The white grape variety originates from France. Around 100 synonyms testify to its great age and worldwide distribution in many wine-growing countries. The most important, grouped alphabetically by country, are Feigentraube, Muskat-Silvaner, Würzsilvaner (Germany); Blanc Doux, Blanc Fumé, Fumé, Genetin, Gentin a Romorantin, Gros Sauvignon, Libournais, Painechon, Punéchon, Quinechon, Sauternes, Sauvignon à Gros Grains, Sauvignon Blanc Musqué, Sauvignon Fumé, Sauvignon Jaune, Sauvignon Jeune, Sauvignon Musqué, Savagnou, Savignôn, Surin (France);

Pellegrina, Pissotta, Sauvignon Bianco (Italy); Fumé Blanc (California); Sauvignon Bijeli, Sovinjon (Croatia); Genetin (Luxembourg); Sotern Marunt, Verdo Belîi (Moldova); Feigentraube, Muskat-Silvaner, Weißer Sauvignon (Austria); Muškatni Silvanec, Zeleni Sauvignon (Slovenia); Sauvignon Blanco (Spain); Fehér Sauvignon, Zöld Ortlibi (Hungary).

Origin

According to an unverifiable legend, his grandfather rubbed a clove of garlic on the lips of the French King Henry IV (1553-1610) immediately after his birth and poured a sip of Sauvignon Blanc into his mouth. This allegedly turned the king into a wine connoisseur. There was a reference to it under the name Sauvignon Fumé or Blanc Fumé in Sancerre in 1783. However, according to a lease held by the monastery of St. Gallen (Switzerland), Sauvignon Blanc was apparently already being cultivated in the municipality of Pfaffenweiler (Markgräflerland) in 1692.

According to one hypothesis, Sauvignon Blanc and Savagnin Blanc travelled from Great Moravia via Franconia to the Loire and Bordeaux. A second variant, however, names France and the Loire as the origin. The variety probably only came to Germany and Austria later. Under Nazi rule,...