Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine grape variety that likely originated in the Loire Valley or Bordeaux region. While it had centuries to distinguish itself in France's Sancerre, Pouilly-fume, and other varietal expressions, it wasn't until it was planted in New Zealand in the 1970s that it began to thrive. This cemented its status as a New World star and saw a rise to multiple interpretations of the grape from wine regions as diverse as Marlborough and Australia to California, Italy and Chile.
What are the best Sauvignon Blanc wines?
With two major expressions that range from grassy, high-acid, and lightly fruity wines to oaky, ripe, warmer climate tropical fruit bombs, Sauvignon Blanc can be many things to many people. Sauvignon Blanc grapes can express terroir across different appellations and can be used to suit a winemaker's needs. It is heavily featured in Entre-Deux-Mers and Sauternes alongside the Sémillon grape variety. There are also some fascinating examples coming from young natural winemakers in Loire Valley.
What are the tasting notes of Sauvignon Blanc wine?
Typical notes in the crisp, cooler climate Sauvignon Blanc wine style include freshly cut grass, light tropical fruit flavors like passion fruit, gooseberry, green apple, bell pepper and light citrus (specifically grapefruit and lime zest). Some of the most exciting examples of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc feature a flavor referred to as "cat pee" (Yes, this is a good thing!). Fumé Blanc, or typical wines from Bordeaux, exhibit riper tropical fruits like mango, melon, and sometimes white peach, often alongside oak.
Want to learn more about Sauvignon Blanc?
Check out Firstleaf's Ultimate Guide to Sauvignon Blanc.