Sauvignon Blanc comes in many different styles from many different countries. However for the sake of this week’s blog we’re focusing in on New World Sauvignon Blanc. What exactly do we mean by New World? Basically we’re talking about wine growing countries such as Australia, Chile, Brazil, USA and of course New Zealand, which is widely considered the home of Sauvignon Blanc.
It wasn’t until the 1990’s that New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc really took the world by storm, but boy has the popularity continued to grow. When you think of New Zealand Sauvignon, you instantly think of Marlborough – arguably the most famous wine growing region in the world for Sauvignon Blanc. What makes this region perfect for this little zesty refreshing number? The sandy soils of Marlborough offer excellent drainage, with the vine concentrating its flavours on lower yields.
However it’s not all about Marlborough. One of the most up-and-coming wine regions for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is Waipara, located on the South Island. With the island being so narrow, every vineyard is within 100 kilometres of the coast, ensuring a slow ripening period which allows a natural balance between acidity and sugar. Absolutely perfect.
It’s easy to get carried away with New Zealand Sauvignon, but to ignore the likes of Chile and the USA would be a mistake. Valparaíso in Chile is famous of its Sauvignon Blanc due to the cooler climate, and in the USA you’ll find delicious offerings from both California and Washington State.
The classic flavour profile of a New World Savvy B will revolve around expressive tropical fruit flavours and aromas. You’ll also experience some notes of asparagus and a splattering of mango. But you may ask why we’re waffling on about the flavour notes when this blog is based around food matching. Well, one of the key components of any successful food pairing is looking at the flavours of the wine and the flavours of the dish, and matching them to complement each other as best they can.
When we talk of citrus-led Sauvignon Blanc’s, which are famous in the New World, you have to match them with zingy green salads, feta cheese and citrus dressings. When it comes to seafood you can try mussels, salmon, lemon sole or even a classic Friday night fish & chips.
