With different types of white wines, it is important to have basic knowledge about them. This will help you understand their characteristics and food-pairing ability, making it easy for you to choose which white wine to serve for the next occasion.
Let’s focus on Sauvignon Blanc, a type of white wine that most wine enthusiasts keep in their residential wine cellar. It is well-loved by many wine lovers particularly in Florida, because of its crispness, elegance and freshness.
The Sauvignon Blanc Grapes
Sauvignon Blanc derived its name from the word “sauvage,” which means wild, and “blanc,” which means white. The grape originated in the Bordeaux and Loire valley regions of France, but is now widely cultivated in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Brazil, Canada, South Africa and California.
If the Sauvignon Blanc grapes are grown in cooler climates, the wine’s character is dominated by herbaceous smells and flavors. Sauvignon Blanc wines produced from grapes grown in warmer regions can evoke citrus, melon and passion fruit aromas and flavors.
In France, Sauvignon Blanc grapes are blended with other grapes to create more complex flavors, particularly in dessert and dry white wines.
The Sauvignon Blanc Wine
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the whites wine that is well-loved by many wine enthusiasts. Its aroma can bring up scents of passion fruit, green melon, grapefruit, lime, freshly mown grass and bell pepper. Its unique taste can make any wine drinking experience truly enjoyable with family and friends.
During the winemaking process, winemakers can influence the end product of Sauvignon Blanc. American wineries, for example, use colder temperatures to release the fruity and floral aspects of the wine; French winemakers want to enhance the mineral aspects of the wine’s flavor, so they ferment it in warmer temperatures; and other wines are oaked to soften their acidic characteristics. The color of Sauvignon Blancs ranges from pale green to straw.
Pairing Sauvignon Blanc with Food
Sauvignon Blanc can be matched with a wide variety of foods. Since it is food-friendly, it can be served on any occasion. It is perfect for seafood, scallops and white meats. It also goes well with many appetizers, salads and dishes with butter or cream and green leafy herbs. When it comes to cheeses, Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with mildly acidic cheeses.
With the characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc mentioned above, there is no doubt that it is one of the most enjoyed white wines in the world including Florida. If you are a wine lover who wants to have easy access to a wine that is perfect for any occasion, make sure that you have Sauvignon Blanc in your home wine cellar.