7 FUN FACTS ABOUT SAUVIGNON BLANC

1. The eighth most planted variety in the world

Sauvignon due to its special aromatic character has many fanatical fans. This along with its "chameleon" personality that easily acclimatizes almost everywhere have made it famous all over the world. It may originally come from France but it is cultivated almost everywhere and is now the 8th most planted grape variety.

2. Historical variety

It is said to be a variety with a long history. The first mention of the variety was in the 16th century, when it was called Surin while the analysis of INRA Montpellier and Domaine de Vassal in France shows that Sauvignon is a descendant of Savagnin Βlanc from Jura. Later the variety acquired its well-known name which means "wild white". Check below!

3. "Wild white"

The word sauvignon is a paraphrase of the word sauvage meaning wild with the word vigne meaning vine while blanc means white. The reasons that gave it this name are the vigorous character of the variety that needs to be restraint to give quality grapes but also the fact that its leaves look like those of wild vines.

4. Sauvignon Gris & Sauvignon Vert

Sauvignon has many related varieties. Sauvignon Gris is a Sauvignon Blanc mutant with reddish grapes. It gives less aromatic wines but with more structure than Sauvignon blanc. On the other hand, Sauvignon Vert (or Sauvignonasse or Friulano) is not related to Sauvignon Blanc as strange as it sounds! A funny story is that years ago it was planted extensively in Chile because they had confused the vines of Sauvignon blanc with those of vert.

5. It is the "mother" of Cabernet Sauvignon

Several years ago, its road met with that of Cabernet Franc and the cross gave the most famous red variety in the world, Cabernet Sauvignon. In the aromatic character of Cabernet, we find many common aromas with those of Sauvignon Blanc, a fact that they owe to pyrazines. Pyrazines are aromatic compounds that give aromas of green bell pepper, asparagus and grass to the wine.

6. Fume Blanc

This is how Sauvignon started its career in the New World and specifically in California where Robert Mondavi gave it that name. In 1960 he decided to make a dry version of the variety (until then the Americans preferred the sweet versions) and aged it in an oak barrel to differ stylistically from the Sauvignons of the Loire. It was so successful that the name was established in America!

7. Gooseberry madness

The awe-inspiring opponent of France, that has rocked the world with its deafening success, is Sauvignon Blanc of New Zealand. In particular, Marlborough is responsible for 90% of New Zealand production and has become famous for the super aromatic and fruity Sauvignons that combine fruit with herbaceous character. The characteristic aroma of New Zealand’s Sauvignon is the gooseberry or otherwise hare cherry or otherwise Haribo jelly bean!

Eva Markaki

Wine Geek