Think of Sauvignon Blanc, and chances are Marlborough comes to mind.
The wine region on the South Island of New Zealand earned its world-famous status thanks to its distinct take on the white grape, bursting with racy acidity and a powerfully aromatic profile of gooseberry, elderflower, grapefruit and passion fruit. Today, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand’s leading wine, far outweighing any other in production or consumption.
But despite Sauvignon Blanc’s strong affiliation with Marlborough, there are many more wine regions around the world where the variety excels. Thriving in climates both cool and warm, and across myriad soil types and topographies, Sauvignon Blanc enjoys many iterations, ranging from steely and elegant to rounded and fruit-forward.
When you’re ready to explore some of the best Sauvignon Blanc regions beyond the borders of Marlborough, give those outlined below a try.
Casablanca Valley, Chile
One of Chile’s most-planted white grapes – along with Chardonnay – Sauvignon Blanc thrives in the country’s cool-climate Casablanca Valley. Set between the Pacific Ocean and coastal mountains, this sandy clay valley experiences a combination of morning fog and afternoon wind gusts from the nearby ocean. It’s the ideal environment for encouraging slow grape ripening, in turn creating white wines with intense fruit flavours and high acidity.
While the strong South American sunshine lends Chilean Sauvignon Blanc a distinct tropical character, the Casablanca Valley style is generally more herbaceous and less concentrated than Marlborough examples. In some cases, producers may add richness via ageing in oak or lees stirring.
Signature aromas and flavours: ripe apple, citrus, tropical fruit, herbs.
Constantia, South Africa
When it comes to South African white wines, look to Constantia on the fringes of buzzy Cape Town – home to some of the oldest vineyards in the country. While once most famed for historic sweet wine Vin de Constance, in recent times, it’s become known for the quality of its Sauvignon Blanc.
Set on well-drained soils of decomposed granite and clay, vineyard sites are cooled by the “Cape Doctor” – a strong, dry wind that blows in from the coast during spring and summer. This tempers the intense South African sunshine and allows grapes to ripen more slowly and evenly, encouraging complexity and balance.
Compared to Marlborough’s overt green freshness, Constantia Sauvignon Blancs can taste more subdued and somewhat riper.
Signature aromas and flavours: citrus, gooseberries, cut grass, green fruits.
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