Sancerre (France)

Sancerre is a French wine district AOC by the river Loire.

The main white grape is Sauvignon Blanc.

Sancerre Aromas

Lime

Grapefruit

Apple

Gooseberry

Cut Grass

Asparagus

Bell Pepper

Jalapeno

Melon

Peach

Passion

Lychee

Sancerre is known for high fruit and green herbal aromas.

Unripe grapes (cold regions) produce lime, grapefruit, apple, and gooseberry flavors, together with herb qualities like fresh-cut grass, black current leaves, and green pepper.

Ripe grapes (warm regions) add tropical fruit aromas like melon, peach, passion fruit, and lychee.

Sancerre Profile

Sancerre is known to be dry, fresh, flavorful, and fruity:

SUGAR:	Dry 3g/l

BODY:	Medium

FRUIT:	Medium

ACIDITY:	High

ALCOHOL:	11-13% ABV

	Serving temperature: 8-10°C (46-50°F)

About Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most popular grapes in the world.

Bordeaux and the Loire Valley in France are the regions where it originated.

The name Sauvignon Blanc means "Wild White".

The grape is very aromatic and depending on climate and terroir the aromas can change from grassy to tropical.

However, the herbal green character is a common denominator wherever it is grown.

You can read more about Sauvignon Blanc world wide at Sauvignon Blanc Regions.

Sancerre Food Pairing

Aperitif

Vinegar

Salads

Tapas

Vegetables

Asparagus

Tomatoes

Sandwitch

Fish

Seafood

Salmon

Sushi

Chicken

Turkey

Pork

Veal

Sancerre is super food friendly, especially with seafood and vegetables. It is also superb with spicy food, Thai food and Japanese food.

Starters:

Aperitif. Vinegar. Green Salad. Vegetables. Tapas.
Asparagus. Artichokes. Avocado. Cucumber. Fennel. Tomatoes.

Seafood:

Crab. Lobster. Mussels. Clams.
Fried White Fish. Sea Bass.Citrusy Sauce.
Grilled Salmon or Trout. Smoked Salmon.
Sushi. Sashimi.

White meat.

Chicken. Turkey. Pork. Veal.

Herbs.

Parsley. Basil. Thyme. Mint. Rosemary. Coriander. Capers. Tarragon.

Cheese.

Goat Cheese. Feta.

Specialities

Salmon or Trout with Vinegar Cucumber Salad.
White Sea Bass with Citrusy Sauce (Sancerre, France).
Fried-Fish Sandwiches with Jalapeño-Spiked Tomatoes (Chile).
Sushi. Sashimi. Wasabi (South Africa).

The Ideal Glass for Sancerre

The Sauvignon Blanc glass is smaller than a Chardonnay glass.

It has a more narrow bowl to concentrate the crisp and citrusy aromas characteristic of zesty and fruity white wines.

Sancerre Cheese Pairing

Opt for cheeses with moderate saltiness and creaminess to balance the Sancerre's acidity.

Add fruits (grapes, apples, pears), nuts (almonds, walnuts), or a light drizzle of honey to enhance the pairing.

Brie

Camembert

Chaource

Chèvre

Feta

Gouda

Goat Cheese

Neufchâtel

Raclette

Ricotta

Serra Estrela

Fresh and Mild Cheeses

Goat Cheese (Chèvre): The tanginess complements the subtle fruit notes in Sancerre.

Ricotta: Especially good if served with a drizzle of honey or fresh fruits.

Mozzarella: Its delicate flavor pairs well with the wine's lightness.

Soft Cheeses

Brie: The creamy texture and mild flavor work beautifully with Sancerre.

Camembert: Similar to Brie but with slightly more earthiness.

Fontina: Its nutty, buttery qualities make a good match.

Semi-Hard Cheeses

Gruyère: Mildly nutty and sweet, enhancing the wine's subtlety.

Manchego: A classic Spanish pairing, especially younger Manchego, which is less intense.

Asiago: Lightly aged Asiago adds a complementary tang to the cheese.

Blue Cheeses (for contrast)

Gorgonzola Dolce: Its mild creaminess contrasts nicely without overpowering the wine.

If You Like Sancerre

About Sancerre

Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé are two communes in the Loire valley where (arguably) the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world is produced.

Both communes produce complex mineral driven highly acidic versions of Sauvignon Blanc, with strong citrus and gooseberry flavors.

The Sancerre version has a distinct smoky and chalky character.

The Pouilly Fumé version has a distinct smoky and flinty gunpowder character.

Wine Region Loire

Loire Valley Climate

Different regions are subject to different climate influences:

Lower Loire (Muscadet and Pays Nantais) has a cool maritime climate with high rainfall.
Middle Loire (Anjou-Saumur and Touraine) has a cold climate with a mix of oceanic and continental influence.
Central Loire (Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé) has a cold continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.

Loire Valley Terroir

The terroir in the Loire Valley is incredibly varied due to its geographic spread:

Lower Loire is known for its granite and schist soils, which give the wines (Muscadet) a distinctive mineral character.
Middle Loire has limestone, clay and sand soils. The Saumur and Touraine soils can be good for both white and red wines.
Central Loire has limestone and silex (flint) soils which give the Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé wines their signature smoky and mineral flavors.