màna's Wine Of The Month "Fumé Sauvignon Blanc" Dates Back To California In The Sixties
Join us at màna on Wednesdays for Half-Price Wine Night, where select bottles are 50% off, including the beautifully complex Fumé Sauvignon Blanc. This oak-kissed take on Sauvignon Blanc offers a perfect balance of bright citrus, tropical fruit, and a subtle smoky elegance—an ideal pairing for our Greek-inspired dishes. Whether you’re a longtime fan or trying it for the first time, Half-Price Wine Night is the perfect opportunity to explore new flavors and discover your next favorite bottle at an unbeatable price. See you Wednesday!
Fumé Sauvignon Blanc is a style of Sauvignon Blanc that is often associated with a richer, more complex profile than the typical crisp and citrusy Sauvignon Blancs. The term “Fumé Blanc” was popularized by Robert Mondavi in the late 1960s as a way to market Sauvignon Blanc in California, giving it a more sophisticated image.
Here are some key characteristics of Fumé Sauvignon Blanc:
- Aging & Oak Influence: Unlike many Sauvignon Blancs that are made in stainless steel for a fresh, zesty style, Fumé Blanc is often aged in oak barrels, giving it a rounder, creamier texture with hints of vanilla and toast.
- Flavor Profile: You’ll typically get flavors of citrus, green apple, tropical fruits, and gooseberry, along with subtle smoky or flinty notes (hence the word “fumé,” which means “smoke” in French).
- Acidity & Mouthfeel: It retains Sauvignon Blanc’s signature bright acidity but may have a fuller, more layered mouthfeel due to the oak aging.
- Old World vs. New World: The style is inspired by Pouilly-Fumé, a French Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley that naturally has a flinty, smoky quality due to the soil. In California and other New World regions, winemakers use barrel aging to replicate that effect.
