Sauvignon vert
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| Sauvignon vert | |
|---|---|
| Species: | Vitis vinifera |
| Also called: | Sauvignonasse, Friulano, Tocai Friulano (more) |
| Origin: | Italy |
| Notable regions: | Chile, Friuli |
Sauvignon vert (also known as Sauvignonasse & Friulano) is a white wine grape widely planted in Chile where it was historically mistaken for Sauvignon blanc. The grape is distinct from the California planting of Muscadelle which is also called Sauvignon vert. The grape is also known as Italian wine grape Tocai Friulano in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. Though the Pinot Grigio vine that is also prevalent in Friuli is known by the synonym Tokay d'Alsace in Alsace, there is no connection between Tocai Friulano (Sauvignon vert) and Pinot grigio.[1]
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[edit] History
The grape is believed to have originated in the Veneto region and from there traveled to the Friuli region and other Italian wine regions such as Lombardy. In Italy the grape was historically known as Tocai Friulano even though the grape has no known relation any of the grapes used in the Hungarian wine Tokaji even though evidence suggest that following the 17th century wedding of the Venetian princess Aurora Formentini to the Hungarian Count Batthujany that some vines of Tocai Friulano was brought with the princess to Hungary.[2] To better distinguish the wines and to protect the Tokaji name, the European Union established regulations prohibiting the use of names too closely associated and easily confused with Tokaji. Winemakers in the Friuli have elected to just refer to the grape as simply Friulano.[3]
From Italy the grape is believed to have spread to France where it was transported to Chile as "Sauvignon blanc".[2] Only in the 1990s did ampelographers determine that that the Chilean "Sauvignon blanc" was actually Sauvignon vert. Once the discovery was made, plantings of "true" Sauvignon blanc increased as Sauvignon vert (or Sauvignonasse as it known) decreased. While the grape still remains a popular planting in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia, it currently has little presence in other parts of the world.[4]
[edit] Confusion with Sauvignon blanc
Unlike Sauvignon gris, which is a clonal mutation of Sauvignon blanc also found in Chile, Sauvignon vert has no known connection with Sauvignon blanc. The vines were believed to be interspersed together in Bordeaux during the 19th century when the cuttings were brought to Chile labeled as just "Sauvignon blanc".[4] The leaves and berry clusters of the Sauvignon vert and Sauvignon blanc are very similar which explains part of the confusion between the two vines. The two vines also have similar susceptibility to Botrytis.[2] The wines made from the two grapes are noticeably different when compared together with Sauvignon blanc being much more aromatic with notes of ripe fruit like gooseberries and black currant that Sauvignon vert lacks in favor of softer, floral flavors. Sauvignon blanc also has more acidity than Sauvignon vert and retains much of its vibrancy and flavors longer.[4]
[edit] Viticulture and wine
Sauvignon vert is a late budding vine with high sensitivity downy mildew and oidium. The vine is prone to producing yield which must be controlled in order to make premium quality wine.[2] With Sauvignon vert, the quality of the wine depend greatly on the grapes being harvested at the right point. If picked too early the resulting wine will be dull and lack any varietal character. The grape also has the potential for very high levels of alcohol with 14.5% ABV not being uncommon.[4]
The wine made from Sauvignon vert varies depending on the area it is produced. In the Friuli region, Friuilano wine is typically full bodied with moderate acidity, floral aromas and delicate fruit flavors.[2] In Chile, Sauvignon vert typically starts with aromas of green apples in its youth that fade as it ages and is more medium bodied.[4]
[edit] Wine regions
While the grape still has some presence in Chile, the grapes most noted home is in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia where it one of the regions most widely planted grape variety. In the Friuli it is the main white grape of the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) zones of Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano, Friuli Grave and Friuli Isonzo where the grape accounts for more than 20% of those areas total vineyard plantings. The grape is believed to be related to the Tocai Italico vine which is planted through the Veneto region. The only doubt involves the Tocai Italico plantings around the town of Breganze which ampelographers believe is a different vine all together. Argentina, with its close ties to Italian viticulture, also has a small amount of Friulano vines planted.[5]
[edit] Synonyms
Sauvignonasse, Friuilano
[edit] See also
- Carménère-another Chilean wine grape with a similar story to Sauvignon vert
[edit] References
- ^ J. Robinson (ed) "The Oxford Companion to Wine" Third Edition pg 612 Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0198609906
- ^ a b c d e J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 240 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1857329996
- ^ C. Fallis, editor The Encyclopedic Atlas of Wine pg 302 Global Book Publishing 2006 ISBN 1740480503
- ^ a b c d e Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 228 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0151007144
- ^ Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes pg 267 Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN 0151007144
[edit] External links
- Cal-Italia Tocai Friulano, varietal description
