About Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley
The Loire Valley in France encompasses approximately 60,000 ha of vines. We specifically focus here on the appellations featuring Sauvignon Blanc as a main variety e.g. Sancerre (~3.000 ha) Pouilly-Fumé (~1.400 ha) Menetou-Salon (~650ha) (Source: Vins-centre-loire.com, 2023).
In this article, we are going to focus on the aroma and flavour profile of Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire valley region, following a structure commonly used by wine institutions like Court of Master Sommeliers (COMS) and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). We will also compare it with other regions outside the Loire valley and call out what makes Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley unique.
Disclaimer – Few varieties spark so much controversy when it comes to which yeast to use; or not (wild fermented). The sheer range of different yeast to choose is immense from Lalvin QA23, Alchemy I, Exotics Novello to Lalvin EC1118. Please note that yeast can have a serve impact on the varietal aroma and flavour expression. For educational purposes we focus on the most commonly used descriptor and most widely known one.
Appearance
Colour – Pale straw
Hue – Green (Young Sauvignon Blanc often tends to have a green reflection – influenced by picking time, handling in the winery and general exposure to oxygen during the wine making process)
Brightness – Bright to Brilliant
Viscosity – Medium
Aromas and flavours
Summary – Aromatic with often a pronounced citrusy aroma, sometimes with slightly underripe or just ripe orchard fruits (green apple & pear) and additionally vegetal and herbal notes.
Citrus
Lemon (fresh, zesty or tart), lime, grapefruit
Orchard
Green apple, pear (just ripe)
Stone
White peach, nectarine
Exotic
underripe to just ripe gooseberry, watermelon
Floral
White flower, honeysuckle
Vegetal
Green asparagus, pea shot, cucumber, green pea, bell pepper,
Herbal
Chives, blackcurrant leaf
Tea
Almond, white tea, green tea (especially Pouilly-Fumé)
Organic
Slate, limestone/chalk/flint, salty mineral
Oak
Generally not present
Sweetness
Bone dry – Dry
Acidity
Medium+ to high
Alcohol
Medium – high 11% -14.5% ABV
Cooler vintages sit often in the 12.5%, warmer vintages can reach up to 14.5% e.g.: 2018, 2020, 2022
Body
Medium bodied (warmer vintages adding and boosting it often to medium plus)
Comparison to others
Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa
- More pronounced herbal and vegetal notes
- Higher and more noticeable alcohol levels
- Tendency to be a bit lower in acidity and more oily texture
Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand
Generally a more pronounced exotic aroma, and almost an overdose of pyrazine aroma/flavours
Often little to no minerality noticeable
Classic examples
- Pascal Jolivet (Sancerre + Pouilly Fume)
- Vincent Pinard (Sancerre)
- Alphonse Mellot (Sancerre)
- Joseph Mellot (Sancerre + Pouilly Fume)
- Andre Dezat (Sancerre)
- Chateau de Tracy (Pouilly Fume)
- Domaine Henry Pelle (Menetou-Salon)
What makes it unique
- Citrusy aromatic profile often with strong green apple notes
- Strong mineral backbone with pronounced green tea notes
- Strong vegetal note of green asparagus and bell pepper, all wrapped up in a piercingly high acid frame
More facts
Sancerre has a surface area of 3053 ha, with 82% of its production in white wine (Sauvignon Blanc) and 18% Red & Rose wine (Pinot Noir).
The size of Pouilly Fume is 1422 ha. 100% of the wine production is white – 98% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Chasselas (labelled as Pouilly-sur-Loire AOP)
Source: Vins du Centre Loire (2024)
Stefan Neumann MS
Austrian born, London based Master Sommelier – I am passionate about wine and a strong believer that wine should connect people. Hence I have made it my mission to share my wine knowledge and experience with like-minded individuals who would like to be part of this journey.
References:
Jancis Robinson, Harding, J. and Vouillamoz, J. (2012). Wine grapes : a complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins, flavours and wines. London: Penguin.
Harding, J., Robinson, J. and Thomas, T.Q. (2023) The Oxford Companion to Wine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Vins-centre-loire.com. (2023). Sancerre wines. [online] Available at: https://www.vins-centre-loire.com/en/les-vins-de-sancerre/ [Accessed 27 May 2025].
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