Austria carves winning niche in crowded Sauvignon Blanc market

Sauvignon Blanc may not be Austria’s headline grape, but it is quietly turning heads among consumers and experts. db investigates why the variety is gaining a following. The clue is in the name: to be a so-called ‘international variety’, a grape should be planted around the world. Yet some have come to be associated very strongly with particular regions. Sauvignon Blanc has its almost antipodean centres of Marlborough and Sancerre dominating the conversation. For the average consumer, Austrian Sauvignon Blanc would not enter the picture. Yet Austria – the world’s 16th largest wine producer – is gaining a reputation for the grape. Canny producers have recognised the opportunity offered by popular Sauvignon Blanc, while critics and tastemakers are praising its potential for high-quality winemaking. If not a global phenomenon just yet, Austrian Sauvignon Blanc is certainly bubbling under. In the wine drinking world, Austria is a success story driven by local history. Native grapes – ...