Grape Sauvignon Blanc: A for Your Cellar
Updated
The grape Sauvignon Blanc is a white variety. It is known above all for producing distinctive dry and sweet white wines, particularly in Bordeaux. This grape is also a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside Cabernet Franc. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is frequently blended with Sémillon and Muscadelle. It contributes to the region's renowned dry white Bordeaux Blanc. The grape also shapes the long-lived sweet wines of appellations like Sauternes. Noble rot affects the grapes there. The Sauvignon Blanc grape has distinct characteristics and regional expressions. Understanding them is key to making informed decisions for your fine wine cellar.
What is the Sauvignon Blanc grape?
Sauvignon Blanc is a white grape variety that plays a significant role in global wine production. It is notable for being one of the parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon. The other parent is Cabernet Franc. This connection highlights its historical importance in viticulture. In France, Sauvignon Blanc is a key component of white Bordeaux wines. These wines are predominantly made from a blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. Sauvignon Blanc contributes to dry white Bordeaux Blanc wines, sometimes as a 100% varietal. It also goes into sweet white Bordeaux wines, including those from Sauternes. Noble rot is a factor there. Beyond Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is also cultivated in other French regions. One is the Saint Bris appellation in Burgundy.
How does Sauvignon Blanc perform in Bordeaux wines?
Sauvignon Blanc is a vital grape in the Bordeaux region, contributing significantly to its white wine production. It accounts for 36% of the white grape area in Bordeaux vineyards. Its popularity has been on the rise. It surpassed Ugni blanc as the second most planted white Bordeaux grape in the late 1980s. Currently, Sauvignon Blanc is grown in an area more than half the size of the lower-yielding Sémillon in Bordeaux.
White Bordeaux wines are typically blends. They most commonly feature Sémillon and a smaller proportion of Sauvignon Blanc. A common blend is 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. For dry white wines, the regional appellation Bordeaux Blanc often uses 100% Sauvignon Blanc. It can also use a blend dominated by Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Sweet white wines in Bordeaux, including those from Sauternes, come from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes. Noble rot has affected those grapes.
Recently, Bordeaux wineries have expanded the range of permitted white grapes to include Alvarinho, Petit Manseng, and Liliorila, according to Wine-Searcher, cited. This reflects an ongoing evolution in the region's viticultural practices. To learn more about the region's offerings, explore our Bordeaux producer atlas. You can also delve into the characteristics of its common blending partner, the Sémillon grape.
How does Sauvignon Blanc compare to Chardonnay?
Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are two of the world's most prominent white grape varieties. Each has distinct characteristics and regional strongholds. Understanding their differences can help you refine your cellar selections.
| Feature | Sauvignon Blanc | Chardonnay |
|---|---|---|
| French stronghold | Bordeaux, where it accounts for 36% of the white grape area | Burgundy, where it is the most common white grape |
| Appellations to know | Bordeaux Blanc and Sauternes, plus the Saint Bris appellation in Burgundy | Chablis, Mâcon and the whites of the Côte d'Or |
| Usual role in the blend | Blended with Sémillon and Muscadelle, though Bordeaux Blanc is often 100% Sauvignon Blanc | Chablis, Mâcon wines and the Côte d'Or whites are mostly 100% Chardonnay |
Both grapes reward attention to where a bottle comes from rather than the variety alone. For the Burgundy side of that comparison, start with our Burgundy producer atlas.