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Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a grape that produces some of the world?s most popular and distinctive white wines. This refreshing white always hits the spot on warm Spring evenings and is particularly useful for food pairings. The Sauvignon Blanc grape is known for producing wines that are zippy, light-bodied, dry, and citrusy. Sauvignon Blancs are always highly reflective of the terroir that they came from, and while all good juice made from this varietal is highly expressive, they can range from tropical-fruited with bright citrus flavors to grassy with fresh herbal tones and complex minerality.

Of course, we can go on and on about how tasty good Sauvignon Blanc is, but what makes this wine a bit of a minefield is that poorly made Sauvignon Blanc can be pretty awful. Sauvignon leans toward vegetal and herbaceous tones. In good Sauvignon this is fresh cut grass and snow peas. But an underripe Sauvignon may be pungent, like the water left from boiling artichokes?ick! So if you?ve been turned off to Sauvignon Blanc in the past, we urge you to give it another chance. You may not like them all, but with so many different styles, from super ripe in New Zealand to elegant and austere in the Loire, you?re sure to find something you enjoy.

France:

Loire Valley - Some of the world?s most spectacular Sauvignon Blancs come from the Loire Valley of France. These wines bear regional names, so you won?t find the name of the grape on the label. But if you enjoy crisp focused Sauvignon unmasked by oak, seek out wines from Sancerre, Touraine, and Pouilly-Fume. (Not to be confused with Burgundy?s Pouilly-Fuisse, which is Chardonnay).Wines from these areas are particularly elegant and vibrant, with a complex mineral character that really makes them stand out.

Bordeaux - While Bordeaux is most famous for their red wines, the region produces whites as well. White Bordeaux are made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and a rich, creamy white grape called Semillon. The two grapes are opposites and blend very well together. Semillon adds weight to Sauvignon?s aroma and acidity. Sauvignon Blanc blends from this region are usually known as Bordeaux Blancs or Graves Blancs. Graves is the only region in the area that is actually better known for their whites than their reds. Elegant and minerally, these whites also have a very distinct lemon characteristic.

New Zealand:

New Zealand?s South Island, especially in Marlborough, has become a great region for Sauvignon Blanc. These are very extroverted examples with a tropical backdrop, hinting at mango and passion fruit with loads of grapefruity citrus quality. These wines tend to be extra zesty, with herbal tones of freshly cut grass.

California:

Californian Sauvignon Blancs are fruit-forward and often see a bit of oak. These begin to lean toward notes of fig and melon and tend to be rounder with relatively low acidity. You may be familiar with a wine called ?Fumé Blanc.? This name for Sauvignon Blanc was invented by Robert Mondavi, but numerous Californian and Chilean Sauvignons are still labeled ?Fumé Blanc.?

South Africa:

One of the oldest wine growing regions outside of Europe, South African wines have enjoyed a recent increase in popularity. Sauvignon Blancs produced in this region tend to be vibrantly citrusy and crisp, with distinct herbal tones of freshly-cut grass, but lack the tropical fruit quality that New Zealand whites possess.

Elsewhere:

Sauvignon Blanc is also grown in Australia, Spain, Italy, Austria, Chile, and beyond.

Pairing Sauvignon Blanc with Food

Sauvignon Blanc?s acidity makes it very flexible with foods. One of the major classic food and wine pairings that is so good it must be tasted to be believed is Chèvre (fresh goat cheese) with a chilled glass of Sauvignon. Since it?s light bodied and citrusy, this wine is terrific with seafood and white flaky fish, basically anything that you?d squeeze lemon onto. Sauvignon Blanc is also one of the best wines to tackle vegetables with strong green flavors such as asparagus and broccoli. They are notoriously tricky to pair with wines, and Sauvignon Blanc always seems to work well.

Recommended Wines

Best in Show: Brochard Sancerre ?Tradition? 2007, Loire Valley, France $26.99 (only $22.94 with GOGO discount)
The limestone and minerals of the Loire Valley terroir shine in this gorgeous, elegant Sauvignon Blanc. Look for delicate notes of citrus fruit and melon with a lingering finish.

Friendliest: Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand $17.99 (only $15.29 with GOGO discount)
Expressive and flavorful, this wine bursts from the glass with ripe aromas and flavors of grapefruit, gooseberry, and white peach. Hints of freshly cut grass add complexity to this broad, mouth-filling Sauvignon Blanc.

Best Bargain: Line 39 Sauvignon Blanc 2008, California $9.99 (only $8.49 with GOGO discount)
From northern California, this is a softer, riper style of Sauvignon Blanc with plenty of lemon tones. Perfect for enjoying with an array of vegetables, poultry, or goat cheese.

Most Interesting: Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Stellenbosch, South Africa $23.99(only $20.39 with GOGO discount)
From the leading producer of Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa, this flavorful wine has crisp, snappy acidity, a zesty personality, and plenty of ripe citrus fruit.

Girls on Grapes Tasting Dates

If you would like to explore Sauvignon Blanc in further depth, come to one of our tastings. We will feature a half-dozen examples at each of these tastings, which are exclusively for Girls on Grapes Members. If you would like to attend, please contact Bin 604 at 410-576-0444 to reserve your glass

Monday, April 19th 6-7pm
Tuesday, April 20th 6-7pm
Wednesday, April 21st 7-8pm

Monday, April 26th 6-7pm
Tuesday, April 27th 7-8pm
Wednesday, April 28th 7-8pm

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