Save Summer With a Crisp Sauvignon Blanc

One month after the official start of hurricane season, you’ve likely been running the A/C on high as we move through South Florida’s most tropical time of the year. We all feel lucky to live in paradise until we again experience endless days of air so thick you can swim in it.

Staying hydrated is the best way to not overheat, b

ut we have some other ideas, too. While this article is not making any serious health claims, one thing is for sure – there are certain white wines that seem to take the edge off the summer swelter a little more than others. You may hear people say they are “refreshing” wines. Various grapes and winemaking styles fit this category, but one stands out above the rest: sauvignon blanc.

Sauvignon blanc is grown all over the world but is perhaps most recognizable from countries such as New Zealand and regions such as Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé in France. Each of these places adds its own signature “twist” to the wine, while maintaining the core integrity of the grape.

In general, sauvignon blanc is an aromatic grape with high acidity. Flavors and aromas can range from more

restrained green apple and asparagus in cooler climate areas to vibrant tropical notes in warmer regions. It can often be very easy to pinpoint exactly where this wine is made. Once you’ve had a few tastes of sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, it’s almost impossible not to notice it immediately the next time you’re handed a glass.

It may come as a surprise to learn that sauvignon blanc is also a main grape in the white wines of Bordeaux. Usually blended with sémillon, sauvignon blanc can take on a totally different character in regions such as Pessac-Léognan,

where it is barrel fermented, leading to a rounder, fuller-bodied wine with some toasty notes from the oak. Even the famous sweet wines of Bordeaux can include some sauvignon blanc.

In Sancerre, located in the Loire Valley of France, sauvignon blanc may be almost unrecognizable next to its New Zealand cousins. In this cooler region, the grape is grown on chalky soils. Its expression leans toward green apple, citrusy, with ample minerality and acidity for a crisp, refined wine that pairs perfectly with fresh seafood or simply be enjoyed as an aperitif.

Of course, California makes sauvignon blanc all over the state. This is where the fumé blanc style became famous, with its richer, creamier texture. Chile is also home to a growing number of sauvignon blanc vineyards, especially in cooler, coastal regions. South Africa, Australia and others all have a signature touch with the grape, giving sauvignon blanc lovers lots of choices when it comes to enjoying their favorite wine.

Stay cool with sauvignon blanc this summer! Here are three classic examples from three distinct regions around the world, ready to keep you feeling refreshed.

New Zealand

Villa Maria is a New Zealand winery located in Marlborough on the northeastern tip of the South Island. Founded by Sir George Fistonich in 1961 on a small plot of land, the winery became a global brand on the international export market by 1998. It’s not difficult to find Villa Maria Private Bin collection wines at local stores and on wine lists around town. However, the brand also features wines from several company owned and managed single vineyard sites. These selective wines reflect the individual climate and terroir of a singular place.

Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is sourced from a single vineyard on the northern bank of the Awatere River in southern Marlborough. The wine has that signature lemongrass found in many New Zealand wines of this variety, with tropical notes like banana and mango along with some peachiness. Firm and mouthwatering acidity holds the wine together for an overall light and easy drinking “stay cool” summer wine.

Europe

Over in Europe, the Thomas family has been making wine since 1670 in the Loire Valley. The 13th generation of the family-run business now focuses on organic and biodynamic farming practices and only using indigenous yeasts in the making of sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. Domaine Thomas Et Fils “Le Perrier” Sancerre 2020 shows more citrus, green

apple and wet stone, with a pronounced minerality that follows throughout on the palate. Lingering citrus flavors round out the finish on this perfect bottle for sipping alongside friends on warm summer nights.

California

In California’s Napa Valley, Farella is a family-owned winery located in Coombsville, established in 1977 and making wines since 1985. “La Luce” Sauvignon Blanc 2019 is strikingly bright and fresh. This estate grown and produced wine is lighter bodied and crisp with flavors of lemon and grapefruit, giving it the right characteristics for pairing with some citrus ceviche or a light arugula salad topped with just a squeeze of lemon. Truly refreshing, this California sauvignon blanc feels light and breezy, and that’s about all we can hope for on a South Florida summer night.