Sauvignonasse

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Sauvignonasse
Grape (Vitis)
VIVC12543 FRIULANO Cluster in the field 17025.jpg
Species Vitis vinifera
Also calledFriulano, Tocai Friulano, Tokaj, Točaj, Sauvignon Vert (more)
Origin Italy
Notable regions Friuli, Chile, Slovenian Littoral
VIVC number 12543

Sauvignonasse (also known as Friulano, Tocai Friulano or Sauvignon Vert) is a white wine grape of the species Vitis vinifera prevalent in the Italian region of Friuli, and adjacent territories of Slovenia. It is widely planted in Chile, where it was historically mistaken for Sauvignon blanc.

Contents

Friulano from Friuli-Venezia Giulia was known as "Tocai" Friulano until March 31, 2007, when the European Court of Justice of Luxembourg set the prohibition of using the name "Tocai" in the name of the wine (as stipulated in a 1993 agreement between the European Union and Hungary). [1] [2] Since 2007 wines made from Tocai Friulano have been labeled as Friulano in Friuli.

Despite the fact that the word Tocai is no longer permitted on Italian wine labels, the grape is still officially named Tocai Friulano in Italy's National Catalog of Grape Varieties. In addition, wineries outside of Europe are permitted to label wines made with this grape as Tocai Friulano. [3]

The main confusion in Europe of the name Tocai Friulano is due to the Hungarian wine known as Tokaji (Hungarian of Tokaj), which does not have any Tocai Friulano in it at all, and is composed typically of the following grapes: Furmint (70%), Hárslevelű (20–25%), and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (5–10%). [4] Hungary does not want anyone confusing the dry and aromatic Italian Tocai Friulano (which is a unique wine in itself) with their wine called Tokaji. Some believe that early editions of Tocai Friulano in Italy were most likely made of the grape Furmint. The first record of a "new" Tocai, probably made from Sauvignonasse, is documented only in 1932. [5]

The Pinot grigio vine, which is also prevalent in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, was once known by the synonym Tokay d'Alsace in Alsace, and may have also been the grape used in some Italian Tokai wines. [3] There is, however, no genetic link between Tocai Friulano (Sauvignonasse) and Pinot grigio. [6]

History

The grape is believed to have originated in the Veneto region and from there traveled to other Italian regions, especially to the Friuli region, where it was cultivated since 1600. In Italy the grape was historically known as Tocai or Tocai Friulano for centuries. The grape has no known relation to any of the grapes used in the Hungarian wine Tokaji, even though evidence suggests that following the wedding of the Venetian princess Aurora Formentini to the Hungarian Count Batthyány in 1632, some vines of Tocai Friulano were brought with the princess to Hungary. [7] To better distinguish the wines and to protect the Tokaji name, the European Union established regulations prohibiting the use of names too closely associated and easily confused with Tokaji. Winemakers in the Friuli have elected to just refer to the grape as simply Friulano. [8]

The grapes were also planted outside Italy in the Goriška region of Slovenia, especially in the Vipava Valley and Goriška Brda, and was known as "Tokaj". After the European Union prohibition, the Slovenian wine producers have first changed the name of the wine in Sauvignonasse or Zeleni sauvignon (Green Sauvignon). After a few years, in 2013 the name of "Tokaj" was changed to "Jakot", [9] now the official name for the grapes and wine from Slovenia wine regions.

From Italy the grape is believed to have spread to France, where it was transported to Chile as "Sauvignon blanc". [7] Only in the 1990s did ampelographers determine that the Chilean "Sauvignon blanc" was actually Sauvignonasse, which they called Sauvignon vert in Chile. Once the discovery was made, plantings of "true" Sauvignon blanc increased, as Sauvignon vert decreased. While the grape still remains a popular planting in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Goriška Brda, it currently has little presence in other parts of the world. [10]

It is unclear why the grape is called Sauvignon vert in Chile; although this has occasionally been used as a synonym in central France, there is a different grape called Sauvignon Vert (or Gros Sauvignon) in the Gironde region that has no known relation to Sauvignonasse. [3] Furthermore, the grape called Sauvignon vert in California is actually Muscadelle, adding additional confusion.

