In general, Sauvignon Blanc is typically high in acidity, full flavoured with mineral, grass, and grapefruit notes. It has light to moderately high alcohol depending on the climate.
In time for Sauvignon Blanc Day on May 7, 2022, learn what makes this wine so unique and discover differences between vines from South America, Italy, and South Africa.
South American Sauvignon Blancs
Red is probably what first comes to mind when thinking of Chilean and Argentinian wines. However, they both produce excellent, mature cool-climate Sauvignon Blancs that are crisp, fresh, and highly aromatic.
Emiliana Adobe Sauvignon Blanc. Casablanca Valley is home to some of the best Chilean whites. This translucent light-yellow wine is clean, with a complex nose of citrus recalling grapefruit and lime with a subtle touch of green chilies and delicate herbs. Price and availability: $14 – $17 BC, AB, ON, NB
Bodega Norton Barrel Select Sauvignon Blanc (Argentina). Greenish yellow with golden hues, it has aromas of green apples and herbal notes. Some complexity has been given to the wine due to the cold weather of the 2021 harvest. Price and availability: $15 – $17 BC, AB, NB, NS, NL, PEI
Slovenian wines feature at Sauvignon Blanc SA seminar- South Africa
Italian Sauvignon Blancs
Sauvignon Blanc is slowly but surely expanding its reach in Italy. Planted mostly on the Alpines slopes of the North-Eastern region, the vine is vigorous and needs extensive pruning to avoid excessive vegetation. Aged in steel most of the time, Italian Sauvignon Blanc is refreshing, bursting with flavours of lime, mint, and green bell pepper.
Sun Goddess Sauvignon Blanc. This Friuli DOC wine is straw-yellow with lively greenish tinges. It has an intensely aromatic nose with a balanced palate of intense acidity with a velvety smoothness. Price and availability: $21 – $25 BC, AB, MB
South African Sauvignon Blancs
Just like Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Loire Valley. It’s therefore not surprising that the varietal does well in South Africa. Sauvignon Blanc wines there deliver well-defined flavours with vibrant acidity.
Nederburg The Winemaster’s Sauvignon Blanc. From the coastal region of the Western Cape, this wine is vibrant with hints of green and releases distinct flavors of tropical fruit, and herbaceous flavors. Price and availability: $14 – $15 BC, AB, SK
The Two Oceans Sauvignon Blanc offers a refreshing balance of bright, crisp citrus and lemon with subtle tropical fruit. Price and availability: $11 – $14 BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS, NF, PEI, PQ
Sauvignon Blanc is an expressive grape that is heavily influenced by its surroundings. Minor differences in weather can impact and transform the whole vineyard. By understanding your wine preferences, you can easily determine which Sauvignon Blancs you like the most and explore regions to your palate’s content.
