Sauvignon blanc is a white grape variety, originally from the Bordeaux region of France. The name Sauvignon Blanc comes from the french words “sauvage”, which means savage, and “blanc”, meaning white. This name is probably appropriate for the wine.
Sauvignon Blanc is known for its intense herbal and acidic flavors. It is a crisp, dry wine with a distinct herbal aroma and flavor, that is often described as straw, grass, smoke, or green herbs. The word ‘grassy’ is commonly used to describe Sauvignon Blanc. And the most characteristic sauvignon blancs are sometimes described as having a “cat pee” quality.
While cat pee doesn’t sound very appetizing it hasn’t stopped Sauvignon Blanc from rising to one of the most widely grown grapes in the world.
The very best Sauvignon Blancs are produced in the Loire Valley region of France and New Zealand. But it has also become a popular varietal, widely cultivated in Austria, Chile, South Africa, and even the United States. Traditionally Sauvignon Blancs are unoaked wines although in California, they are sometimes barrel fermented just like chardonnay to downplay the strong herbal flavors. It is commonly referred to as fume blanc by California producers.
A fun fact – Sauvignon Blanc is one of three grapes used to produces Sauternes, the famous dessert wine from the Sauternes region of France. This is unique wine produced from grapes that have been affected by a fungus called botyritis cinerea, or noble rot. The condition causes the grapes to become partially raisined. Water evaporates, leaving behind more concentrated sugars and resulting in a deliciously sweet dessert wine. But noble rot occurs only in the right weather conditions, and it can’t be guaranteed to from year to year. which makes the production of Sauternes a risky proposition for the winemaker and the resulting wines some of the most expensive in the world.