gooseberry and paprika. On its own, Sauvignon Blanc stands for a fresh wine with distinctive, piquant blackcurrant and gooseberry flavours and, depending on when the grapes are harvested, also for "green" notes such as freshly mown grass, herbs and elderberry.When aged in barriques, Sauvignon Blanc develops flavours of apricot, mirabelle plum or basil, but also hints of toast and vanilla are added by the wood.

Dominant notes:

- Gooseberry
- Green melon
- Grapefruit
- White peach
- Passion fruit

Possible notes:

- Herbs/flowers: Grass, jalapeño, ginger, gooseberry, green herbs, green pepper, lemongrass, tomato leaf, pea shoot, apple blossom, jasmine, green asparagus, matcha tea, sage, dill
- Citrus: grapefruit, lemon, lime
- Tree fruit/melon: white peach, pear, melon
- Tropical fruit: passion fruit, kiwi
- Earth/Other: Chalk, slate, saline
- Stored in oak: Fresh bread, butter

Harmonises with

Sauvignon Blanc is a universal culinary companion, no matter which type of Sauvignon Blanc you choose. It goes well with Asian as well as savoury dishes, grilled meats and poultry. Its acidity also makes it ideal as a wine for salads and in combination with tuna. Just as Sauvignon Blanc harmonises excellently with fish and seafood. It is also popular with pasta with cream sauces or asparagus dishes and, thanks to its often grassy-fresh notes, the white wine is also recommended with cream cheese or fresh goat's cheese, as it generally harmonises excellently with cheese products.

General information

Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine that inspired kings. Henry IV, French ruler from 1589 to 1610, had a passion and love for Sauvignon Blanc that lasted until his death. It is therefore no coincidence that the Sauvignon Blanc vine is one of the "cépages nobles", the noblest grape varieties, in its native France.

The Sauvignon Blanc white grape was first mentioned in documents at the beginning of the 18th century. Its origins can be traced back to the Loire Valley and the Bordelais. However, the exact origin of Sauvignon Blanc remains unclear, although it is thought to be related to the Carmenere family. Sauvignon Blanc is also known as Blanc Fumé or Sauvignon Jaune and is a vine that originated from a cross between the Traminer and Chenin Blanc grape varieties. After Chardonnay, it is the second most important grape for the production of white wine.

The grape variety, which originates from the centre-west of France, began a sustained triumphal march around the world towards the end of the 18th century. Today, Sauvignon Blanc is represented in both the Old and New Wine Worlds and is one of the twenty most widely cultivated varieties. Around 11,000 hectares of land are planted with Sauvignon Blanc vines worldwide. The main countries of cultivation are France, New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, Moldova, the USA, Australia, Romania, Spain, Italy, Ukraine and Argentina.

The vinification of Sauvignon Blanc varies from country to country and is often less focused on the flavours than on bringing out the terroir. Sauvinon Blanc vines that grow on limestone soils produce wines that are more reservedly vegetal, nutty, creamy and round. Flinty soils produce smoky and savoury Sauvignon Blanc wines. The vine, which prefers lean and dry soils, is generally very demanding in terms of location. It also thrives well on classic, skeleton-rich, dry steep slopes, which tend to be open to the wind and have a weak growth potential.

The Sauvignon Blanc grape variety produces classically dry, very good wines that stand for crisp freshness, lively aromas, dry flavour and energetic character. Depending on the region, the white wine has different flavours. White peach flavours dominate in Sauvignon Blanc from the north coast of California, passion fruit notes when the wine comes from Marlborough in New Zealand. Sauvignon Blanc is available as a single-varietal wine, but it is also an important component of the sweet wine Sauternes. Depending on the growing region, the grape variety is also often blended with other white varieties such as Sémillon, Chardonnay or Gewürztraminer.