Harvest Series 2021: Week 4
Mother Nature has not been kind to us this past week. While it was an incredibly dry summer, September has been the opposite of what grape growers, wineries, and consumers want. This rain has put a delay on harvest all across the region, as harvest crews, whether by hand or by machine, are finding it difficult to get periods of time where the ground is dry enough to walk/drive across to harvest the grapes. While we wont know the true implications of the season until the first of the 2021 vintage wines are released, we can be assured that Mother Nature, as well as the many wonderful winemakers in the area will find a way to produce delicious tasting wines!
This week we will take a look at Sauvignon Blanc. Our winemaking team at Lakeview Wine Co. love Sauvignon Blanc and all of the amazing things that can be created from the grape. Sauvignon Blanc is a grape that highlights its terroir beautifully, and you will not find 2 Sauvignon Blancs that taste the same in the region.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc wines will naturally be high in acidity, typically be medium bodied, and usually quite dry. Sauvignon Blanc is a grape that thrives in cool-climate wine growing regions, which is why Ontario and Niagara do it so successfully. Classic Sauvignon Blanc will have bright green fruit notes along with herbaceous characteristics. Sauvignon Blanc is also one of the 3 grapes that is able to make up White Meritage blends (along with Semillion and Muscadelle du Bordelais).
We here at Lakeview have 3 main styles of Sauvignon Blanc, being out 20 Bees Sauvignon Blanc, our Serenity Sauvignon Blanc, as well as our Lakeview Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. Starting with our Lakeview Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, the grapes are harvested from Tregunno Farms which is located along the Niagara River. Being close to the river, warm winds will wind through the vineyard, leading to more tropical fruit aromas in the finished wine. Our Serenity Sauvignon Blanc will be a blend between Tregunno Farms fruit, as well as fruit coming for more inland Niagara. The more inland the fruit is coming from, the more green flavours will come across, such as fresh-cut grass, asparagus, green bell pepper, etc.. And our 20 Bees Sauvignon Blanc is a lighter version, with qualities from both the Serenity and Lakeview Cellars.
Fumé Blanc
Fumé Blanc is the lesser known version of Sauvignon Blanc. Fumé Blanc wines are Sauvignon Blanc's that are spending time in oak barrels. While unlike Chardonnay which gets buttery, creamy, with notes of vanilla when it is exposed to oak, Sauvignon Blanc will still typically keep some of its fruity characteristics, with a touch of toast and vanilla on the palate, with seemingly less acidity. Our Lakeview Cellars Fumé Blanc is a classic example of it, and is a real treat to those that love Sauvignon Blanc.
As we can see, Sauvignon Blanc is a great grape here in Niagara, and can take so many different forms! The next time you're in wine country, try some Sauvignon Blanc's and find your new favourite wine!
