New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
Interesting Facts
A commonly used descriptor for Sauvignon Blanc is 'cat pee'!
The name Sauvignon Blanc translates to 'wild white'.
How does this style taste?
Based on 294,040 reviews of 2,679 wines
Light
Bold
Soft
Acidic
Dry
Sweet
- citrus
- grapefruit
- lime
- lemon
- lemon zest
- orange
- lime zest
- pink grapefruit
- tangerine
- lemon peel
- citrus zest
- orange peel
0 mentions of citrus notes
- tropical
- passion fruit
- pineapple
- kiwi
- guava
- mango
- lychee
- papaya
- starfruit
- green mango
- green pineapple
- bubblegum
0 mentions of tropical notes
- green apple
- peach
- pear
- apple
- melon
- apricot
- stone fruit
- nectarine
- white peach
- honeydew melon
- cantaloupe
- quince
0 mentions of tree fruit notes
Grapes
Get to know the style
Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship varietal of New Zealand. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, the grape now accounts for 62% of all the wine produced in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc scene started popping in 1970s, with high quality Sauvignon Blancs coming out of the Marlborough region in particular. This illustrated the great potential for grape growing in New Zealand.
Sauvignon Blanc tends to be fermented in stainless steel vats, which results in a clean, crisp flavor. These wines tend to be very aromatic with notes of grapefruit, tropical fruit and cut grass.
When it comes to pairing, think white meat, shellfish, and try to accentuate the herbaceous qualities of the wine with ingredients like parsley and cilantro.