Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned grape that produces a crisp white wine known for its high acidity and aromatic nature. This wine is refreshing and very food-friendly and originates in the Bordeaux region of France.

Sauvignon Blanc usually blend with Semillon, the blend used for White Graves and Sauternes and rarely encountered outside France. In the great dry whites of Graves, Sauvignon Blanc tends to predominate in the blend. Sauvignon Blanc wines can lose their freshness and fruit after a couple of years in bottle - if blended with Sémillon, then the latter bolsters the wine when the initial fruit from the Sauvignon fades. Ultimately Sauvignon Blanc gives the wine its aroma and raciness while Sémillon gives it backbone and longevity.

New World Sauvignon Blanc generally have a more pungent aroma; the wine produced from ripe grapes should smell and taste of passion fruit, whereas wine produced with less-ripe grapes will have hints of lemon and pepper.

Old World Sauvignon Blanc should have a classic note of cut grass in the aroma; similarly the flavours of herbs and mineral will be more detectable as well.