The SOMM Journal

April / May 2016

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{ new zealand } 48 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC: THE POSTER CHILD FOR NEW ZEALAND WINES, the demand for which has been increasing yearly since the varietal first exploded onto the international scene three decades ago. Sauvignon Blanc made up 86 percent of New Zealand's total wine exports in 2014 and continues to dominate and define the nation's wine exports, earning the country the reputation as Sauvignon Blanc Capital of the World. One relative newcomer to the market, Echo Bay Sauvignon Blanc, has already begun to unapologetically make its mark in the United States. Echo Bay steps into the spotlight just as New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is enjoying its moment in the sun: the varietal from that region is outpacing the growth of domestic Sauvignon Blanc, with an 18 percent increase over the 13 percent seen domestically. Sauvignon Blanc is also one of the fastest-growing whites in the country, proving consumers have developed a love for this varietal as well. With grapes grown in the vineyards of Marlborough, against a background of towering mountains, sparkling blue skies and clear inlets, Echo Bay Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand personified—from bright, crisp flavors with pleasant acidity to a clean finish. The South Island's cooler and longer growing season yields wines that are considered the country's benchmark style. MARLBOROUGH'S ECHO BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC CALLS TASTE BUDS TO ATTENTION by Becky Tsadik Loud and Marlborough, New Zealand, where Echo Bay grapes are sourced.

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