Sauvignon Blanc is an early-ripening, white variety that thrives in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux, where it is often blended with Semillon. The Loire’s twin appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé produce some of the most famous examples, though Sauvignon is also New Zealand’s signature variety and is widely planted in the USA, South Africa and Chile.

Sauvignon Blanc produces crisp, white wines that often exhibit gooseberries and herbaceous flavours such as green pepper, asparagus and grass. In warmer climates, it tends to produce more tropical flavours.