Alternatives to Sauvignon Blanc

Inspired once again by my students I have been thinking which wines would be a good alternative to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc which, according to some of my London-based hospitality students is the most popular wine at the moment by far; a wine for those occasions when we want to try something just a little different.

For me there is nothing wrong with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, let me get that clear I have lots of favourites, but let us think about how many other wines that will be similar in style, but perhaps consumers are a sometimes little nervous of trying in case they do not live up to the kiwi savvie they know and love!

So back to basics, what style of wine is New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc? It is white. No tannin for those palates that are sensitive to bitterness; medium body. So not too light and, as some of my students describe, thin, but also not too rich; high in acidity. So for some that are particularly sensitive to acid perhaps too tart; dry? Many consumers like a little bit of residual sugar in their wine such as the imbibers of white Zinfandels and Moscatos that are currently very trendy;  flavour? Huge array of characteristics but if we were to simplify matters then a range of fruit from green apple, citrus, peach, and passionfruit, with added bonuses of vegetables such as green bell pepper, and often a nice floral touch, so all quite dominant flavours which if leaning more towards the gooseberry, lemon, and grass can make the wine feel very fresh indeed.

Recommended Alternatives to Sauvignon Blanc

So what alternatives are there to Sauvignon Blanc, plenty! Let’s start with a good Grüner Veltliner from Austria, now these come in different styles depending on the conditions they have been grown in, some tasting richer and more oily, others more earthy in texture, but many have that lovely vegetable and citrus crunch, they will have the style factors we are looking for, dry, high acid, medium body. So, like Sauvignon Blanc, this grape’s structure matches and the flavours can vary depending on grape growing conditions.

My next alternative to Sauvignon Blanc would be an Ortega or Bacchus, two wonderful grapes grown in England, with the same palate requirements met, structure and aromatics. English wines just get better and better in my mind and so just search out these grapes with producers such as Furleigh Estate, Danebury Vineyards, Biddenden Vineyards, to name a few and you won’t be disappointed.

Thirdly for our Sauvignon Blanc lovers I dare to suggest a Riesling? I know from my years of teaching particularly those not in the wine trade, how this grape needs some convincing, but that is easily done on most occasions once a bottle is opened. I suggest we explore Germany so let me give you a few tips on what to look for on the label so we can ensure a dry, medium bodied version is found. I cannot guarantee this but I am pretty confident that if you look for a Riesling (it will say the grape on the label) from the Pfalz or Rheingau and look for the word trocken, which means dry, plus to ensure we have a nice fresh citrus, stone fruit, and perhaps floral flavour, buy something quite young so maybe this year look for 2012 wines.

Sauvignon Blanc and four of its companions, enjoy!

‘Alternatives to Sauvignon Blanc‘ written by Erica Dent, Enjoy Discovering Wine