Winemaker Notes
At Kenwood Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc has been our most popular wine since 1981, and we have long been recognized as one of California's top Sauvignon Blanc producers. The fruit sourced for this wine comes from vineyards located in five different appellations in Sonoma County. The cooler regions of Carneros and the Russian River Valley bring grassy characteristics to the wine, while grapes from the warmer Dry Creek, Sonoma Valley and Alexander Valley regions impart melon and tropical fruit flavors. The result can be found in this well-balanced, award winning wine.
Best served chilled, this Sauvignon Blanc makes an excellent aperitif and complements a number of dishes. Excellent with lightly-sauced poultry, shellfish and seafood dishes, as well as spicy Asian cuisine.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.