Editing Sauvignon blanc (section)

{{Short description|Green-skinned grape variety}}
{{Redirect|Servanien|the red French wine grape also known as Servanien|Servanin}}
{{Redirect|Sylvaner Musque|the German wine grape also known as Sylvaner Musqué|Bukettraube}}
{{Redirect|Rouchelin|another French wine grape that is also known as Rouchelin|Chenin blanc}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox grape variety
| name          = {{lang|fr|Sauvignon blanc}}
| color         = Blanc
| image         = Sauvignon blanc grapes.jpg
| caption       = Ripe Sauvignon blanc grapes
| species       = ''[[Vitis vinifera]]''
| also_called   = Sauvignon jaune, Blanc Fume (France), Muskat-Silvaner (Germany & Austria), Fumé Blanc, Sav Blanc (Australia) and [[#Synonyms|other synonyms]]
| origin        = [[France]]
| hazards       = [[Powdery mildew]], [[Uncinula necator|oidium]], [[black rot]], and ''[[Botrytis cinerea]]''
| regions       = {{plainlist|
*[[South Africa]]
*[[Chile]]
*[[New Zealand]]
*[[California]]
*[[Iran]]
*[[Loire Valley]]
*[[Bordeaux]]
*[[Ukraine]]
}}
| notable_wines = [[Sauternes (wine)|Sauternes]], [[Sancerre (wine)|Sancerre]]
}}
'''Sauvignon blanc''' ({{IPA|fr|soviɲɔ̃ blɑ̃|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Eric.LEWIN-Sauvignon blanc.wav}}) is a green-skinned [[grape variety]] that originates from the city of [[Bordeaux]] in [[France (wine)|France]]. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words ''sauvage'' ("wild") and ''blanc'' ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in [[South West France (wine region)|South West France]].<ref name="MacNeil p. 52">{{cite book |last1=MacNeil |first1=Karen |title='The Wine Bible |date=2001 |publisher=Workman Publishing |isbn=1-56305-434-5 |pages=52 |url=https://www.karenmacneil.com/product/the-wine-bible/ |access-date=18 May 2021}}</ref> It is possibly a descendant of [[Savagnin]]. Sauvignon blanc is planted in many of the world's [[wine]] regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white [[varietal|varietal wine]]. The grape is also a component of the famous [[dessert wine]]s from [[Sauternes (wine)|Sauternes]] and [[Barsac, Gironde|Barsac]]. Sauvignon blanc is widely cultivated in France, [[Chile (wine)|Chile]], [[Romania (wine)|Romania]], [[Canada (wine)|Canada]], [[Australia (wine)|Australia]], [[New Zealand (wine)|New Zealand]], [[South Africa (wine)|South Africa]], [[Bulgaria]], the states of [[Oregon (wine)|Oregon]], [[Washington (wine)|Washington]], and [[California (wine)|California]] in the US. Some [[New World (wine)|New World]] Sauvignon blancs, particularly from California, may also be called "Fumé Blanc", a [[marketing]] term coined by [[Robert Mondavi]] in reference to [[Pouilly-Fumé AOC|Pouilly-Fumé]].

Depending on the [[climate (wine)|climate]], the flavor can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. In cooler climates, the grape has a tendency to produce wines with noticeable [[acidity (wine)|acidity]] and "green flavors" of grass, green bell peppers and nettles with some tropical fruit (such as [[passion fruit]]) and floral (such as [[elderflower]]) notes. In warmer climates, it can develop more tropical fruit notes but risks losing much [[aromatics (wine)|aroma]] from [[ripe (wine)|over-ripeness]], leaving only slight [[grapefruit]] and tree fruit (such as [[peach]]) notes.<ref name="WSET">[[Wine & Spirits Education Trust]] ''"Wine and Spirits: Understanding Wine Quality"'' pp. 6-9, Second Revised Edition (2012), London. {{ISBN|9781905819157}}.</ref>

[[list of wine personalities|Wine experts]] have used the phrase "crisp, elegant, and fresh" as a favorable description of Sauvignon blanc from the [[Loire Valley wine|Loire Valley]] and New Zealand.<ref name="MacNeil p. 268">[[Karen MacNeil]]. ''The Wine Bible'', p. 268, Workman Publishing 2001. {{ISBN|1-56305-434-5}}.</ref><ref name=quaffers>[http://www.quaffers.co.uk/features/archive/0402_SauvignonBlanc/index.html Materman, "Stuff of legends: Marlborough Sauvignon blanc."]</ref> Sauvignon blanc, when slightly chilled, [[wine and food pairing|pairs well]] with fish or [[cheese]], particularly [[chèvre]]. It is also known as one of the few wines that can pair well with [[sushi]].<ref>Robert Joseph and Margaret Rand. ''KISS Guide to Wine'', DK Pub 2000. {{ISBN|0-7894-5981-7}}.</ref>

Along with [[Riesling]], Sauvignon blanc was one of the first fine wines to be bottled with a [[screw cap (wine)|screwcap]] in commercial quantities, especially by New Zealand producers. The wine is usually consumed young and does not particularly benefit from [[aging (wine)|aging]], as varietal Sauvignon blancs tend to develop vegetal aromas reminiscent of peas and [[asparagus]] with extended [[aging wine|aging]]. Dry and sweet white [[Bordeaux wine|Bordeaux]], including oak-aged examples from [[Pessac-Léognan AOC|Pessac-Léognan]] and [[Graves AOC|Graves]], as well as some Loire wines from Pouilly-Fumé and [[Sancerre (wine)|Sancerre]] are some of the few examples of Sauvignon blancs with aging potential.<ref name="WSET"/>

The first Friday in May is International Sauvignon Blanc Day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=Sauvignon Blanc Day |url=https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sauvignon-blanc-day/#:~:text=Sauvignon%20Blanc%20Day%20is%20an,the%20first%20Friday%20of%20May. |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Days Of The Year |language=en}}</ref>