Local experts at sauvignon world congress

South African viticultural sauvignon blanc experts are on the official speakers’ list for the first World Sauvignon Blanc Congress that takes place in Austria later this year. A number of local producers with special interest in producing wines from this fashionable grape have indicated they will attend. The congress is scheduled for August 26 to 29 in Graz, capital city of Styria, an Austrian wine region which is increasingly get a reputation for good sauvignon.

The organisers say scientists and professionals, with specialised sauvignon knowledge and expertise, from all over the world, will come together to exchange their experiences and discuss the latest scientific findings. They say this is the first international event ever exclusively devoted to sauvignon blanc.

From ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Kobus Hunter will deliver a paper on ‘Cultivation strategies and practices with impact on sauvignon blanc grape composition and wine quality’, and Johann Marais will speak to ‘Impact of climate and oenological practices onsauvignon blanc wine composition and quality’.

Other aspects to be addressed, include the influence of soil and climate (Mike Trought from the Marlborough Wine Research Centre), various viniculture methods for improving quality (Richard Smart, Australia), clone research (Laurent Audeguin, France), development of aroma (Denis Dubourdieu, Bordeaux University), volatile thiols (Chris Winefield, Lincoln University, New Zealand) as well the analysis of consumer trends in different parts of the world by leading wine critics such as Tim Atkin and Jamie Goode.

Johann Seitinger, chief agricultural officer for Styria and initiator of the congress says sauvignon blanc is one of the fascinating grape varieties in the world, reflecting climatic and geographical conditions, but also the personal decisions of the winemaker.

‘However, this grape variety is often underestimated in the international context and hardly reaches the top rankings of say red wines or even chardonnays. The aim of this initiative is to develop strategies to improve the knowledge and raise the profile of this grape variety jointly.’

The South African Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group is planning a substantial presence at the congress.