I first heard the word Sancerre while reading the book Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker. I was intrigued. What kind of wine is Sancerre? Where is it from? What does it taste like? Why had I never heard of it before? I mentally added this to my list of many wines I have yet to explore, and moved on.
A few weeks later I found myself in Scandinavia scanning a restaurant wine menu, and there it was. A Sancerre. I was NOT expecting to sample my first Sancerre in Scandinavia of all places. But, they import beautiful wines from France just like the rest of the world does. So there I was, in Scandinavia, sampling my first Sancerre.
It was delicious…a light, crisp, and fresh wine. I wish I had my tasting journal with me. It’s not your typical white wine, but it is similar in style to other old world white wines you may be familiar with. It is definitely a wine worth exploring further.
I have since returned from my trip to Scandinavia and have started diving into some Sancerre research.
According to The World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, Sancerre is an appellation in France on the east end of the Loire Valley. Sancerre produces white wines make from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, and red wines made from Pinot Noir grapes.
I would not have guessed that the white Sancerre I had in Scandinavia was Sauvignon Blanc! It was so vastly different from the typical New Zealand grapefruit bomb Sauvignon Blanc that seems to be so popular.
The Sancerre that graced my glass was a true representation of old world style. It was subtle, elegant, and complex. I appreciate a wine that doesn’t show all her cards on the first sip. Instead, she entices you to come back for more…to see what else she may be hiding underneath the first impression.
I look forward to further exploration. Perhaps I will host a Sauvignon Blanc event comparing several appellations to further uncover the magic of winemaking, the difference between old world and new world wines, and the characteristics of terrior.
Until next time…skal!