Confusion with Sauvignon blanc

Unlike Sauvignon gris, which is a clonal mutation of Sauvignon blanc also found in Chile, Sauvignonasse (which means "Sauvignon-like" [3] ) has no known genetic relationship with Sauvignon blanc. The vines were believed to be interspersed together in Bordeaux during the 19th century, when the cuttings were brought to Chile labeled as just "Sauvignon blanc". [10] The leaves and berry clusters of the Sauvignonasse and Sauvignon blanc are very similar, which explains part of the confusion between the two vines. The two vines also have similar susceptibility to Botrytis. [7] The wines made from the two grapes are noticeably different when compared together: Sauvignon blanc being much more aromatic, with notes of ripe fruit like gooseberries and black currant, that Sauvignonasse lacks in favor of softer, floral flavors. Sauvignon blanc also has more acidity than Sauvignonasse and retains much of its vibrancy and flavors longer. [10]

Viticulture and wine

Sauvignonasse is a late budding vine, with high sensitivity to downy mildew and oidium. The vine is prone to producing high yields which must be controlled in order to make premium quality wine. [7] With Sauvignonasse, the quality of the wine depends greatly on the grapes being harvested at the right point. If picked too early, the resulting wine will be dull and lack any varietal character. The grape also has the potential for very high levels of alcohol, with 14.5% ABV not being uncommon. [10]

The wine made from Sauvignonasse varies depending on the area in which it is produced. In the Friuli region, Friuilano and in Goriška Brda region, Jakot wine is typically full bodied, with moderate acidity, floral aromas and delicate fruit flavors. [7] In Chile, Sauvignon vert typically starts with aromas of green apples in its youth that fade as it ages and is more medium bodied. [10]

Wine regions

The grape's most noted homes are in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Goriška Brda, where it is one of the regions' most widely planted grape varieties. In the Friuli it is the main white grape of the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) zones of Colli Orientali del Friuli, Collio Goriziano, Friuli Grave and Friuli Isonzo, where the grape accounts for more than 20% of those areas' total vineyard plantings. The grape is believed to be related to the Tocai Italico vine, which is planted throughout the Veneto region. The only doubt involves the Tocai Italico plantings around the town of Breganze, which ampelographers believe is a different vine altogether. Argentina, with its close ties to Italian viticulture, also has a small amount of Friulano vines planted. [11]

Synonyms

Over the years, Sauvignonasse has been known under a variety of synonyms: Tocai Friulano, Friulano, Tokaj, Jakot, Sauvignon Vert, Sauvignon de la Corrèze and Sauvignon à Gros Grains.

See also

Carménère – another Chilean wine grape with a similar story to Sauvignon vert

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sauvignon blanc</span> Green-skinned grape variety

Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety that originates from the city of Bordeaux in France. The grape most likely gets its name from the French words sauvage ("wild") and blanc ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France. It is possibly a descendant of Savagnin. Sauvignon blanc is planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. The grape is also a component of the famous dessert wines from Sauternes and Barsac. Sauvignon blanc is widely cultivated in France, Chile, Romania, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Bulgaria, the states of Oregon, Washington, and California in the US. Some New World Sauvignon blancs, particularly from California, may also be called "Fumé Blanc", a marketing term coined by Robert Mondavi in reference to Pouilly-Fumé.

Tokay may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokaji</span> Hungarian and Slovakian variety of wine

Tokaji or Tokay is the name of the wines from the Tokaj wine region in Hungary or the adjoining Tokaj wine region in Slovakia. This region is noted for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region. The "nectar" coming from the grapes of Tokaj is also mentioned in the national anthem of Hungary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinot gris</span> Variety of grape

Pinot gris, Pinot grigio or Grauburgunder is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the pinot noir variety, it normally has a pinkish-gray hue, accounting for its name, but the colors can vary from blue-gray to pinkish-brown. The word pinot could have been given to it because the grapes grow in small pinecone-shaped clusters. The wines produced from this grape also vary in color from a deep golden yellow to copper and even a light shade of pink, and it is one of the more popular grapes for skin-contact wine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carménère</span> Variety of grape

