Rising global temperatures have caused farmers to harvest the grapes earlier than they have in the past. In areas where the vine is subjected to high heat, the grape will quickly become over-ripe and produce wines with dull flavors and flat acidity. In warm regions such as South Africa, Australia and California, the grape flourishes in cooler climate appellations such as the Alexander Valley area. The Sauvignon blanc vine often buds late but ripens early, which allows it to perform well in sunny climates when not exposed to overwhelming heat. Climate and geography Vineyards in Sancerre will often plant roses around Sauvignon blanc vines as an early detector of powdery mildew. The grape was first introduced to New Zealand in the 1970s as an experimental planting to be blended with Müller-Thurgau. Eventually, the wine acquired the alias of "Fumé Blanc" in California by promotion of Robert Mondavi in 1968. The plantings produced well in Livermore Valley. These cuttings came from the Sauternes vineyards of Château d'Yquem. ![]() The first cuttings of Sauvignon blanc were brought to California by Charles Wetmore, founder of Cresta Blanca Winery, in the 1880s. Despite the similarity in names, Sauvignon blanc has no known relation to the Sauvignon rosé mutation found in the Loire Valley of France. Prior to the phylloxera epidemic, the insect plague which devastated French vineyards in the 19th century, these interspersed cuttings were transported to Chile where the field blends are still common today. In the 19th century, plantings in Bordeaux were often interspersed with Sauvignon vert (In Chile, known as Sauvignonasse) as well as the Sauvignon blanc pink mutation Sauvignon gris. At some point in the 18th century, the vine paired with Cabernet Franc to parent the Cabernet Sauvignon vine in Bordeaux. It has also been associated with the Carmenere family. Ongoing research suggests it may have descended from Savagnin. As noted above, it is not clear that the vine originated in western France. The Sauvignon blanc grape traces its origins to western France in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux Regions. History The first plantings of Sauvignon blanc were introduced to California at Cresta Blanca Winery (pictured) in the Livermore Valley. The first Friday in May is International Sauvignon Blanc Day. Dry and sweet white Bordeaux, including oak-aged examples from Pessac-Léognan and Graves, as well as some Loire wines from Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre are some of the few examples of Sauvignon blancs with aging potential. The wine is usually consumed young and does not particularly benefit from aging, as varietal Sauvignon blancs tend to develop vegetal aromas reminiscent of peas and asparagus with extended aging. Īlong with Riesling, Sauvignon blanc was one of the first fine wines to be bottled with a screwcap in commercial quantities, especially by New Zealand producers. It is also known as one of the few wines that can pair well with sushi. Sauvignon blanc, when slightly chilled, pairs well with fish or cheese, particularly chèvre. Wine experts have used the phrase "crisp, elegant, and fresh" as a favorable description of Sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley and New Zealand. In warmer climates, it can develop more tropical fruit notes but risks losing much aroma from over-ripeness, leaving only slight grapefruit and tree fruit (such as peach) notes. In cooler climates, the grape has a tendency to produce wines with noticeable acidity and "green flavors" of grass, green bell peppers and nettles with some tropical fruit (such as passion fruit) and floral (such as elderflower) notes. Some New World Sauvignon blancs, particularly from California, may also be called "Fumé Blanc", a marketing term coined by Robert Mondavi in reference to Pouilly-Fumé.ĭepending on the climate, the flavor can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. Sauvignon blanc is widely cultivated in France, Chile, Romania, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Bulgaria, the states of Oregon, Washington, and California in the US. The grape is also a component of the famous dessert wines from Sauternes and Barsac. Sauvignon blanc is planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words sauvage ("wild") and blanc ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France. ![]() Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the city of Bordeaux in France. Powdery mildew, oidium, black rot, and Botrytis cinerea South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, California, Iran, Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Ukraine Sauvignon jaune, Blanc Fume (France), Muskat-Silvaner (Germany & Austria), Fume blanc, Sav Blanc (Australia) and other synonyms
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