Sauvignon Blanc’s home is the Loire Valley of France, where it produces the crisp, grassy mineral-tinged wines of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume (not to be mistaken with Pouilly-Fuisse in Burgundy – that would be Chardonnay). Wine of this region is crisp and grassy, with delicious minerality and an occasional gun flint/smoky character. In the 1970s, New Zealand planted its first cuttings of Sauvignon Blanc, which in turn brought the country to the forefront of the wine world. In New Zealand, the variety exudes its typical crisp acidity, as well as pungent passion fruit and grapefruit aromas and flavors. In California, Sauvignon Blanc is produced both in stainless steel (like New Zealand and France) and with a touch of oak. The wooded versions maintain the acidity of the grape but tone down the intense citrus flavors with subtle oak characteristics. Winemakers differ in their addition or choice of oak. The grape also produces delicious wines from Chile and Italy.
