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.
Kelowna awards volunteers, artists, athletes and business leaders
The annual award ceremony recognizes volunteers, artists, athletes and business leaders that made significant contributions to the city in 2018.
Health Care Assistant program starts in Salmon Arm
An intake of Okanagan College’s Health Care Assistant program is scheduled for May at the Salmon Arm campus, giving students in the Shuswap direct access to training for one of the most in-demand positions in the province.
Blue Man Group comes to Penticton
The Blue Man Group stops by Penticton’s South Okanagan Event Centre on their World Tour on April 23 and 24. The award-winning stage show is known for its’ trio of bald and blue performers.
Short-term rental regulations moving forward
On Feb. 25, Council took another step toward approving regulations for short-term rentals in Kelowna, giving first reading to a Zoning Bylaw amendment for short-term rental accommodations.
UBCO students give back during reading week
UBC Okanagan students once again volunteered time during their reading week break to help local charities through the Pushor Mitchell United Way Day of Caring® Program.
Lake Country Children’s Festival features more activities this year
The Lake Country Indoor Children’s Festival (presented by TD Bank) event happens at the Lake Country Community Complex on March 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
