Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most popular white wines in the world. From its origins in France, to California, New Zealand and beyond, Sauvignon Blanc is a crowd-pleasing grape variety, showcasing its distinct flavors in many different ways.
Depending on where it is grown, Sauvignon Blanc wines can range in style from round and fruity, to crisp and racy, to aromatic and grassy.
Join us on an exploration of Sauvignon Blanc wines from around the world through six unique bottles from 90+ Cellars.
Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc
If the first place that comes to mind when you hear Sauvignon Blanc is the Loire Valley, you probably aren't alone. Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley is a vibrant expression of this beloved grape. Known for its refreshing character and aromatic complexity, Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc delights with its lively acidity and flinty nuances. It's a testament to the region's terroir and the skilled craftsmanship of its winemakers.
Sancerre
Thanks to mineral rich soils, Sancerre produces Sauvignon Blanc with a distinct minerality and flintiness in the glass. It’s one of the world’s most revered regions for Sauv Blanc, and rightfully so.
Lot 126 Sancerre jumps out of the glass with aromas of white flowers, citrus, lychee, and white peaches. The mouthfeel is soft and elegant, with balanced acidity and an ultra-sippable quality.
Coteaux du Giennois
Just north of Sancerre, Coteaux du Giennois is also located in the Centre-Val de Loire and it’s one of the region’s smallest appellations. The soils here are composed primarily of limestone, along with some flint, giving the wines a similar smokiness to those of neighboring villages.
Lot 213 Sauvignon Blanc Coteaux du Giennois is bursting with notes of aromatic jasmine and elderflower, lemon pith, and a slightly flinty aroma, ending with a fruit-forward, long-lasting finish on the palate.
Pouilly-Fumé
Situated just across the river from Sancerre and Coteaux du Giennois, Pouilly-Fumé is one of France’s top regions for Sauvignon Blanc. Fumé translates to “smoky”, a reference to the distinct gunflint aroma found in wines from this region.
Lot 171 Pouilly-Fumé is aged on the lees (dead yeast cells) for several months, resulting in a silky-smooth texture to complement its flavors of lemon zest, green apple, and its smoky savory finish.
Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc
Moving south of the Loire in France to Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is often blended here with other local grapes, Sémillon and Muscadelle. When produced as a varietal wine, like this 90+ Cellars Lot 222, Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc is characteristically dry, and crisp, with notes of lemon curd, white flowers, and lime zest.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
If you’ve tasted Sauvignon Blanc before, you’ve likely tried one from New Zealand. Located on the south island, Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest wine growing region, with perfect conditions of moderate temperatures, maritime influence, plenty of sunshine, and cool nights that maintain the grapes’ acidity levels.
If you prefer a light, zingy, herbaceous style of Sauvignon Blanc with pronounced fruit notes, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is for you. 90+ Cellars Lot 2 Sauvignon Blanc is bright and zesty, with notes of grapefruit, fresh cut grass, gooseberry, and passionfruit.
California Sauvignon Blanc
For those who prefer a rounder expression of Sauvignon Blanc with a fleshy texture, look no further than California. The warmest of the three regions mentioned here, California tends to produce Sauvignon Blancs with tropical and stone fruit notes, like little kisses from the west coast sunshine. This extra sun also results in riper grapes, making for a smoother, less acidic (but still refreshing) mouthfeel.
Lot 166 California Sauvignon Blanc has everything you’d want in a white wine - silky texture, balanced acidity, and notes of citrus, ripe stone fruit, and pineapple.
Food Pairings
Though it’s easy to enjoy year-round, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the few white wines that pairs well with tough-to-match spring vegetables, like asparagus, artichokes, and leafy greens. It can also stand up to summer salads with citrus vinaigrette, and it’s a match made in heaven for anything that involves goat cheese. Try pairing your next glass of Sauvy B with sushi, oysters, or just a day spent in the sunshine.
From the Loire Valley and Bordeaux, to California and New Zealand, 90+ Cellars has an excellent range of Sauv Blancs worth exploring on International Sauvignon Blanc Day and beyond. Check out the full selection here!
This article was written by Lexi Stephens of @lexiswinelist