The fruity, racy varietal that awoke the world to New Zealand wine. The fruit flavours in Sauvignon Blanc will range from herbaceous notes to punchy passionfruit but one way to pick it out is the bold fruits and mouth-watering acidity. Read Joelle's Top Ten Tips below!
1. Sauvignon Blanc is the most popular grape in New Zealand
2. It occupies 77% of the country’s vineyards with 23,000 hectares
3. Most of it is in Marlborough – the country’s biggest wine region
4. Marlborough is home to 26,000 of this country’s 37,000 hectares of grapes
5. Sauvignon Blanc originally comes from France’s Loire Valley and Bordeaux
6. Sauvignon Blanc is often referred to as ‘Savvy’ or ‘Sav’
7. It’s often described as tropical, herbaceous and pungently fruity
8. Most Sauvignon Blanc is made without oak
9. It can also be blended with other grapes, most popularly with Semillon
10. The best versions can be fermented or matured in oak to gain body, richness, smooth creamy flavours and high quality.
Joelle Thomson is a wine writer, journalist and author. She’s an avid lover of wine and currently writes for Capital magazine, Good magazine, NZ Winegrower, Drinksbiz, and her own site, www.joellethomson.com
