A Beginner’s Guide to Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic grape that grows best in cool to moderate climates to help preserve its delicate flavours. Its characteristics include herbaceous aromas such as grass and asparagus, blossom, and green fruit (think green apple or gooseberry). However, In warmer climates, riper flavours can develop such as passionfruit or pineapple.

There are many fantastic Sauvignon Blanc producing countries out there, but this article will mainly focus the two countries arguably most renowned for their world-class Sauvignon Blanc: France and New Zealand.

What is sauvignon blanc from france like?

The spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc is the Loire in Northern France, so much so that it is the only grape permitted for use in Sancerre AOC and Pouilly-Fumé AOC found in the Central Vineyards of the Loire. AOC stands for Appelation Origine Controlee and means that there are stricter regulations to uphold in the area in order to use the specific region on the label. You can expect wines from the Loire Valley to have flavours of green apple and wet stones. Pouilly-Fumé specifically is known for making beautiful wines with smoky notes as well! Here are some great bottles to try:

Tesco Finest Pouilly-Fume

Pouilly-Fumé is part of the Central Vineyards of the Loire. This wine from Tesco has a high acidity balanced by refreshing green flavours of gooseberry and lime, as well as the classic smoky note that the region is known for.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £14.00

Specially Selected Touraine Sauvignon Blanc

Touraine is closer to the ocean compared to the Central Vineyards where Pouilly-Fumé is situated, and therefore you can find more of an ocean influence in this bottle. Flavours of lemon and grass are dominant in this wine.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £7.49

Bordeaux also uses Sauvignon Blanc in its white wines, however, these wines are typically blended with Semillon to add body to the wine. White Bordeaux blends are also often oaked.

Château Saint-Jean-des-Graves

This classic example of a white Bordeaux blend has the usual citrus notes of a Sauvignon Blanc with more weight to it thanks to the Semillon. This wine is also able to age in the bottle to add more definitive oxidative flavours such as raisin or dried apricot.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £9.99

Alternatively, more producers from the ‘New World’ such as South Africa, Australia and Chile are releasing their own White Bordeaux interpretations.

Kleine Zalze Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Stellenbosch is known for its reds, but also makes some brilliant whites. This bottle from Kleine Zalze includes tropical notes of pineapple and passionfruit on the nose.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £7.50

Tesco Finest Western Australia Sauvignon Semillon

Howard Peak is the producer used for this Tesco Western Australia blend. The grapes go through hand-sorting to ensure only the best grapes make it to the final wine. On the palate you taste a beautiful blend of lime, green apple and gooseberry with a hint of grass.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £8.00

What is Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand like?

New Zealand has done an amazing job at creating a sterling reputation for Sauvignon Blanc production. The overall climate is on the cool side, however, what makes a difference in growing conditions compared to France is the long hours of sunshine that both the North and South Islands receive. The cooler temperatures help retain the green freshness, while the intense sunshine helps develop beautiful tropical flavours such as passionfruit, melon and pineapple.

Yealands Sauvignon Blanc

This crisp and classic wine has brilliantly high natural acidity balanced by the intense fruit flavours including guava and peach with the classic herbaceous notes of asparagus.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £10.00

For similar wines from other countries, aim for any warm climates such as South Africa, South Eastern Australia or Chile.

Our Selection Chilean Sauvignon Blanc by Amazon

This is a refreshing white from the Aconcagua region of the Leyda Valley. Flavours of apple, lemon and lime are the most apparent, with a lovely minerality.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £6.98

Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Sauvignon Blanc

This zesty sauvignon blanc from The Cape is a refreshing wine full of lemon, lime, ripe melon and passionfruit. A great bang-for-buck find.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £6.85

If you enjoyed reading this then, have a look at The Best Riesling to Try or if it’s a bang for your buck bottle you’re after then check out these Stunning Supermarket Red Wines for Under £10!

Perfect White Wine to Pair with Christmas Food

We’ve been hard at ‘work’ popping corks on the very best white wines at each price point in the run up to Christmas, and these are the crème de la crème.

Richer reds and Champagne are usually more associated with the festivities, but a White (wine) Christmas is much lighter and just as delicious, especially with the inevitable feasting weighing you down!

Perfect for seafood in particular, but also roasts, dive in and discover which delightful bottle to stock in your cupboard this Christmas.

