Stage 2
Grape Varieties
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc prefers a cool to moderate climate in order to show the vegetal-aromatic character. It will tolerate a moderate climate however these wines lack the pungent vegetal complexity that a wine from a cool climate will have. The wines should have a high level of refreshing acidity and most are best consumed when young. The majority of Sauvignon Blanc wines are made without the use of oak however some can be found especially in California where this grape is called Fume Blanc. When oak is used this adds spice, vanilla and toast to the flavours.
Cool – Moderate Climate such as Sancerre in the Loire Valley in France and Marlborough on the South Island, New Zealand produce wines with a pungent aromatic character with flavours of green fruit such as gooseberry, lime and elderflower. The wines often have flavours of bell pepper and asparagus.
Blending – Sauvignon Blanc with Semillon Semillon is a widely planed grape in Bordeaux and is always used as a component in a blend with Sauvignon Blanc to make either dry Bordeaux Blanc or the sweet noble rotted Sauternes wines. Sauvignon Blanc's high acidity level makes this grape suitable for sweet wines as it adds the freshness, which might be lacking and without this sweet wines would be flabby, sweet and sugary.