
Sauvignon Blanc: white magic

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.
RauDZ teams up with top South Okanagan winery restaurant
RauDZ has welcomed one of the South Okanagan’s most celebrated wine country restaurants, Terrafina at Hester Creek, into it’s family of restaurants and bars.
2017 Okanagan Life Best of BC Wine Award Winners
Let’s celebrate the 2017 Okanagan Life Best of BC Wine Awards, our third annual. We brought together a panel of select independent, experienced wine judges from the trade, restaurant and education sectors who selected these...
Camp OC offers summer fun for Kelowna youth, convenience for parents
Youth in the Kelowna area will have an even better selection of summer camp opportunities to choose from this year when Okanagan College’s Camp OC returns in July. Parents can also breathe a little easier thanks to after-camp care, which is new this year and allows...
Varicose Veins are not just a cosmetic concern
Restore Vein & Skin Centre Varicose veins are an extremely common problem, affecting up to 50% of the population. Contrary to popular belief, varicose vein disease is not simply a cosmetic problem. Studies have shown that left untreated, the veins gradually...
High water levels: what you need to know about travel to Kelowna
Tourism Kelowna wants to ensure that visitors have information available about their current or upcoming visit to Kelowna and area. Accommodations and attractions remain open and ready to welcome visitors. “We want travelers to have up-to-date information on...
Wine underground: secrets of the Okanagan cellars
Secrets of the Okanagan cellars.. exploring the wine caves of the Okanagan Valley.
0 Comments