By Robert Giles

Lighter white wines are a favorite choice in summer. While there are fruity, light red wines that can serve you well in warmer weather, the lightness and bright acidity of white wine can be the cool refreshing libation you crave. Sauvignon Blanc is a great example of a wine that can hit all of the right notes in the oncoming summer heat.

The grape itself is one of the oldest of the noble varieties that you can find. Sauvignon Blanc is known for very pronounced herbaceous and floral aromas making it one of the most easily identified wines in the glass. Depending on how ripe the grapes are allowed to become in the vineyard you will find flavors of apple and citrus all the way to the riper flavors of tropical fruits such as passion fruit. These wines will almost always be made without the introduction of oak in order to preserve the fresh fruit flavors and acidity.

There are a few regions where this grape has found a lasting home and each one will show a different characteristic of both the climate and soil in which it is grown. Because of this, it is always important to be aware that just because you are not a fan of one region’s Sauvignon Blanc does not mean that you would not like another.

The first main area for Sauvignon Blanc is France, specifically Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. This is home to some of the most refined and structured Sauvignon Blanc wines. Often showing notes of fresh green apple, asparagus, and pronounced minerality, these wines are a hallmark of tradition and history.

The cool climate of the two areas allow for the grapes to slowly ripen and maintain their high acidity while the chalky and flinty soils give the famous minerality. While you can find Sauvignon Blanc in several regions of the world, France is the home of the crisp, bracing style of wine.

La Garenne Sancerre is a fantastic example of what French Sauvignon Blanc is about. Green, floral aromas and flavors of green apple and lemon with a mineral, almost flinty finish.

You could also look to Joseph Mellot Pouilly-Fumé for an example of the French style. With a more pronounced flinty minerality, the green apple and lemon zest flavors are very present with a strong acidity. Either of these wines will be perfect with roasted chicken or a light summer salad.

For American style Sauvignon Blanc, you will typically find a more fruit-forward style with notes of grapefruit or tropical fruit flavors.

There are cooler regions that support the grape well, but it will often need to be watched closely to save as much of the acidity and herbaceousness as possible. There are even some wineries that will use some light oak aging to round out the flavors of the wine. This was a process that was pioneered by Robert Mondavi and led to naming the resulting wine Fumé Blanc. Though unconventional, it has proven a popular style.

Honig Sauvignon Blanc is a great example of the typical California style. Aroma of honeysuckle leads to flavors of peach with hints of lime and grapefruit. The tropical fruit notes are prevalent while a noticeable acidity helps maintain the liveliness of the wine.

Ferrari Carano Fumé Blanc continues on the tradition started by Robert Mondavi. Using a blend of stainless steel and French oak aging, this wine shows strong ripe fruit flavors of peach and apricot with hints of lime zest and lemon cream. The blend of aging styles allows for more body in the wine and a rich complexity of flavors.

Finally there is New Zealand. This region is famous for starting a new boom in Sauvingon Blanc. Originally this area was known for Muller Thurgau wines but, with the import of French Sauvignon Blanc vines in the 70's, New Zealand has steadily become synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc. The sandy soils, cool climate, and maritime breezes produce some of the most recognizable wines in the world. Most importantly, there is almost always a prominent bell pepper or asparagus flavor in the wine that lets you know exactly where it is from.

Cloudy Bay was one of the first wineries to show up on American shores. To this day, it remains one of the hallmarks of the New Zealand style. Highly aromatic with notes of lime, lemongrass, and stone fruits. This wine finishes with the hallmark bell pepper note of all New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, with a vibrant acidity. This is history in a bottle and well worth a try.

While Rosé and Pinot Grigio tend to be the dominant wines in the summer, the bracing acidity and citrus flavors of Sauvignon Blanc can be a nice change of pace. The different styles lead to options regardless of your palate.

If you are still unsure of which might be to your liking, feel free to ask any of our wine experts for help picking out your new favorite. Cheers!!