Ep 539: The Grape Mini-Series -Sauvignon Blanc Refresh

Wine for Normal People

This is the third in the series of Grape Miniseries Refreshes to complete the trifecta of Cabernet Sauvignon and parents – Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.

The short of it: Sauvignon blanc has character!! Love it or hate it, you know what you’re getting when you have a wine made from this grape. Whether it be citrusy, acidic, and minerally from Loire, fruitier and sometimes oak aged from Bordeaux, or pungent, spicy, and grapefruit-noted from New Zealand, this grape makes and impact wherever it goes.

Photo: Sauvignon Blanc. Credit: Austrian Wine

Grown in more than 30 countries, Sauvignon blanc is the 11th most planted wine grape in the world. (OIV, 2017). One third of Sauvignon blanc is in France, with New Zealand a close second.

As with every grape, Sauvignon blanc has its quirks, but the grape is all about purity, rather than winemaking magic. With specific soils and sites this grape’s beauty shines through in its crystal-clear flavors. Sauvignon is appreciated for its simplicity, its ease of drinking and its versatility – the grape makes dry whites, oaky whites, simple whites, more complex ones, Sauternes and other botrytis affected wines. Whatever it’s used it, it makes a mark with great acidity and strong flavor.

In this show I cover:

• The origins and DNA of the grape
• Sauvignon Blanc in the vineyard
• Aromas and flavors
• Main Regions:
  • France: Loire (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé), Bordeaux
  • Spain, especially Rueda
  • Italy: Piedmont, Friuli, Alto Adige
  • Austria, especially Styria
  • New Zealand!!! Synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chile
  • South Africa
  • United States: Especially California's North Coast -- Napa, Sonoma, and Washington

I cover food pairings and serving temperatures too.

Full show notes and all back episodes are on Patreon. Become a member today!

www.patreon.com/winefornormalpeople

_______________________________________________________________

Check out my exclusive sponsor, Wine Access. They have an amazing selection -- once you get hooked on their wines, they will be your go-to! Make sure you join the Wine Access-Wine For Normal People wine club for wines I select delivered to you four times a year!

To register for an AWESOME, LIVE WFNP class with Elizabeth or get a class gift certificate for the wine lover in your life go to: www.winefornormalpeople.com/classes