3.11 Sauvignon Blanc

Question 1

Is Sauvignon blanc an aromatic grape?

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

What are the signature elements of Sauvignon Blanc (SB)wines?

Answer 2

Dry
Herbaceous aromas
High acid
Light- medium bodied

Question 3

In what climates does SB thrive?

Answer 3

Cool
Moderate

Question 4

What herbaceous aromas/flavors are typical in SB?

Fruit aromas/flavors

Answer 4

Grass
Bell pepper
Asparagus

(Green) apple, gooseberry
(Citrus) Grapefruit
(Stone) peach
(Tropical) passionfruit

Question 5

Describe typical SB production methods

Answer 5

Usually single varietal (sometimes blended with Semillon)
Inert vessels
Wines are usually best when consumed young - With age even excellent examples can develop unpleasant vegetable aromas and flavors

Question 6

Name three large French wine producing regions responsible for the production of SB.

Answer 6

The Loire Valley
Bordeaux
Languedoc-Roussillon

Question 7

Name 2 Loire AOCs known for the production of quality SB.

What is the style of these wines?

Answer 7

Sancerre AOC
Pouilly-Fume AOC

Dry
High acid
Green fruit (apple)
Herbaceous (grass, asparagus)
wet stones

Question 8

Name 1 Loire Valley AOC known for producing SB wines that are typically fruity and inexpensive.

Answer 8

Touraine AOC

Question 9

What is the climate of Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and Touraine?

Answer 9

Cool

Question 10

Name 3 Bordeaux AOCs known for SB production. Describe the style of each.

Answer 10

Bordeaux AOC
Fresh aromas of grass and green apple, either single varietal or blends

Graves AOC and Pessac -Leognan AOC
These wines are typically more concentrated and complex: they are typically blends of SB and Semillon (adds body and age-ability)
Very good and outstanding versions often see aging to develop complex flavors of nuts and honey in the bottle

Question 11

Why aren’t there significant plantings of Sauvignon Blanc in the South of France?

Answer 11

The South of France is too warm for Sauvignon Blanc to retain its characteristic freshness.
So….. when Sauvignon Blanc is grown in the south of France, it is grown in high elevation sites.

Question 12

Name an AOC known for SB production in Languedoc-Roussillon

Describe the style of these wines.

Answer 12

Pays d’Oc AOC

Dry
High acid
Tropical fruit ( passion fruit)
Herbaceous (Grass)

Question 13

Why isn’t new oak usually used on single-varietal Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 13

Oak flavors tend to overshadow the fruity characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 14

Name a region known for SB production in New Zealand.

What type of climate does it have?

Answer 14

Marlborough

Cool

Question 15

Describe the style of Marlborough SB.

Answer 15

There are an array of styles!

• Winemakers can blend across diverse sites, or they can bottle single-vineyard wines;
• Winemakers will harvest grapes at different ripeness levels and blend them, or they will bottle from one site that was harvested all at once.
  Flavors can range from lean and precise Loire Valley-styled Sauvignon Blanc to super fruity and exaggerated asparagus Sauvignon Blancs.
• Others experiment with oak and lees ageing!

Question 16

Are Sauvignon Blancs from Marlborough usually bottled as single varietals or are they blended with other grape varietals?

Answer 16

Single varietal

Question 17

Name 2 Australian wine regions known for SBB production

Answer 17

Margaret River
Adelaide Hills

Question 18

In Australia, is Sauvignon Blanc bottled as a single varietal or blended with other grape varietals?

Answer 18

Both
When it’s blended, it’s usually with Semillon.

Question 19

Describe the style of Margaret River SBs.

Answer 19

Most commonly blended with Semillon.

Concentrated herbaceous aromas (grass)

Some producers use some oak aging.

Question 20

Why is Margaret River a good place to grow Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 20

Cooled by ocean breezes

Question 21

Describe the style of Adelaide Hills SBs

Answer 21

Fresh/fruity

Citrus-tropical fruit aromas/flavors
Single variety as well as blends

Question 22

Why is Adelaide Hills a good place to grow Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 22

Cooled by altitude

Question 23

Name 2 regions in Chile that make acceptable to very good quality Sauvignon Blanc.

Answer 23

Casablanca Valley
Central Valley

Question 24

Describe the climate attributes of Casablanca as well as the quality of their SB wines.

Answer 24

• Morning fog
• Cool ocean breezes

Quality is very good

Question 25

Describe the climate attributes of Chile’s Central Valley as well as the quality of their SB wines

Answer 25

Larger and warmer than Casablanca

Range of quality: inexpensive to very good

Question 26

In general, is South Africa too warm for quality SB production?

Answer 26

Yes!

Question 27

What 2 areas in South Africa are known for making refreshing Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 27

Constantia (cooled by breezes from Southern Ocean)

Elgin (cooled by altitude) (often called the coolest region in South Africa.

Question 28

Describe the style of Constantia SB.

Answer 28

Tropical fruit
Herbaceous

Question 29

Describe the style of Elgin SB.

Answer 29

Green fruit (apple)
Wet stone

Question 30

What’s the one area in California known for its Sauvignon Blanc?

Answer 30

Napa Valley

(most of California is too warm to produce herbaceous SB)

Question 31

What technique is used in California to retain freshness in SB?

To add complexity?

Answer 31

Early harvest (as well as site selection)

Oak ageing (adds body and smoky aromas/flavors)