10 Incredible Facts About Sauvignon Blanc You Must Know



Priyanko Sarkar is the Founder Editor of Gurgl.in. He has…
Hello #SauvignonBlanc Day. That’s right, Sauvignon Blanc has an entire day dedicated to it. So popular is the wine that celebrations range across the world – from New Zealand to California and everywhere in between. Keeping with the day’s theme, here are some incredible facts about Sauvignon Blanc that you must know.
1 – The Wild White Wine
Sauvignon Blanc comes from the French words ‘sauvage’ that means wild and ‘blanc’ that means white. The origin of this green-skinned grape varietal lies in the famous French wine growing region of Bordeaux.
2 – Grown Across The World
The white wine is grown in many different parts of the world. The main countries that cultivate Sauvignon Blanc include France, Canada, Chile, South Africa, Bulgaria, Australia and New Zealand. Different weather creates a different grape varietal that makes Sauvignon Blanc a delight to taste from different countries.
3 – Fumé Blanc
Fumé Blanc is the official name of New Age Sauvignon Blanc. It is often referred to California-grown Sauvignon Blanc and is attributed to vineyard grower Robert Mondavi in reference to Nievre AOC’s Pouilly-Fumé.
4 – Sushi and Sauvignon
While Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with many dishes such as fish and cheese, one of its most distinct qualities is its ability to pair with sushi, a notorious dish that doesn’t tolerate many wines otherwise.
5 – The New Zealand Factor
Sauvignon Blanc was first planted in New Zealand’s Marlborough region in the mid-1970s. Almost every bottle, approximately 90%, of Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand comes from this region today.
6 – Responsible For Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon, the refreshing red wine produced across the world’s wine-making regions, is a cross between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.
7 – Methoxypyrazines
Metho.. what? Well, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the first wines that has been described with its dominant flavour compounds called methoxypyrazines. This allows for Sauvignon Blanc’s herbaceous nature with notes of gooseberries, asparagus and cut grass.
8 – Eighth Most Planted Wine Grape
That’s correct. Sauvignon Blanc is the eighth-most planted wine grape in the world. As we mentioned earlier, it’s grown across the world and each place gives the grape a distinct flavour.
9 – Store It Right
Sauvignon Blanc changes taste depending on how its stored. Stainless steel Sauvignon Blanc is more fruity and fresh while Oaked Sauvignon Blanc has less aroma but more flavour and texture.
10 – Sauvignon Blanc Day
Generally, the first Friday in May is celebrated as International Sauvignon Blanc Day.
So there you have it, some interesting facts about Sauvignon Blanc that you didn’t know earlier. Which one surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
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Priyanko Sarkar is the Founder Editor of Gurgl.in. He has been a writer for over 15 years and this site is his attempt to document India's growing beverage sector with impactful and interesting stories. His favourite drink is Vietnamese Coffee and his favourite spirit is Turkish Raki.
Hey! Sauvignon Blanc is actually a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon and not the other way around. Cabernet Sauvignon is an accidental crossing of Sauvignon Blanc & Cabernet Franc.
Thank you for pointing it out Gargi. The article has been edited to reflect the change. Cheers!