A WHITE GRAPE · LOIRE
Sauvignon Blanc
Zesty, herbal, citrus.
What Sauvignon Blanc tastes like
Sauvignon Blanc is a white grape. In the glass it reads as zesty, herbal and citrus. Sauvignon Blanc is medium-bodied, with almost no tannin and high, racy acidity, finishing dry. It is usually made with little or no oak. Its home turf, as we hold it, is Loire, Marlborough.
Where Sauvignon Blanc grows
Our appellations table names Sauvignon Blanc in 91 wine regions. The ones with the most wines in our database are Sancerre (France), Pessac-Léognan (France), Sauternes (France), Pouilly-Fumé (France), Oakville (USA), Bordeaux (France), Alexander Valley (USA), Sonoma County (USA), Loire Valley (France), Graves (France), Collio (Italy) and Marlborough (New Zealand).
Sauvignon Blanc is grown well beyond that list: 79 more appellations name it as a main grape, which is part of why one bottle can taste so different from the next.
How the place changes the glass
- Sancerre (France): Crisp, mineral white wines with citrus and herbaceous notes; flint soils give a smoky, flinty character. Climate: cool continental with some oceanic influence.
- Pessac-Léognan (France): Medium- to full-bodied reds with earthy minerality from gravels; whites are crisp, herbaceous, and age-worthy. Climate: warm maritime-influenced temperate.
- Sauternes (France): Lusciously sweet, honeyed white wine with complex botrytis character, balancing richness with balancing acidity from noble rot. Climate: maritime temperate with humid autumn mists.
- Pouilly-Fumé (France): Crisp, mineral-driven whites with concentrated herbaceous and citrus notes, exceptional terroir expression. Climate: cool continental with Atlantic maritime influence.
What to eat with Sauvignon Blanc
The classic partners are goat cheese, oysters and ceviche. Its acidity cuts through richness and cleans the palate between bites, so it pairs well with oily fish, creamy sauces and salty food.
Sauvignon Blanc on menus we hold
- Asparagus vinaigrette at Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville: paired with Sauvignon Blanc Domaine Salathé (2024). A green hillside and a bracing sea breeze.
- Brown crab at Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville: paired with Pouilly-Fumé "Silex" Domaine Dagueneau (2020). The garden of France, blooming beside a wide, gentle river.
- Crispy Green Asparagus at Restaurant de l'Hôtel de Ville: paired with Sauvignon Blanc Domaine Salathé (2024). Freshly cut grass and a squeeze of grapefruit.
- Cuttlefish and Asparagus at Piazza Duomo: paired with SANCERRE CLOS LA NÉORE (2019). A castle on a lazy river, and a long summer afternoon.
Sauvignon Blanc in our cellar
The appellations above account for about 7,142 Sauvignon Blanc wines in the Sommurai database, which is how we know which regions pour it most.
Grapes to try next
If you like Sauvignon Blanc, these white grapes are worth a glass: Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc, Albarino and Gewurztraminer.
Quick answers
What does Sauvignon Blanc taste like?
Sauvignon Blanc reads as zesty, herbal and citrus. Sauvignon Blanc is medium-bodied, with almost no tannin and high, racy acidity, finishing dry. It is usually made with little or no oak.
What food goes with Sauvignon Blanc?
goat cheese, oysters and ceviche.
Where is Sauvignon Blanc grown?
Our appellations table names Sauvignon Blanc in 91 wine regions, including Sancerre (France), Pessac-Léognan (France), Sauternes (France), Pouilly-Fumé (France) and Oakville (USA).
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