Sauvignon Blanc
Popular French white wine variety (from the Loire), solely responsible for some of New Zealand's most distinctively aromatic dry white whites Vigorous, but can be managed with rootstock choice and canopy management
Buds after but flowers before Semillon
Susceptible to powdery mildew and black rot
Budburst - Midseason, Harvest - Early
| Available for orders | |||
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| Delivery 2013 | Delivery 2014 | Delivery 2015 | |
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Note: Delivery is for dormant vines only – for potted vine options, please call 0800 11 37 47. * Limited availability. |
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| Riversun Certified Clone/Selection | |||
| ENTAV-INRA® 242 |  |
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| ENTAV-INRA® 376 | |
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| ENTAV-INRA® 530 | |
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| ENTAV-INRA® 905 | |
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| Italian Selection M1 | |
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| Italian Selection M2 | |
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| Mass Selection (UCD 1) | |
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| 5385 |  |
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Sauvignon Blanc ENTAV-INRA® 242
- Riversun Premium Import
- Sourced from France (ENTAV-INRA®)
Virus Status
2010: Tested positive for Rupestris Stem Pitting Virus
Viticulture
Moderate sized, relatively open and loose bunches, with medium fertility and medium bunch weight, medium sugar production and moderate yields.
Disease tolerance
Vines deliver very clean fruit.
Flavour profile
Produces aromatic and well-balanced wines, with a pronounced vegetal note. Similar in some respects to classic Marlborough flavours, but with a peach dimension and good persistence in flavours. Note of green capsicum, lemon grass and green apple.
Sauvignon Blanc ENTAV-INRA® 376
- Riversun Premium Import
- Sourced from France (ENTAV-INRA®)
Virus Status
2010: Tested positive for Rupestris Stem Pitting Virus
Viticulture
Good productivity , bunches a little more compact and tighter than 242, but with bigger berries and thick skins.Bigger cropping than 242 as well.
Disease tolerance
Thick skins help fruit stay free from bunch rots.
Flavour profile
Less capsicum flavours than 242, more tropical, muscat like.
Sauvignon Blanc ENTAV-INRA® 530
- Riversun Premium Import
- Sourced from France (ENTAV-INRA®)
Virus Status
2010: Tested positive for Rupestris Stem Pitting Virus
Viticulture
Slightly more advanced in maturity than 242, medium to low production, and medium to low bunch weights, small berries, high sugar content. Slightly larger bunches than 242 and 376.
Disease tolerance
Delivers very clean fruit.
Flavour profile
Wines are dry, aromatic and complete, but sometimes heavy. More capsicum and gooseberry flavours, less tropical. Pea and bean characteristics.
Sauvignon Blanc ENTAV-INRA® 905
- Riversun Premium Import
- Sourced from France (ENTAV-INRA®)
Virus Status
2010: Tested positive for Rupestris Stem Pitting Virus
Viticulture
Good productivity, looser bunches than other clones, similar development to 242, high sugar content.
Disease tolerance
Selected especially for its higher tolerance of Botrytis and other bunch rots.
Flavour profile
Produces very good wines, gooseberry and capsicum notes with intense flavour burst, and some peach and apricot.
Sauvignon Blanc Italian Selection M1
- Riversun Premium Import
Virus Status
2010: Tested positive for Rupestris Stem Pitting Virus, Grapevine Fleck Virus
Viticulture
Compact bunch, looser than the Marlborogh Mass Selected clone, seems to have thicker skin.
Disease tolerance
Delivers very clean fruit.
Flavour profile
Very tropical and good capsicum flavours, showing more typical Marlborough flavours, with perhaps slightly less zest and acid. Good persistence of flavours.
General Comments
Personally selected for Riversun by Alberto Antonini (Matura) – a world-famous ‘flying winemaker’ with interests in Italy, South America and Australia.
Sauvignon Blanc Italian Selection M2
- Riversun Premium Import
Virus Status
2010: Tested positive for Rupestris Stem Pitting Virus
Viticulture
Slightly more productive and larger than the M1, with bigger berries and bunches, some gaps in bunches, not tight.
Disease tolerance
Delivers very clean fruit.
Flavour profile
Grass, and gooseberry flavours, slightly less intense than M1..
General Comments
Personally selected for Riversun by Alberto Antonini (Matura) – a world-famous ‘flying winemaker’ with interests in Italy, South America and Australia.
Sauvignon Blanc Mass Selection (UCD 1)
- Riversun Premium Plus
- Imported by Frank Berrysmith from USA (UC-Davis) 1970
Riversun source selected from 20 vines in the Jackson Estate Vineyard in Marlborough by Jean-Michel Boursiquot and Nick Hoskins
Viticulture
Small, relatively open and loose bunches, with medium fertility and medium bunch weight, medium sugar production.
Disease tolerance
Vines delivered clean fruit. Bunches can be very tight and in some years Botrytis can be an issue.
Flavour profile
Produces aromatic and well-balanced wines, with a pronounced vegetal note. Similar in some respects to classic Marlborough flavours, but with a peach dimension and good persistence in flavours. Note of green capsicum, lemon grass and green apple.
History
The import was from 2 vines at UCD: one was positive for GLRaV-3
General Comments
The New Zealand industry is based on this single clone or selection, which produces good crops of medium-sized bunches and berries.