Where can I find the best Sauvignon in the World?
The Gold medal for excellent Sauvignon blanc has been credited to a few wine producers from the small northeast Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia with.
This happened at the celebrated Concours Mondial du Sauvignon in Bordeaux 2014, 5th edition. This is the land where you can find the Best Sauvignon in the World.
Sauvignon blanc history
A peculiar green skin grape originally from the French region of Bordeaux, the Sauvignon is quite probably getting its name from the French “Sauvage blanc” meaning “wild white”.
Sauvignon Blanc can taste very differently depending on the country where it is grown.
Originally from the “between two seas” region of Bordeaux, a land between the two main rivers of the Dordogne and the Garonne, some cuttings were brought to Chile because of the phylloxera disease of the 19th century and here grown into the blends that are still quite popular. In the 1880s was introduced to California thanks to Charles Wetmore and eventually in 1968 got known as “Fume’ Blanc”. In the Loire Valley, there are Sauvignon varieties like Pouilly Fume’, Sancerre, and Sauvignon de Touraine characterised by differences in terroir and weather.
The Sauvignon vines have been planted in many world’s wine regions. It is a crisp and refreshing grape which vine often buds late but ripens early so performing very well in warm/sunny areas that are not exposed to extreme heat. Chalk and marl contribute different elements to the wine that gets various levels of richness and complexity, finesse and perfume. Gravel soil and closeness to rivers give spicy, mineral and floral flavours while vines planted in flint soil produce vigorous and long-lasting wines.
In New Zealand, where the wine is slightly higher in acidity, the Sauvignon grape is enriched with hints of white peach and lime and is very different from the Australia Margaret River region, where it’s often blended with Semillion. South America, Chile and Brazil produce a wine more similar to the French style.
Concours Mondial du Sauvignon
Every year the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon takes an up to date panorama of the worldwide production of Sauvignon. It’s a place where professionals of this wine meet: producers, enologists, sommeliers, distributors, wine journalists and purchasing advisors from around the world. A panel of passionate acknowledged Sauvignon blanc tasters meets up to value this wine to let the world know the richness and diversity of the world Sauvignon blanc guiding the consumers’ buying choice.
Collio: one of the best Sauvignon environments
The hilly area called Collio is situated between the right bank of the Isonzo river, historically known for the WWI 12 Isonzo battles, and western Slovenia. Reaching the winery that produces the best Sauvignon in the world is, in itself, a spectacular experience. The road called “Strada del Vino” – “the wine road” – winds around these smooth hills and reaches dozens of excellent wineries that any traveller will find hard not to stop to and taste the unbelievable variety of wines and some of the best Sauvignon in the World.
Sauvignon is not the only premium class white wine produced in Friuli Venezia Giulia. In fact, Malvasia Istriana, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Bianco & Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay are some of the best whites you will discover while visiting the Collio area.
In the Collio region, you can discover not only Sauvignon (the premium class white wine produced in Friuli Venezia Giulia, but also fantastic others such as Malvasia Istriana, Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Pinot Bianco & Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay.