Sauvignon Blanc: Noble White Variety
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the oldest cultivated grape varieties, and today it is the world’s second most popular white grape variety, after Chardonnay. The wine it produces is light, refreshing, and naturally high in acidity, with a distinctive and instantly recognizable aroma: a whole bouquet of green notes—green bell pepper, gooseberry, blackcurrant leaves, freshly cut grass—along with tropical fruit and white flowers. Sauvignon Blanc is generally meant to be drunk young, and with relatively few exceptions, aging does it no favors. The wines are usually dry, although Sauvignon Blanc is also an important component of the famous sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac.
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Melon de Bourgogne and its Avatar Muscadet
Melon de Bourgogne is an ancient Burgundy variety that fell out of favor in its homeland but found a deserving new home in the neighboring Loire Valley. Loire winemakers produce pure varietal wine from Melon de Bourgogne, known as Muscadet. Under this name, the grape is well-known among modern wine lovers.
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North Burgundy. Coteaux de Tannay and Melon de Bourgogne
Coteaux de Tannay was the last place on our Wine and Waters journey for the bike and wine visit. Administratively it is located in Burgundy, and the climate and soil are also typical for Burgundy. However, accolading wine territorial classification, it belongs to Loire Valley. Tannay’s winemakers make wine in the Burgundy tradition (that is logical), but it cannot be named Burgundy (because belongs to the Loire formally), so it got the IGP title. The main varieties are Chardonnay and Pinot noir, as everywhere in Burgundy, and also Melon de Bourgogne.
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World of Magic Bubbles
In the article about Champagne I talk in detail about the history of the foremother of all sparkling wines, about Champagne’s styles and technology. However, the world of magic bubbles doesn’t restrict to Champagne; it is wide, deep, diverse, and very interesting.
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