Ireland’s favourite White Wine | Sauvignon Blanc

We often get asked what wine is the most popular white wine in Ireland. Given the range of wines available to us on any given day it is often hard to try consider what the adult population prefer to drink in both home and social situations. Research shows us it is without doubt an adaptable white wine and more specifically, Sauvignon Blanc.

Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety. Its origins are in the Loire Valley and Bordeaux region of France. The grape gets its name from the French words sauvage (which means wild, because the grape grew like a weed throughout the region) and blanc which means white.

Sauvignon Blanc is a high-quality white grape with a wonderful aroma. Defined by its refreshing acidity and notes of herbs, citrus and gooseberry it is refreshing and dry.

Best way to enjoy Sauvignon Blanc

It is a reliably good, well rounded wine with wonderful grassy notes. The ideal temperature is chilled so make sure to pop your bottle of wine in the fridge for 2 hours before serving.

You’ll be delighted to know that Sauvignon Blanc is considered one of the best wines for food pairing, especially when it comes to seafood — shellfish, oysters, seabass, and other white fish are winners. Along with dry Riesling, it’s one of those wines that goes so beautifully with sushi.

When serving Sauvignon Blanc with cheese, your best options are fresh, young selections like feta, ricotta, goat cheese, mascarpone, and mozzarella. This tangy white wine also works really well with white meats, including chicken and pork.

As for vegetarian options, think greens. The wine’s herbal notes will go with everything from fresh salads to grilled or sautéed green beans, add in fresh herbs and this combination is to die for. Sauvignon Blanc also tastes great with citrus and tropical fruits like papaya, passion fruit, or mango. Overall, Sauvignon Blanc is such a wonderfully adaptable wine that its pairs with almost every meal and as such its popularity is completely understandable.

Some people confuse Sancerre as being the same thing as Sauvignon Blanc, and the confusion is understandable. Sancerre is a wine region in France’s Loire Valley where Sancerre white wines are made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. So, while all Sancerre wines are Sauvignon Blancs, the reverse is not true.

Our own range of Sauvignon Blancs includes a Sancerre. This is without doubt one of our favourite white wines. It is a calm wine experience, gentle on the palate and easy to drink.  But totally delicious! I’ve often met wine drinkers who will only loyally stick with Sancerre due to its taste and aroma. Our own Sancerre is Domaine des Clairneaux 2019. This is a gorgeous wine, works well with most foods but especially with Thai or Asian dishes, not to be missed.

We also have Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine de Marcé 2019, a wonderfully light wine, super as an aperitif and works so well with shellfish. If you are looking for a wine that works with antipasto or light breads, this is the wine for you. Its floral, fruity notes are light and delicious!

We cannot forget the classic Pouilly-Fumé, Domaine Berthier 2018. This is a well known well loved Sauvignon, it goes so well with a cheeseboard and is the only wine that just sits beautifully with fish like salmon or a wonderful chicken dish, not to be underestimated for its aroma and refreshingly fruity notes.

And finally our Greg and Juju with the wonderfully illustrated label. This is a fabulous wine full of South of France flavours, aromas of papaya and mango which is a lovely alternative to the citrus and lemon notes typical of the Loire Valley. We have a super introductory offer for this wine, check it out here