Sauvignon blanc is a French technical grape variety widely grown in many countries, including France, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the USA, Argentina, and Australia. It belongs to the Western European eco-geographical group of varieties and is characterized by a medium ripening period. Bushes are of medium height with good shoot maturation. Bunches of Sauvignon blanc are small or of medium size, cylindrical in shape, very dense, with a short stalk. Berries are small and medium-sized, round or weakly oval, greenish-white in color, acquiring a yellowish-pink hue in the sun. The skin is tough, covered with pruine and dark brown spots, the flesh is juicy with a harmonious taste and a characteristic aroma with a hint of henbane. Berries contain 2-3 seeds, and the average weight of 100 berries is about 130 grams. Sauvignon blanc is distinguished by medium or low yield, while the percentage of fruiting shoots ranges from 37 to 80%. The number of bunches per developed shoot varies from 0.6 to 1.2. Shoots grown from replacement and dormant buds are usually sterile. The variety is susceptible to powdery mildew and gray rot, but is relatively resistant to downy mildew. For successful cultivation, it is recommended to plant on gravelly and manure-carbonate soils, preferably on warm slopes. Bush training is usually fan or cordon shape with a trunk height of 70—120 cm. When pruning on a cane, 5—8 buds are left. Sugar content in berries at harvest reaches 18.6-23.1 g/100 ml, acidity — 6.4-11.1 g/l. Sauvignon blanc is widely used as a blending variety with other varieties, such as Aligote and Riesling, adding fineness, fullness of taste, and aroma stability to the wine material. Wine made from this grape produces juice, table wine, and materials for champagne. Wine from Sauvignon blanc is characterized by a bright aroma, freshness, and the best quality in its youth. In addition, the variety is suitable for cultivation in various climatic zones, including viticulture regions of Ukraine, and is capable of producing various types of wines — from crispy with currant and blackberry leaf tones to rich and bright.
