Sauvignonasse

Appears in
Oxford Companion to Wine

By Jancis Robinson

Published 2006

  • About

Sauvignonasse, old Bordeaux white grape hardly encountered there today but also known as Sauvignon Vert and, in Friuli, friulano (once Tocai Friulano). It is quite distinct from the more famous sauvignon blanc but the two were long confused in Chile and the term ‘Sauvignon’ was once liberally applied. In general the wines produced from Sauvignonasse are much less crisp and aromatic than those of Sauvignon Blanc and this vine is much more sensitive to downy mildew and rot. According to official statistics Argentina may have more ‘Sauvignon Vert’ planted than Chile. In Slovenia the variety is now known as Zeleni Sauvignon. It can be found to a limited extent further east.