Sauvignon blanc's grassy acidity matches asparagus's green bitterness better than many wines do.
sauvignon blanc
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A high-acid white wine grape producing wines ranging from the green, grassy, intensely herbaceous style of the Loire Valley (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé) to the tro…
14 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Sauvignon Blanc's two dominant aroma chemical families define its style range: methoxypyrazines (2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine, 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine) provide green, herbaceous, bell pepper, and grassy notes — dominant in Loire Valley and cooler-climate examples; polyfunctional thiols (particularly 4-mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one and 3-mercaptohexanol) provide grapefruit, passion fruit, and boxwood notes — dominant in New Zealand Marlborough. The climate and winemaking determine which family dominates. The high malic acid and tartaric acid gives wines a sharp, refreshing acidity that makes Sauvignon Blanc one of the most food-versatile white wines. In cooking, Sauvignon Blanc is used in beurre blanc (white butter sauce), in reductions with shallots and herbs, and in seafood preparations. As a food pairing, the high acid and herbal notes have a specific affinity for goat cheese, fresh herbs, raw oysters, and spring vegetables. White Bordeaux (Sauvignon Blanc + Sémillon) is the great food wine of France's southwest.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
asparagus
chicken
cilantro
fish
garlic
herbs
oysters
peppers
pork
salads
shellfish
tomatoes
turkey
vegetables
asparagus
Sauvignon blanc's grassy acidity matches asparagus's green bitterness better than many wines do.
chicken
Chicken adds savory richness and browned depth that gives sauvignon blanc more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
cilantro
Cilantro adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping sauvignon blanc from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
fish
Fish brings briny savory depth that contrasts with sauvignon blanc's sweeter, fresher, richer, or creamy qualities.
garlic
Garlic supplies an allium backbone that deepens sauvignon blanc's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
herbs
Herbs adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping sauvignon blanc from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
oysters
Oysters brings briny savory depth that contrasts with sauvignon blanc's sweeter, fresher, richer, or creamy qualities.
peppers
Peppers brings heat, sharpness, or tang that wakes up sauvignon blanc's milder flavors and adds contrast.
pork
Pork adds savory richness and browned depth that gives sauvignon blanc more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
salads
Salads adds structure and seasoning that helps sauvignon blanc integrate into a fuller dish instead of drifting around like an ingredient with no adult supervision.
shellfish
Shellfish brings briny savory depth that contrasts with sauvignon blanc's sweeter, fresher, richer, or creamy qualities.
tomatoes
Tomatoes adds complementary vegetable character, giving sauvignon blanc more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
turkey
Turkey adds savory richness and browned depth that gives sauvignon blanc more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
vegetables
Vegetables adds complementary vegetable character, giving sauvignon blanc more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Chicken adds savory richness and browned depth that gives sauvignon blanc more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
Cilantro adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping sauvignon blanc from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Fish brings briny savory depth that contrasts with sauvignon blanc's sweeter, fresher, richer, or creamy qualities.
Garlic supplies an allium backbone that deepens sauvignon blanc's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
herbs
Herbs adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping sauvignon blanc from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Oysters brings briny savory depth that contrasts with sauvignon blanc's sweeter, fresher, richer, or creamy qualities.
peppers
Peppers brings heat, sharpness, or tang that wakes up sauvignon blanc's milder flavors and adds contrast.
Pork adds savory richness and browned depth that gives sauvignon blanc more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
salads
Salads adds structure and seasoning that helps sauvignon blanc integrate into a fuller dish instead of drifting around like an ingredient with no adult supervision.
Shellfish brings briny savory depth that contrasts with sauvignon blanc's sweeter, fresher, richer, or creamy qualities.
Tomatoes adds complementary vegetable character, giving sauvignon blanc more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Turkey adds savory richness and browned depth that gives sauvignon blanc more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
vegetables
Vegetables adds complementary vegetable character, giving sauvignon blanc more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.