from Citrus to Green Pepper

Celebrating Sauvignon Blanc

RIEDEL Performance Sauvignon Blanc filled with white wine.

Ahead of Sauvignon Blanc Day on Friday 6 May 2022, find out why we celebrate the day, what makes this grape variety special, what can you expect from a typical Sauvignon Blanc, and the best glass to highlight its profile.

The base of a RIEDEL glass with the varietal Sauvignon Blanc engraved next to sushi.

the first friday in may

#SauvBlancDay was created in 2010 by St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery in Napa Valley, California. The day offers SB drinkers a special day to celebrate their favourite bottles of this aromatic white variety with thousands of others worldwide.

Key facts about sauvignon blanc

  • Its name comes from the French words "sauvage" (wild) and "blanc" (white), thanks to its easy-growing origins in the Bordeaux region of France, where it was said to grow like a weed!
     
  • It is known as Fumé Blanc in the US, named by famous winemaker Robert Mondavi in the 1960s, who wanted to create a distinction between the oak-aged Sauvignon Blanc coming out of the US ("New World" Sauvignon Blanc) rather than the "Old World" version aged in steel tanks. It is not as commonly aged in oak today.
     
  • It is currently the eighth-most planted wine grape globally. It is grown and produced in France, New Zealand, Chile, Romania, South Africa, the United States, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada and Spain.
     
  • Have you ever noticed similar characteristics between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, like grass, green pepper, or asparagus? Sauvignon Blanc is actually the "parent" of Cabernet Sauvignon; it crossbred with Cabernet Franc to create what is now the most widely grown wine grape in the world!
     
  • Sauvignon Blanc is commonly blended with Sémillion in France and Australia, as its fresh, zesty profile and ability to age offer balance and structure. In France, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillion grapes affected by noble rot are used to produce Sauternes, a full-bodied and often expensive dessert wine that ages beautifully for decades.
Two RIEDEL Performance Sauvignon Blanc glasses filled with white wine.

profile of Sauvignon Blanc

This variety is typically dominant in fruit: ranging from citrus to tropical depending on where it is grown. Think white peach, grapefruit, honeydew melon and passionfruit.

To balance this, it offers a variety of green, vegetal aromas like fresh grass, asparagus, and green pepper and a decent hit of acidity, particularly those wines coming from France.

It is not typically high in alcohol and generally designed to be enjoyed young and vibrant, rather than cellared.