INTERNATIONAL SAUVIGNON BLANC DAY
International Sauvignon Blanc Day is observed on May 6th every year. The day celebrates a green-skinned grape variety from the Bordeaux region of France, used in several dessert wines like Sauternes and Barsac. Its name might have come from the French word "sauvage" (wild) and "blanc" which means white. While it has early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France, Sauvignon Blanc has been planted in many wine regions globally, such as in Chile, Romania, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and more. Depending on the climate, its flavor varies from green to sweet tropical fruits
Fun Facts About Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc likely derived its moniker from the french word “Sauvage,” meaning wild, as the vines are reminiscent of wild grapevines and "blanc" which means white.
Surprisingly, Sauvignon Blanc is a parent (progenitor) of Cabernet Sauvignon (the other is Cabernet Franc)!
The “green” aromatics in Sauvignon Blanc come from compounds called Methoxypyrazines. Cabernet Sauvignon also has these same flavors.
Until the 1980s, most of the “Sauvignon Blanc” in Chile turned out to be rarer Sauvignon Vert (aka Sauvignonasse), mistakenly brought over from Bordeaux.
A real tasting note for Sauvignon is “cat pee!” Caused by a unique chemical compound, “4MMP,” there aren’t many other scents like it!