The Carménère grape is a wine grape variety originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, where it was used to produce deep red wines and occasionally used for blending purposes in the same manner as Petit Verdot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furmint</span> Variety of grape

Furmint is a white Hungarian wine grape variety that is most noted widely grown in the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region where it is used to produce single-varietal dry wines as well as being the principal grape in the better known Tokaji dessert wines. It is also grown in the tiny Hungarian wine region of Somló. Furmint plays a similar role in the Slovakian wine region of Tokaj. It is also grown in Austria where it is known as Mosler. Smaller plantings are found in Slovenia where it is known as Šipon. The grape is also planted in Croatia & Serbia, where it is known as Moslavac. It is also found in Romania and in former republics of the Soviet Union. Furmint is a late ripening variety. For dry wines the harvest starts usually in September, however sweet wine specific harvest can start in the second half of October or even later, and is often affected by Botrytis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaufränkisch</span> Variety of grape

Blaufränkisch is a dark-skinned variety of grape used for red wine. Blaufränkisch, which is a late-ripening variety, produces red wines which are typically rich in tannin and may exhibit a pronounced spicy character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokaj (Slovakia)</span>

Tokaj wine region is a wine-growing region located in south-eastern Slovakia and north-eastern Hungary. The two vine-growing areas were once part of the greater Tokaj wine region of the Kingdom of Hungary. Following the Treaty of Trianon, a smaller part became part of Czechoslovakia, and after 1993, Slovakia. The majority of the region remained part of Hungary.

Hungarian wine has a history dating back to the Kingdom of Hungary. Outside Hungary, the best-known wines are the white dessert wine Tokaji aszú and the red wine Bull's Blood of Eger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokaj wine region</span> Wine region of northwestern Hungary and southeastern Slovakia

Tokaj wine region or Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region is a historical wine region located in northeastern Hungary and southeastern Slovakia. It is also one of the seven larger wine regions of Hungary. Hegyalja means "foothills" in Hungarian, and this was the original name of the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marzemino</span> Variety of grape

Marzemino is a red Italian wine grape variety that is primarily grown around Isera, south of Trentino. The wine is most noted for its mention in the opera Don Giovanni of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The vine ripens late and is susceptible to many grape diseases including oidium. Wine produced from the grape has a characteristic dark tint and light plummy taste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine</span> Wine made in the northeastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Friuli-Venezia Giulia wine is wine made in the northeastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. There are 11 denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) and 3 denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG) in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia area. The region has 3 indicazione geografica tipica (IGT) designations Alto Livenza, delle Venezie and Venezia Giulia. Nearly 62% of the wine produced in the region falls under a DOC designation. The area is known predominantly for its white wines, which are considered some of the best examples of Italian wine in that style. Along with the Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige, the Friuli-Venezia Giulia forms the Tre Venezie wine region, which ranks with Tuscany and Piedmont as Italy's world class wine regions.

Schioppettino is a red Italian wine grape grown predominantly in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy. The grape is believed to have originated between the comune of Prepotto and the Slovenian border, where records of the Schiopettino wine being used in marriage ceremonies date to 1282. The grape was nearly lost to extinction following the phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th century, when vineyard owners decided against replanting the variety in favor of French wine grapes like Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc and Merlot. Some isolated plantings continued to exist until a 1978 European Union decree encouraged its planting in the province of Udine.

Ribolla Gialla is a white wine grape grown most prominently in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy. The grape is also found in Slovenia, where it is known as Rebula. In Friuli Venezia Giulia, the grape thrives in the region around Corno di Rosazzo and Gorizia. In Slovenia, the grape is grown prominently in the Brda region. The grape is not related to the Friuli red wine grape Schioppettino, which is also known as Ribolla Nera. The obscure, lower quality Ribolla Verde grape is a mutated version that is not widely used.

