Cultivar · Grape cultivar
Sauvignon Blanc
Vitis vinifera
Also known as: Blanc Fume, Fume Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic white wine grape from the Loire Valley and Bordeaux in France, known for crisp, high-acid wines with herbaceous and citrus character. It is one of the two parents of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Record
Cultivar / variety- Variety of
- Grape
- Botanical taxon
- Vitis vinifera
- Type
- Cultivar (clonal)
- Breeding method
- Traditional selection
- Origin
- Loire Valley and Bordeaux, France
- Registry status
- Historical
- Registries
- Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) · Global · as of 2026-07-12Catalogued as a Vitis vinifera white wine-grape variety and a documented parent of Cabernet Sauvignon.
- USDA GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System · United States / Global · as of 2026-07-12Germplasm accessions maintained in the US National Plant Germplasm System.
- Adaptation
- Generally grown in cool to moderate climates that retain its high acidity and aromatic character; in hot climates it can lose aromatic definition.
- Intended use
- White wine (dry; also a component of sweet blends)
Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.
Sauvignon Blanc is a green-skinned wine grape (Vitis vinifera) associated with the Loire Valley, where it makes Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume, and with Bordeaux, where it appears in both dry and sweet white wines. It is valued for pronounced aromatics and naturally high acidity.
A clonal cultivar propagated from cuttings, Sauvignon Blanc is grown in cool to moderate climates that preserve its acidity and aromatic character. It is genetically significant as one of the two parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside Cabernet Franc.
Origin and significance
Sauvignon Blanc is native to France, with strong historical associations in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux. Its name is generally linked to the French word for wild, reflecting its early history as a vigorous variety.
DNA analysis established that Sauvignon Blanc is, together with Cabernet Franc, a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. It has since become an internationally planted variety, with cool-climate regions such as Marlborough in New Zealand becoming closely identified with its aromatic style.
Growing characteristics
Sauvignon Blanc is a vigorous variety that benefits from canopy management to control growth and expose fruit appropriately. It is generally picked to retain fresh acidity, and cooler sites help preserve its aromatic compounds.
- Vigorous growth that is typically managed through canopy work
- Best aromatic expression in cool to moderate climates
- Grown on a range of soils, including flinty and limestone soils in the Loire
- Usually harvested to retain high natural acidity
Wine style and use
Sauvignon Blanc is most often made as a crisp, dry, aromatic white wine, though it can also be barrel-fermented for a richer style and contributes to sweet white Bordeaux blends where affected by noble rot.
Relationships
Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.
Adapted to climate
Adapted to soil
Scope & limitations
Geographic scope: Originating in France (Loire Valley and Bordeaux) and now grown in cool to moderate wine regions worldwide, notably New Zealand.
Climate context: Aromatic white variety favouring cool to moderate climates that preserve acidity.
- Wine style depends heavily on terroir, harvest timing, and winemaking; the variety description is not a description of any individual wine.
- Only the parent-of-Cabernet-Sauvignon relationship is asserted here; Sauvignon Blanc’s own parentage is not stated to avoid over-asserting less firmly established detail.
- Registry record identifiers and deep links are omitted where they could not be independently verified.
Sources
This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.
- [1]GRIN-Global / National Plant Germplasm System (opens in a new tab)Authoritative
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
Cited for: Cultivar/germplasm records and taxonomy for Vitis vinifera
- Type:
- Official registry
- Jurisdiction:
- United States / Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- [2]GBIF — Global Biodiversity Information Facility (opens in a new tab)High
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
Cited for: Taxonomic placement of Vitis vinifera
- Type:
- Reference database
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- Moderate
Cited for: Historical background and varietal characterisation (secondary reference)
- Type:
- Reference database
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12