Fumé Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.   

Are they one and the same?

More importantly, do we care?   

The answers: 

Somewhat and yes. 

Fumé Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc are made from the same grape. 

But the style of each wine is slightly different.

Back in the 60’s, American-made Sauvignon Blanc

had a bad reputation. 

It was considered to be a simple, overly-sweet wine. 

The great Robert Mondavi stepped in and

conducted an experiment.  Working with Napa Valley grapes,

he crafted a wine that mimicked Pouilly-Fumé,

the revered French wine made from Sauvignon Blanc.

Mondavi’s version was drier, more oak-influenced

and had a hint of smokiness.   The sweetness that plagued

previous California Sauvignon Blancs was gone.

He called his new creation Fumé Blanc, 

or French for “smoky white”. 

Some 50 years after Mondavi first tinkered

with the Sauvignon Blanc grape,

Fumé Blanc lives on,  produced

mainly in California and Australia.

It’s Wine Thursday! 

Every Thursday, we highlight a good wine

that sells at a reasonable price and is easy to find

at retail or online.   

This week, we’re checking out one of the

most popular current versions of

Mondavi’s creation from many years ago.

Where it’s from

The Ferrari Carano winery is located near Healdsburg, California

in the renowned Dry Creek Valley. 

With its immaculate gardens, scenic setting and substantial portfolio

of red, white and rosé, Ferrari Carano is a very popular Sonoma County

wine country destination. 

What it is

The smoky flavors that are supposed to be present in a true Fumé Blanc

don’t show up here.   In their place is fruit… and lots of it.  This has juicy pear,

peach and apple flavors up front with grapefruit trailing on the finish. 

It’s quite crisp with pleasant acidity and a tangy, tropical edge. 

You will not mistake this for a Pouilly-Fumé from the Loire Valley.

Nonetheless, this Fumé Blanc is very easy to like,

especially for the price.

Where to buy it

Ferrari Carano’s Fumé Blanc is at Costco for $10.49.  QFC’s price is $12.99. 

It’s on the shelf at Vons for $13.32.  Target has it for $13.99. 

Total Wine, Bevmo and Albertsons all sell it for $14.99. 

Ralphs has it for $15.70.  Safeway’s price is $15.99. 

You can order it from Wine Library for $10.66  

https://winelibrary.com 

Woods Wholesale Wine carries it for $10.96  

https://www.woodswholesalewine.com 

The price at Vine Republic is $10.98  

https://www.vinerepublic.com