Verduzzo is a white Italian wine grape grown predominantly in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeast Italy. It is also found in significant plantings in the Piave Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) of the Veneto region, though some of these plantings may be of the separate Verduzzo Trevigiano variety. Verduzzo Friulano is used in varietal and blended wines, many of which fall under DOC as well as vino da tavola designations, that range in style from dry to late harvest wines. According to wine expert Oz Clarke, most of the sweeter examples of Verduzzo can be found in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia with the grape being used for progressively drier styles of the wine the further west into the Veneto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slovenian wine</span> Wine making in Slovenia

Slovenia has more than 28,000 wineries making between 80 and 90 million litres annually from the country's 22,300 ha of vineyards. About 75% of the country's production is white wine. Almost all of the wine is consumed domestically with only 6.1 million L a year being exported—mostly to the United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and lately the Czech Republic. Most of the country's wine production falls under the classification of premium (vrhunsko) wine with less than 30% classified as basic table wine (namizno vino). Slovenia has three principal wine regions: the Drava Wine-Growing Region, the Lower Sava Wine-Growing Region, and the Littoral Wine-Growing Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorizia Hills</span>

The Gorizia Hills is a hilly microregion in western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. It lies on the right bank of the Soča (Isonzo) River, north of the Italian town of Gorizia, after which it is named. The region covers around 120 km2 (46 sq mi) and has about 7,000 inhabitants, mostly ethnic Slovenes, with a small number of Friulian speakers in its westernmost part.

The Colli Orientali del Friuli is a Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) located in the Italian wine region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The region is located in the province of Udine and is sub-divided into three main sections; Ramandolo in the north, Cialla and Corno di Rosazzo. The climate and soil is very similar to the neighboring DOC of Collio Goriziano and the two region share many winemaking similarities as well. The main distinction between the Colli Orientali del Friuli and Collio Goriziano lie in the increased red and dessert wine production of the Colli Orientali del Friuli. The region also includes within its boundaries the three Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG) of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Ramandolo and the two passito wine DOCGs of Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit and Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit-Cialla.

Collio Goriziano is an Italian wine and winemaking region in northeast Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, located in the northernmost part of the Province of Gorizia, in the Italian part of the Gorizia Hills, which extend to neighboring Slovenia. It has been recognized with the official the status of DOC. Colli Goriziano predominantly produces white wines with Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, Malvasia Istriana, Chardonnay, Pinot bianco, Pinot grigio, and Sauvignon blanc being the leading varietals. Red wine is also produced under the Collio Rosso designation and is usually a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baratuciat</span> Variety of grape

Baratuciat is a white Italian wine grape variety that is grown in the Piedmont wine region of northwest Italy. For most of its history, Baratuciat was used mainly as a table grape with some limited use for wine production with sweet late-harvest dessert wines. On 23 June 2008 the grape was officially added to the Italian registry of wine grape varieties.

References

  1. ↑ "Tocai Friulano: the Story Goes On".
  2. ↑ "Tocai Friulano: la Storia Continua".
  3. 1 2 3 4 Madaio, Mike (22 August 2023). "Mysterious Origins of the Italian Wine Formerly Known as Tocai". Medium.
  4. ↑ Robinson, Jancis (2001). The World Atlas of Wine. London: Mitchell Beazley. p. 250. ISBN   1-84000-332-4.
  5. ↑ Bastianich, Lynch, Joseph, David (2005). Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy. United States: Clarkson Potter. p. 30. ISBN   1-4000-9774-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Robinson, Jancis (2006). The Oxford Companion to Wine . Oxford University Press. pp.  612. ISBN   0-19-860990-6.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines, p. 240. Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN   1-85732-999-6.
  8. ↑ C. Fallis, editor The Encyclopedic Atlas of Wine, p. 302. Global Book Publishing 2006 ISBN   1-74048-050-3.
  9. ↑ "New Term for Friulano grape- JAKOT". July 2, 2013. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes, p. 228. Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN   0-15-100714-4.
  11. ↑ Oz Clarke Encyclopedia of Grapes, p. 267. Harcourt Books 2001 ISBN   0-15-100714-4.
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