BOOKINGS: 020 8288 0314

Refreshingly fun tasting events
ThirtyFifty - Hens

Spotlight on Sauvignon Blanc

This show was published 09 October 2021

Overview

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the world's most popular grapes and is an aromatic grape variety with intense aromas. Cat's pee on a gooseberry bush! We're going to be looking at its characteristics, wine making and where it is grown.

Chris describes the flavour profile of a typical Sauvignon Blanc while, which varies according to the climate it is grown in.

Its a vigorous grape which needs to be managed in the vineyard by techniques such as canopy management or low fertility soils. In the 1980's New Zealand became the new reference point for Sauvignon Blancs throughout the world and their viticultural methods such as Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) which make mechanical harvesting possible.

In terms of wine-making, as an aromatic variety, there is less intervention needed in the winery, with producers aiming for a wine that expresses the fruit and floral aromas and purity of flavour. Stainless steel is widely used for cool fermentation to encourage the development of primary flavours.

It can sometimes be blended, e.g. with Semillon to add body, richness and ageability, but mostly is it made as a single variety.

In New Zealand, it is grown across the whole country, but in Marlborough in the South Island it is the most widely planted grape variety. Elsewhere it is widely grown in the Loire Valley in France and also in Bordeaux where it is both a single variety but also blended with Semillon. Its also used to produce sweet, dessert wines, in Sauternes in Bordeaux and Monbazillac. In the USA its grown in California and known as Fume Blanc. You'll also find it in South Africa, Chile and Australia.

Subscribe

Using XML subscription or through Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you normally listen to podcasts.

Sponsorship

The UK Wine Show is sponsored by ThirtyFifty. Our team of wine tasters are busy entertaining and educating UK consumers to help them get the most out of wine.

Support us on Patreon

If you are a regular listener, do consider supporting the UK Wine Show on Patreon. You can pledge a monthly payment, equivalent to a cup of coffee or very small glass of wine!

Become a Patron!

Music

The music used for the UK Wine Show is Griffes de Jingle 1 by Marcel de la Jartèle and Silence by Etoile Noire.

xml subscription
Spotify RSS feed
itunes RSS feed
Stitcher RSS feed

Listen

A perfect gift
for wine loving
friends and
family!

From £49
per person

BUY ONLINE »