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Wine FAQs
What Is Sauvignon Blanc?
Sauvignon Blanc is considered by many to be the world’s favorite white wine. The green-skinned Sauvignon Blanc grapes produce light, refreshing, fragrant wines with characteristic notes of grass, gooseberry, green apple, and lime.
With its light color and zingy high acidity, Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect summertime wine to enjoy with light meals or to sip on its own. If you’re looking for a refreshing wine to enjoy in the sun, this is the one to try!
Need help finding the perfect wine? Explore our top-quality Sauvignon Blanc wines and save big on wine cases.
Where Is Sauvignon Blanc Grown?
Sauvignon Blanc grapes are native to France’s Loire Valley and Bordeaux region. The vineyards of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé in the Loire Valley are renowned for their crisp, refreshing wines with a trademark flinty note.
Outside Sauvignon’s homeland, New Zealand has become synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc—famed for wines that deliver a delectable balance of mouthwatering fruit flavors and crisp, refreshing dryness. The green-skinned grapes are also successfully grown in wine regions worldwide, from Italy and Spain to Chile, South Africa, and the U.S.
What Is Sauvignon Blanc’s Style and Character?
Typically at the drier end of the spectrum, Sauvignon Blanc is a refreshingly acidic wine with deliciously zesty aromas. Sauvignon Blanc is both light in body and color. It is rarely blended with other grapes, but in France’s Bordeaux region Sauvignon Blanc is often combined with Sémillon and Muscadelle to make both dry white wines—and to produce the famous dessert wines of the Sauternes region.
What Does Sauvignon Blanc Taste Like?
Depending on the area the grapes were grown in, Sauvignon Blanc can have varying, distinct flavors.
Look to the Loire Valley for crisp and zingy Sauvignon Blancs. The cooler climate there tends to produce more acidic, green-fruit flavors in the grapes, including:
- Gooseberry
- Nettle
- Lime
- Cut grass
- Elderflower
- Green apple
In the warmer climate of New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc grapes develop more summery, tropical-fruit flavors, including:
- Mango
- Papaya
- Pea
- Green bell pepper
- Guava
- Passionfruit
How to Pick a Good Sauvignon Blanc?
Sauvignon Blanc is consistent in flavor, so you’ll find quality wines from around the world. But, for the finest Sauvignon Blanc, choose a bottle from the top regions, such as Loire Valley in France or Marlborough in New Zealand.
What Food to Pair With Sauvignon Blanc?
As Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, fresh white wine, opt for lighter meats, such as grilled chicken or pork. Tangy cheeses like goat’s cheese or feta, white fish, shellfish, and fragrant Thai curries all pair well with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. But with its vibrant green-fruit flavors, Sauvignon Blanc is also the perfect white wine to serve alongside vegan-friendly dishes with punchy, herby flavors, like pesto pasta, asparagus risotto, and ceviche (Vegan options often made with hearts of palm or avocado).
How to Serve Sauvignon Blanc?
White wines should be served chilled. If Sauvignon Blanc is too warm, the alcohol will dominate, leaving it tasting dull. If served too cold, the wine’s aromas and flavors will be muted.
To enjoy its crisp flavors, serve your Sauvignon Blanc at a temperature of between 44-54° F directly from the bottle—no decanting necessary. The wine will naturally warm up in a glass, so it’s best to serve it at the cooler end of the spectrum to avoid overheating.
