Sauvignon Blanc

Question 1

Characteristics

Answer 1

• An aromatic wine grape
• Dry wine
• Light to medium body
• High acidity
• Pronounced herbaceous (grass, green bell pepper) and floral (blossom) aromas
• Primary flavours from green fruits (apple, gooseberry) and wet stones to riper flavours of tropical fruit (passion fruit)
• Best consumed when young

Question 2

Terroir

Answer 2

Cool and moderate climate

Question 3

Winemaking

Answer 3

• Usually a single-varietal wine
• Can be blended with Semillon
• Mostly produced in inert vessels

Question 4

France

Regions

Answer 4

Loire
* Sauvignon Blanc is the only white grape permitted in Sancerre AOC and Pouilly-Fumé AOC
* Dry wines with high acidity
* Aromas of green fruit (apple), herbaceous notes (grass, asparagus), and wet stones

Bordeaux
* Bordeaux AOC has simple fresh aromas of grass and green apples
* Graves AOC and Pessac-Léognon AOC are more concentrated and complex
* Blended with Sémillon which adds body and helps Sauvignon Blanc age

South of France
* Cooled by altitude
* Dry
* High acidity
* Tropical fruit (passion fruit) and herbaceous notes (grass)

Question 5

New Zealand

Regions

Answer 5

Marlborough
More pronouced characteristics than Loire Valley

Question 6

Australia

Regions

Answer 6

Margaret River
Concenrated herbaceous aromas (grass)

Adelaide Hills
* Most widely planted
* Cooled by altitude and ocean breezes
* Flavours from citrus to tropical fruit
* Sometime blended with Semillon

Question 7

Chile

Regions

Answer 7

Casablanca Valley
Cooled by sea breezes and morning fogs

Central Valley
Produced from high-volume to very good wines

Question 8

South Africa

Regions

Answer 8

Constantia
Rip tropical fruit and herbaceous aromas

Elgin
* Cooled by altitude
* The coolest wine region in South Africa
* Green fruit (apple) flavour

Question 9

USA

Regions

Answer 9

Napa Valley