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Sauvignon blanc (French pronunciation: [soviɲɔ̃ blɑ̃] ⓘ) is a green-skinned grape variety that most likely originated in the Loire Valley wine region in France, though it has also been historically cultivated in Bordeaux. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words sauvage ("wild") and blanc ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France. It is possibly a descendant of Savagnin.
Sauvignon blanc is widely cultivated in many of the world's wine regions, including France, Argentina (also in Patagonia) Chile, Romania, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Bulgaria, and the states of Oregon, Washington, and California in the US. Some New World Sauvignon blancs, particularly from California, may also be called "Fumé Blanc", a marketing term coined by Robert Mondavi in reference to Pouilly-Fumé.
Sauvignon blanc produces a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. Depending on the climate, the flavor can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. In cooler climates, the grape has a tendency to produce wines with noticeable acidity and "green flavors" of grass, green bell peppers and nettles with some tropical fruit (such as passion fruit) and floral (such as elderflower) notes. In warmer climates, it can develop more tropical fruit notes but risks losing much aroma from over-ripeness, leaving only slight grapefruit and tree fruit (such as peach) notes. (Full article...)