Sauvignon blanc
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. It is now planted in much of the world's winelands, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine.
Depending on climate, its flavours can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical, although perhaps the most memorable descriptor is "cat's pee on a gooseberry bush" [1], which is also the smell of fresh guava fruit. In France, Sauvignon blanc is grown in Bordeaux, (as white Bordeaux and Sauternes) and the Loire Valley (as Pouilly Fumé, Sancerre, and Sauvignon de Touraine). Sauvignon was not considered a great wine until Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé were 'discovered' in Paris in the 1960s.
In the 1990s, wines from New Zealand made the grape quite popular, with less expensive and varietally correct wines, produced by wineries such as Montana, Babich, Hunters and Cloudy Bay Vineyards. Plantings in California, Australia, Chile, and South Africa are also extensive, and Sauvignon Blanc is steadily increasing in popularity as white wine drinkers seek alternatives to Chardonnay.
Sauvignon blanc's susceptibility to noble rot makes it ideal for production of luscious sweet wines, reaching its heights in Sauternes, blended with Sémillon.
In California, until the 1970s, it was usually made as a nondescript semi-sweet wine until Robert Mondavi made a dry varietal he named Fumé Blanc, (a reference to Pouilly Fumé), which became so successful that the name Fumé Blanc is now recognised as a legal synonym for Sauvignon blanc in the US.
Canada's Niagara Peninsula makes small quantities of premium quality Sauvignon Blanc that typically preserves high acidity with bright fresh fruit. Leading producers are found in all of the benchlands from the Short Hills Bench to the 20 Mile Bench to the Beamsville Bench to the St. David's Bench.
DNA research has identified Sauvignon blanc and Cabernet Franc as the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sauvignon blanc is enjoyed slightly chilled, with fish or cheese, particularly Chevre. It is also one of the only wines that can pair well with sushi.[1]
Along with Riesling, it was one of the first fine wines to be bottled in screwcap in commercial quantities, especially by New Zealand producers. It is usually drunk young, as it does not particularly benefit from ageing. Dry and sweet white Bordeaux, typically made with Sauvignon blanc as a major component, is the one exception.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- LAROUSSE Encyclopedia of WINE, Hamlyn, 2001, ISBN 0-600-60475-6
- Taber, G. Judgment of Paris. New York: Scribner's, 2005.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Margaret and Joseph Rand, KISS Guide to Wine DK Pub 2000 ISBN 0-7894-5981-7
| Wine styles: | Red/White • Rosé/Blush • Sparkling • Dessert • Fortified • Fruit • Ice Wine | |
| Notable varietals: |
White Albariño • Chardonnay • Chenin blanc • Gewürztraminer • Muscat • Pinot blanc • Pinot gris • Riesling • Sauvignon blanc • Sémillon • Viognier |
Red Cabernet Franc • Cabernet Sauvignon • Carmenère • Durif • Gamay • Grenache • Malbec • Merlot • Petit Verdot • Pinotage • Pinot noir • Sangiovese • Syrah/Shiraz • Tempranillo • Zinfandel |
| Notable regions: |
Amarone • Asti • Barolo • Barossa • Beaujolais • Bordeaux • Burgundy • Chablis • Champagne • Chianti • Commandaria • Dão • Egri Bikavér • Kakheti • Madeira • Marsala • Port • Retsina • Rhône • Rioja • Sancerre • Sauternes • Sherry • Tokaji • Valpolicella • Vermouth • Vinho Verde • Vouvray • Wachau | |
| See also: | Glossary of wine terms • List of grape varieties • List of wine-producing regions • List of wine producing countries | |
