What is Sauvignon Blanc?

This wine is crisp, herbal, and totally cool.

Learn about Sauvignon Blanc

Like most wines, different bottles of Sauvignon Blanc will taste different, depending on where the wine was made and who made it. However, they all tend to have a certain freshness and too-cool-for-school energy that white wine lovers adore.

Tasting Sauvignon Blanc is sort of like strolling across a field of freshly mown grass, and you bite into a crisp green apple.

Further, imagine that you would never get juice on your shirt from biting into the apple. No grass stains on your shoes, either. Sauvignon Blanc is hip, and blunders like that would never happen.

Maybe this wine is popular because of its fresh flavors. Maybe it’s that the best bottles of it come from France and New Zealand (two very cool places). No matter what its secret is, Sauvignon Blanc is a trendy white wine that is worth learning more about (and tasting).

Quick, what is Sauvignon Blanc?

Sauvignon Blanc is a dry white wine that has crisp herbal and citrus flavors. The wine originated in France, and now it is made all over the world. Sauvignon Blanc grapes are also used in white blends and in dessert wines, like Sauternes.

What is Sauvignon Blanc like?

Sauvignon Blanc wine is dry (not sweet), crisp, and has flavors such as grass, herbs, minerals, and citrus. It usually has a high, “nervy,” acidity and is not oak aged.

Sancerre is a white wine that uses Sauvignon Blanc grapes and is made in the Loire Valley of France. Sancerre shows many of the same bright and acidic flavors, and it is also sometimes oak aged. When Sancerre is oak aged, it may show notes of brioche or lemon curd. Pouilly-Fumé and Menetou-Salon are two other important Loire Valley regions that also produce Sauvignon Blanc.

Sauternes is a dessert wine that is also made in France, from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Sauternes is sweet, viscous, and full of golden fruit and honey flavors.

Where does Sauvignon Blanc come from?

Sauvignon Blanc was first grown in the Bordeaux region of France. It was used as part of the Bordeaux white wine blends and to make the dessert wine Sauternes. The grape then travelled to the Loire Valley of France, where it was produced as its own varietal. Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and other Sauvignon Blanc wines became famous for their vivid flavors and nervy acidity. All of these varieties of Sauvignon Blanc wine are still produced in France today.

Sauvignon Blanc is now produced all over the world. New Zealand, the United States, Chile, and South Africa all have sizeable production. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is particularly notable for its high quality.

How do I buy Sauvignon Blanc?

You can buy Sauvignon Blanc from regions like California, Chile, and other less-trendy appellations for a good value. Expect to pay around $10 per bottle. Some of these wines will be great finds for the money, while others might be lacking in flavor. Move into the $15-$20 per bottle range and look for appellations like New Zealand and the Loire Valley for better quality.

Start discovering Sauvignon Blanc wine with one of these great options from our wine catalog.