It’s one of the most popular wines in the world — so if you’re sick of it, no one can blame you. Here are some good alternatives.
This is Sauvignon Blanc.
Pronounced SEW-vin-yaw BLAHNK. It is a white wine grape of French origin.
It's also the name of the wine made from that grape*.
Sauvignon Blancs are medium bodied and light yellowish-green in color. While generally made "dry," meaning there is no actual sugar in the wine itself, fruity flavors (like citrus, pear, and tropical fruits) can trick the tongue into perceiving sweetness. Herbacious flavors are also common, like green pepper or grass. Its high acidity makes it crisp and refreshing.
*Not all wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes uses that for a name. In France, they often call wines by the name of their region rather than the grape used — for example "Sancerre," which is a Sauvignon Blanc named after the Sancerre region.
It's grown all over the world.
The three most iconic Sauvignon Blanc-growing regions are France (particularly the Loire Valley), California (where it's sometimes called Fumé Blanc), and New Zealand's Marlborough region (pictured above). Whereas French Sauvignon Blancs are generally a little more subdued, New Zealand Sauvs have a TON of personality; they've got a super in-your-face aroma of things like gooseberries and fresh-cut grass.
Photograph by Sandra Allen
Sauvignon Blanc is popular.
Especially since New Zealand started exporting a lot of Sauvignon Blanc in the last few decades, it's become one of the most available and talked-about white wines around.
