![](https://okanaganlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/July-August-2008-okanagan-life.jpg)
Sauvignon Blanc: white magic
![sauvingnon-blanc-white-magic](https://okanaganlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/sauvingnon-blanc-white-magic-294x400.jpg)
Stand-alone or boosting a blend, this unforgettable character loves good food and makes good times
Freshly, lively, food-friendly Sauvignon Blanc is among the most instantly recognizable varietals. It flaunts piercing aromas of gooseberry, cut grass, asparagus, flowering currant, green pepper, nettles—and even cat’s pee. This cool climate grape reaches its apex of aromatic intensity and zesty crispness in France’s Loire Valley (showing a minerally, flinty, smoky, lemony character in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé) and in New Zealand (often bursting with ripe tropical fruit flavours in wines of the South Island’s Marlborough region).
In Bordeaux, it is traditionally blended with Sémillon to make less intense whites to go with local fruit de mers, and also sweet, botrytised dessert wine. Use of oak is the exception. Examples of oak aged Sauvignon Blanc include white Graves, a Sémillon blend, and Fumé Blanc, a name invented by Robert Mondavi for oak style Sauvignon Blanc.
Quick facts
- Coined in California in 1981, the term Meritage (pronounced like heritage) is the trademark for wines blended from traditional Bordeaux varieties
- White Meritage is made by blending two or more of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Vert
- Chile’s Casablanca region and South Africa’s Cape region are successful Sauvignon Blanc producers
Best way to enjoy
Food pairings: Loire style with goat’s cheese, asparagus quiche, salad, light fish, oysters; New Zealand style with flavourful seafood, vegetables, pork (slightly sweet and cooked with spices) and Meritage with richly sauced fish dishes, lobster
Temperature: 6-8 C
Type of glass: tulip-shaped wine glass
Read more of the original stories celebrated in our 30th-anniversary issue.
Heavenly sounds, cosmic images in Kelowna
Music of the Heavens is coming to the Mary Irwin Theatre in Rotary Centre for the Arts on Thursday, Nov. 30. The multicultural, multimedia presentation explores stories from the diverse fabric of Canadian and Indigenous society.
Innkeepers Gala embraces a cause close to home
Hotel Eldorado kicking off the holiday season in style—and benefiting an important cause—with the Innkeeper’s Gala set for Saturday, November 25. The proceeds from this year’s event are in support of the KGH Foundation’s Better Together campaign to open JoeAnna’s...
Sacred Sounds
Choirs from the Cathedral Church of St Michael and All Angels are proud of the 104-year-old-stone cathedral building near downtown Kelowna, with its wonderful acoustics and aged charm
Be merry with a winter weekend in wine country
Welcome the festive season with a memorable weekend of great wine, food and fundraising in Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country. On Saturday November 25, Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association and Oliver Tourism Association will host the first “Be Merry,” an evening of great wine...
DOJA makes marijuana moves in Okanagan
One of the Okanagan’s biggest pot businesses has been making big moves over the past few months. DOJA Cannabis Co. jumped onto the CSE in August under the symbol, DOJA. Since then, they’ve expanded, harvested and are making final preparations for legalization next...
Summerland’s Light up the Vines celebration expands
Enjoy the sparkle of the season while touring Summerland wineries Wineries, cideries and a brewery are opening their doors fro the 7th annual Light up the Vines celebration. “We love throwing open our doors for visitors for this annual celebration. It’s a great way to...