We’re welcoming #SauvignonBlancDay (celebrated the first Friday in May each year!) with 10 facts you should know about Sauvignon Blanc! So, grab a glass and sip through these facts about one of our favorite warm weather wines… 

1. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world.
2. Sauvignon Blanc is believed to have originated in the Loire Valley of France. Just 2.5 hours south of Paris in Central France, you’ll find Sauvignon Blanc-based wines such as Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé produced in this region.  
3. Sancerre wines are often characterized as being very mineral driven thanks to the region’s soil; a dark, mineral-filled blend of limestone and clay called Kimmeridgian marl. It’s the same soil found in renowned areas like Champagne and Chablis!
   
   
   
   
4. Pouilly-Fumé wines are grown just across the Loire River from Sancerre and have a similar mineral-driven flavor as Sancerre, but it also offers notes of gunflint and smoke. That’s actually how it got its name; ”fumé” in French means “smoke.” 
5. Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc are the creators of Cabernet Sauvignon. 
6. The “New World” kid on the block, Marlborough, New Zealand, also famously grows Sauvignon Blanc. This region’s wines feature unique characteristics, namely, more tropical fruit and citrus flavors than the “Old World” region of Loire Valley. Our top-selling wine, Lot 2 Sauvignon Blanc, comes from the Marlborough region of New Zealand!
   
   
   
   
7. While you might immediately think of Chardonnay when someone says “California white wine,” Sauvignon Blanc is a close runner up. Northern California, specifically, makes stellar Sauvignon Blanc thanks to the warm sunshine. Abundant sunlight allows the sugar in the grape to ripen more quickly, which means the wine will have a lower acidity and more robust tropical and stone fruit flavors. Try California Sauvignon Blanc out for yourself with Lot 166! 
8. The fruit flavors most likely found in Sauvignon Blanc are green apple, lime, passion fruit and white peach. You may also taste herbaceous flavors, such as grass, bell pepper, gooseberry and jalapeño, which make Sauvignon Blanc unique from other white wines. 
   
   
   

9. Thanks to the herbaceous characteristics in Sauvignon Blanc, the wine pairs well with any food that contains herbs. If your dish is bursting with basil, mint, cilantro, parsley or rosemary, Sauvignon Blanc is likely to be a great pairing white wine for it!

10. The name Sauvignon Blanc translates to “Wild White.

These facts are mainly excerpts from our blog post “A Sauvignon Blanc Tour Around the World” written by sommelier and journalist Stephanie Cain. Feel free to check out her full blog post here if you’re in the mood to escape and take a virtual and global tour of Sauvignon Blanc wines!