Level 2 · Wine & Spirits Exam Prep
Sauvignon Blanc
Crisp, aromatic, and herbaceous — from Loire to Marlborough.
Topics covered
- Loire Valley
- Marlborough NZ
- Bordeaux blends
- Aromatic profile
Level 2 Study Guide
Chardonnay — World Styles
Quick Revision
- Aromatic: grassy, citrus, gooseberry
- Loire (Sancerre): mineral, flinty, grapefruit
- Marlborough NZ: tropical, passion fruit, intense
- Usually stainless steel — preserves aromatics
- Bordeaux: blended with Sémillon
- Cool = herbaceous; warm = tropical
Key Facts for the Exam
- Aromatic grape with distinctive grassy, herbal, and citrus character
- Loire Valley (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé): high acidity, flinty mineral, grapefruit, gooseberry, grassy
- Marlborough, New Zealand: intense tropical and citrus, pronounced capsicum/passion fruit
- Bordeaux: often blended with Sémillon; Bordeaux Blanc and Pessac-Léognan
- Typically fermented in stainless steel to preserve fresh aromatics; rarely oaked
- Methoxypyrazines cause grassy/capsicum aromas; thiols create tropical and passion fruit notes
Level 2 Exam Tips
- 1.Marlborough NZ = intense tropical; Loire = mineral, grassy, flinty. Know both styles and the contrast.
- 2.Sauvignon Blanc is rarely oaked — if it is, it is exceptional (Blanc Fumé de Pouilly style).
- 3.Bordeaux Blanc blends Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon — Sémillon adds body and ageing potential.
- 4.Key aroma descriptors: gooseberry, grapefruit, grass, capsicum (green), passion fruit, elderflower.
Common Exam Mistakes
- ✗Saying Sauvignon Blanc is typically oaked — it is almost always fermented in stainless steel
- ✗Confusing Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc from Loire) with Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne from Loire)
- ✗Thinking Marlborough is in France — it is in New Zealand's South Island
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why does New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc taste so different from French?
- Climate and growing conditions drive the difference. Marlborough's sunny days and cool nights create intense aromatic ripeness — producing passion fruit, lime, and grapefruit with a herbaceous edge. The Loire Valley's cooler climate produces more restrained wines with flinty mineral notes, gooseberry, and grassy herbs. Both come from the same grape, but taste quite different.
- What is Sancerre wine?
- Sancerre is an appellation in the Loire Valley of France that produces Sauvignon Blanc. It is renowned for its high acidity, mineral flinty notes, and classic grassy/gooseberry character. Sancerre also produces small amounts of red and rosé from Pinot Noir.