In Search of Solace Terroir Magic & Sauvignon Blanc THE SPLENDORS OF SAUVIGNON BLANC

WILLIAM SMITH @willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR

NE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL WAYS TO ENJOY WINE IS TO EXPLORE JUST HOW IMPORTANT TERROIR IS TO THE FINAL PRODUCT.

The exact grape variety planted in one place may have little to no resemblance to the same grape planted in a different locale. Sure, winemakers create their own magic, but place is a dynamically dominant factor. And when wine has the power to transport you across the globe, I’m all in.

OThe word terroir (ter-wa) encapsulates the entire natural environment in which a wine is produced, including factors like soil type, topography, elevation, rainfall and other elements attributable to climate. The term “gout de” (gouduh) terroir is used to describe the unique flavor characteristic imparted to a wine by that overall natural environment where the grape is grown.

All grapes, to some extent, are gloriously subject to the magic of terroir and this month, we are exploring the impact of terroir on Sauvignon Blanc, focusing on four different wines from France, California and New Zealand.

The origin of Sauvignon Blanc is without question, somewhere in western

France, but there are competing claims as to whether it hails from Bordeaux or the Loire Valley. It is a green-skinned grape that is often blended with other grapes, for example, with Sémillon to make both Sauternes and dry white blends. To fully appreciate and underscore how terroir impacts Sauvignon Blanc, all the wines we include here are 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc.

France

We should start in the “mother country” of Sauvignon Blanc where I chose selections from both Sancerre and Touraine. While not every Sauvignon Blanc is a Sancerre, every Sancerre is 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc. I was happy to come across a stellar example of Sancerre recently at one of my favorite dining spots, Avow, in Napa. Wine prowess