Best Budget White Wine for Christmas

Amandla 'Our Future' Sauvignon Blanc

This is a new South African black-owned brand from one of the rising female stars in winemaking, Pray Dlamini, who hand picks grapes from the Western Cape and blends this zesty sunshine Chardonnay herself. It’s bursting with ripe and tropical notes. Think passion fruit, pineapple, and lemon. Food friendly too, look to serve this alongside fish or lighter chicken and pork meals.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £9 Sainsbury’s

Andrew Peace Chardonnay 2021

Back in 1980, Jim Peace found himself disenchanted with the rat race in Melbourne and when he passed a vineyard for sale, fate intervened, and he never looked back. His son is now chief winemaker at the cooler climate Victoria vineyard, releasing quality like this. It’s a soft marshmallow Chardonnay with subtle melon and a refreshing splash of citrus from the touch of Semillon included. It’ll sit nicely with any fish you’re cooking over the festive season, as well as softer, creamier cheeses. Elegant beyond the price tag!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £6 Coop

Adnams Muscadet 2021

Muscadet is a wine from decades gone by that’s been making a resurgence, with its clean, bone-dry neutrality proving very desirable. The grape itself here is Melon de Bourgogne but don’t be fooled into assuming this is from Burgundy as a result, it’s actually the stunning Loire Valley (confusing we know). It has the classic earthy, fleshy white peach and super refreshing nature you want from a Muscadet, and it’s just the ticket for shellfish!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £8.99 Lidl

Morrisons The Best Marques de los Rios Rioja Blanco

Fabulous value here with a white Rioja produced in partnership with Bodegas Eguia in Rioja Alavesa south of Bilbao. There’s a lot going on and an awful lot to love with waxy lemon rind notes, vanilla, ripe pear, a touch of sweet spice and some texture from the part aging in French oak. An easy drinking winner with roast chicken or turkey.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £7 Morrisons

Tesco Finest Albarino del Rey 2021

Using Albariño Grapes from Spain's Rias Baixas, this is exactly the kind of elegance we’ve come to expect from the region. Apricot aromas make way for a lovely lemon meringue pie feel, with zinging zesty citrus and comforting weight to it. It’s simply a superb white for under the £10 mark. Make it sing with hard cheese or fleshy fish.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £9.50 Tesco

Prima Luna Frascati

This Frascati is a cheap and extremely cheerful thirst-quenching wine. If you’re a fan of Pinot Grigio, then this has a touch more character with green apple hints and citrus notes, before a touch of bitter almond on the finish. It’s seriously solid for under £6. Give it a whirl with fish, or cold chicken at the Boxing Day buffet perhaps.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £5.75 Tesco

Caves des Roches Cotes de Gascogne 2021

If you’re drawn to Kiwi Sauvignon then this is one for you. A vibrant wine from Gascony in Southwest France, it carries tropical vibes with ripe grapefruit and juicy guava, culminating in a crisp finish. At 11% and £5, being this moreish isn’t too much of a problem!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £5.25 Tesco

Co-op Irresistible Viognier 2021

‘Irresistible’ is spot on. This is serious Viognier with a classic profile of hefty weight, sweet peach and apricotty grape. This honeyed flavour is balanced by zingy acidity heightening the freshness. Really, this should be priced into double figures, but let’s hope they don’t because this is Helena’s house white! Any seafood and salads, pour this out.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £8 Coop

Co-op Irresistible Marsanne 2021

Jean-Claude is one of the star winemakers of the Languedoc and the brains behind this is fantastically put together perky white expressing the Marsanne grape in all its glory. It can be a tough wine to get right, hence why Marsanne is often blended with others to taper it but this is spot on. Think of ripe fruits like peach and pear as well as honey, all countered by a refreshing acidity that keeps you coming back for more. If you like the Viognier above, chances are this is worth picking up too!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £8 Coop

Perelada Només Garnatxa Blanca 2021

White Garnacha (Grenache) is on the up big time and hailing from the region of Empordà in Spain, this is a pure and great embodiment of that. Think weighty, fleshy, creamy white wine with notes of a curiously sweet hit of melon, vanilla, baked apple and white chocolate. This will be just as at home with nuts and cheeses as it will be with poultry – super versatile.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £11.95 Lekker Wines

