Sauvignon Blanc

• Color: White
• Grape Parentage: Traminer x unconfirmed
• Place of Origin: 
• Origin of Grape Name: “wild” white grape
• Major Countries of Production:
  • France: 28,964 (2011, FranceAgrimer)
    • Gironde département: 5,516 ha
    • Hérault département: 4,236 ha
    • Loir et Cher département: 3,052 ha
    • Cher département: 3,029 ha
    • Aude département: 2,378 ha
    • Gers département: 1,999 ha
    • Gard département: 1,900 ha
    • Dordogne département: 1,150 ha
    • Nièvre département: 1,354 ha
    • Pyrénées Orientales département: 1,282 ha
  • New Zealand: 16,758 hectares total (2011, New Zealand Winegrowers)
    • Marlborough: 13,943 hectares (2009, New Zealand Winegrowers)
  • Italy: Tre Venezie
  • Moldova
  • Romania
  • Chile: 12,159 hectares (2011, Wines of Chile)
  • South Africa: 9,550 hectares (2010, SAWIS)
  • United States:
    • California total: 15,407 acres (2010, USDA/CA Dept. of Agriculture)
    • Sonoma County, CA: 2,512 acres (2010, the Wine Institute)
    • Napa County, CA: 2,496 acres (2010, the Wine Institute)
    • Washington: 993 acres (2010, Washington Wine Commission)
  • Australia: 7114 hectares (2010, Wine Australia)
  • Spain: 2,515 hectares (2007, Observatorio español del Mercado del Vino/OeMV)
• Synonyms:
  • France: Blanc Fumé (Pouilly-Fumé), Punechon (France), Surin (France), Sauvignon Jaune (France), Gentin à Romorantin (France)
  • California: Fumé Blanc, Savagnin Musqué
  • Italy: Sauvignon
  • Austria: Muskat-Silvaner 
  • Germany: Feigentraube
• Viticultural Characteristics: Late-Budding, Early-Ripening, Susceptible to Botrytis/Grey Rot and Powdery Mildew
• Preferred Soil Type: dry and rocky soils, such as chalk or gravel
• Associated “Classic” Soil Types:
  • Loire Valley: silex, caillottes, terres blanches
  • Graves: boulbènes
• Common Blending Partners: Sémillon, Muscadelle

Typical Descriptors and Structure for Sancerre

• Visual: Pale Straw with Hints of Green, Moderate Concentration
• Aromas/Flavors: Moderate to Moderate Plus Intensity of Aromas
  • Fruit: Tart Citrus (Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime), Tart Tree Fruit (Green Apple, Green Pear), Gooseberry, Under-ripe Stone Fruit (White Peach), Slight Tropical Fruit (Kiwi, Passion Fruit)
  • Floral: Faint White Flowers, Citrus Blossoms
  • Herbal/Green/Pyrazine: Cut Grass, Green Bell Pepper, Blackcurrant Bud, Box Tree, Nettles, Tarragon
  • Earth: High Minerality, Wet Stones, Chalk, Crushed Rocks
  • Oak: None or Neutral Oak Casks 
• Structure: Dry, Moderate Body, High Acidity, Moderate to Moderate Plus Alcohol

Typical Descriptors and Structure for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

• Visual: Pale Straw with Hints of Green, Moderate Concentration
• Aromas/Flavors: High Intensity of Aromas
  • Fruit: Citrus (Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime), Melon, Gooseberry, Tropical Fruit (Passion Fruit, Guava, Pineapple)
  • Floral: Faint White Flowers, Citrus Blossoms
  • Herbal/Green/Pyrazine: Cut Grass, Asparagus, Canned Pea, Green Bell Pepper, Jalapeño, Blackcurrant Bud, Rhubarb
  • Earth: Low to Moderate Minerality, Wet Sand, Chalk
  • Oak: None
• Structure: Dry, Moderate Body, High Acidity, Moderate to Moderate Plus Alcohol

Typical Descriptors and Structure for Napa/Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc

• Visual: Straw with Hints of Green and Gold, Moderate Concentration
• Aromas/Flavors: Moderate Plus Intensity, Less Pronounced Varietal Character
  • Fruit: Ripe Citrus Fruit (Ruby Red Grapefruit, Lemon, Mandarin Orange, Lime), Tropical Fruit (Passion Fruit, Guava, Kiwi), Ripe Tree and Stone Fruit (Red Apple, White Peach, Nectarine), Melon
  • Floral: White Flowers, Citrus Blossoms
  • Herbal/Green/Pyrazine: Cut Grass, Celery, Tarragon, Lemongrass
  • Earth: Low to Moderate Minerality
  • Oak: None or Low to Moderate Use of New French Oak (Napa examples with new barrique fermentation and aging may take on aromas and flavors similar to Graves Bordeaux Blanc)
• Structure: Dry, Moderate Plus Body, Moderate Plus to High Acidity, Moderate Plus to High Alcohol

Typical Descriptors and Structure for Graves Bordeaux Blanc 
(typically blended with Sémillon)

• Visual: Yellow/Pale Gold Color with Hints of Green, Moderate Plus Concentration
• Aromas/Flavors: Moderate Intensity of Aromas
  • Fruit: Citrus (Grapefruit, Lemon), Tropical Fruit (Pineapple, Passion Fruit), Tree Fruit (Green Fig, Green/Yellow Apple), Melon, Stone Fruit (Nectarine, Peach, Apricot)
  • Floral: Honeysuckle, Faint White Flowers
  • Herbal/Green/Pyrazine: Cut Grass, Celery Seed/Celery
  • Earth: Gravel, Wet Rocks
  • Other: Beeswax, Lanolin, Cream Soda, Sunflower Seed
  • Oak: Moderate to High (50%) Use of New French Oak, Vanilla, Toast 
• Structure: Dry, Moderate to Moderate Plus Body, Moderate Plus to High Acidity, Moderate to Moderate Plus Alcohol