Sauvignon Blanc

Question 1

Sauvignon blanc

Answer 1

Highly aromatic grape variety
High acidity
Early ripening so well suited to cool climates where temperatures help to retain the refreshing characteristics

Question 2

Loire Valley

Answer 2

High quality regions:
Sancerre
Pouilly Fume

Cool climate gives aromas and flavours of green apple and asparagus often with hints of wet pebbles.

Question 3

Marlborough

Answer 3

Cool but long hours of sunlight gives vibrant flavours.

Powerful aromas of:
Gooseberry
Elderflower
Grapefruit
Passion fruit
Some may have herbaceous notes.

Question 4

South Africa and Chile

Answer 4

Fresh and fruity Sauvignon blanc.

Question 5

Margaret River

Answer 5

Produces high quality Sauvignon blanc but is frequently blended with Semillon to give slightly less aromatic but fuller bodied wine.

Question 6

Pessac-Leognan

Answer 6

Wine is fermented and matured in at least a proportion of oak giving a rounder body and spicy toasty notes.

Blended with Semillon adding further body and richness to the wine.

Question 7

California

Answer 7

Barrel fermentation used to give creamy, spicy style similar to Pessac-Leognan.

May favour ambient yeasts for greater complexity of flavours.

Wines are matured on their lees for a number of months but malolactic conversation is generally avoided.

Common to use new oak barrels for at least a proportion of the wine.