Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a well known international grape variety that began its life in France and is now grown in every major wine producing country and most of the lesser known ones.

It has so many differing interpretations that it is impossible to define the aromas, flavours and textures of the wine. You will find aromas of cut grass, nettles, blackcurrant leaves and asparagus, green apples and gooseberries, cats' pee and flint, all depending on the terroir, the methods used by the winemaker and the age of the wine. The palate usually shows a lot of fresh fruit flavours with quite high acidity and a wonderful freshness. Some winemakers put their Sauvignon Blanc through a malolactic fermentation which softens the acidity and adds a richness to the flavour.

The origin of Sauvignon Blanc was considered by many to be in Bordeaux. However, documentation from France has shown this to be unlikely, as the grape is mentioned in records as being in the Loire Valley nearly 200 years before it gets a mention in the Bordeaux area.

Sauvignon Blanc has a rare pedigree. It is the grandchild of Pinot and the child of Savagnin. It is a sibling, or half-sibling, with a long line of well loved grapes including Chenin Blanc, Trousseau, Grüner Veltliner, Rotgipfler, Silvaner and Verdelho. Thanks to a natural crossing with Cabernet Franc the world now enjoys Cabernet Sauvignon. There are a couple of colour mutations of Sauvignon Blanc – Sauvignon Rouge and the very elegant Sauvignon Gris