Best Mid-Tier White Wine for Christmas

Adnams North Otago Chardonnay

With mountains all around, the Waitaki Valley hotbed of wine sits on the river of the same name on the idyllic North Otago, New Zealand. Nestled here is the family-run Forrest estate, growing grapes in white limestone soils with river gravel for mineral rich growth. This is a limited-edition Chardonnay that feels delightfully rich with a toasty, savoury feel. Popcorn and spice show themselves, alongside ripe fruit in a powerful white that is both creamy and chalky. Any meaty fish in rich sauces, this is your bottle.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £19.99 Adnams

Petit Chablis, Vielles Vignes, Domaine Dampt et Fils

The village of Chablis may be tiny, but its reputation and fame is anything but. Petits Chablis uses soils from just outside the area of the top Chablis wines, but with the Dampt estate employing the exact same standards when making it, you wouldn’t notice. The flavours are surprisingly concentrated and beautifully so, with earthy leafiness and chalky feel offsetting melon notes and a touch of noisette. Crisp, clean, well-balanced, and well-rounded – fantastic fundamentals. We think it’d be perfect with smoked salmon or prawns, something along those lines.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £17.99 Laithwaites

G de Guiraud Semillon-Sauvignon 2019

What a wine to fly the flag for white Bordeaux. Toasty, waxy with a zesty finish to pep the bottle up, this is an organically farmed blend with equal parts Semillon and Sauvignon. It’s aged in the old 1er Cru Sauternes barrels to inject real depth and complexity, throwing up notes of ripe peach, lychee, oatmeal, and light lemon. It’s a vibrant palate cleanser so it loves any food. Christmas turkey with every trimming in the book? Pour away.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £15 Coop

Domaine Claude Lafond 'cuvee Nathalie' Reuilly Blanc 2021

This Loire Sauvignon shares the soil with Sancerre, picking up many of the characteristics without the price tag. Every drop oozes class, with leafy lemon flavour, a hint of nuts and a comforting creaminess. Delicious saline finish too. Try it with goats cheese, trust us!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £14.99 Majestic

Domini Veneti 'Foscarino' Soave Classico DOC, 2021

It’s head-turning and mouth-watering stuff from this blend of Garganega, Trebbiano and Chardonnay. Produced from grapes nurtured in volcanic soil in the Soave Classico region, there’s a sturdy saline core with branches of tropical pineapple and citrus, all shrouded in a creamy texture that would work wonders with most seafood dishes. A top-notch all-rounder and faultless bang for your buck!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £10.99 Majestic

Grace Koshu Kayagatake 2021

We’re taking a left field turn off to Japan for a moment if it’s alright with you, because at the very least, you have to see the Koshu grape (seriously, Google it after this) – is it the best-looking grape on the planet?  Mesmerizing pink. The wine itself resembles Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio somewhat, with divine balances of lemon, grapefruit, peach and jasmine. It feels soft and juicy but subtle all over, all whilst being terrifically light if you enjoy that from your wine. Foods like salmon, or perhaps goat cheese will pair nicely.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.5%
Find here: £19.99 Novel Wines

Best Top End White Wine for Christmas

La Chablisienne Chablis Grand Cru, Chateau Grenouilles, 2018

Now this would bring more than a dusting of magic to any Christmas gathering, more like sleighfuls! Only a tiny harvest of Chardonnay is grown on ancient terroir for this, before two years of oak aging. This is simply top of the Chablis tree. Beguilingly rich, as rounded as they come, with creamy citrus notes grounded by chalky, mineral character and a kiss of oak. It’s as lively and complex as you expect for the amount it’ll set you back, if not more! Bravo!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £74.95 Le Bon Vin

Gusbourne Guinevere Chardonnay 2020

Brace yourself for this stunner, a super elegant Chardonnay from Gusbourne in Kent. You’ll recognise some overlap with a white Burgundy, with ripe stone fruit, a touch of spice and reassuring texture from 10 months of oak barrel aging. The palate is saline and buttery, with mellow oak and vanilla notes, perfectly balanced by the slight acidity of lemon and lime. As well as being crisp and fresh, there’s intriguing complexity that’s dying to be explored so it’s a super satisfying English wine. A glass of this alongside any creamy fish or chicken pie and you’re laughing!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £35 Gusborne

If you haven’t been won around by white wine this Christmas then one, well done for making it to the end regardless, and two, we’ve got Christmas guides for beautiful reds and glorious bubbles too!

Words by Calum Ecroyd