Demi-Sec

Literally half-dry in French. Term used for a SPARKLING WINE or Champagne that is moderately sweet.

Which of the following statements about sauvignon blanc is NOT true?

A. Sauvignon blanc is a parent of cabernet sauvignon

B. Savagnin is a parent of sauvignon blanc

C. Sauvignon vert is a synonym for sauvignon blanc

D. In Chile, friulano was mistaken for sauvignon blanc

Sauvignon vert–also known as sauvignonasse and friulano– is quite distinct from sauvignon blanc, but it was long mistaken for it especially in Chile. As for answer A, sauvignon blanc is indeed a parent of cabernet sauvignon. (The other parent is cabernet franc). And regarding B, according to DNA profiling, savagnin, an important grape in the Jura, France, is a parent of sauvignon blanc as well as a parent of chenin blanc, grüner veltiner, and silvaner among other white grapes.

Thiol

The compound found in the skins of some sauvignon blanc grapes that leads to passion fruit aromas in the wine. Thiols are particularly prevalent in New Zealand sauvignon blancs.

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