RAISE A GLASS

I was chatting to a friend and mentioned how well-travelled many grape varieties are.

“This sauvignon blanc,” I said, “it’s from France, but here it is in a New Zealand wine.”

But it is from New Zealand, she said. Well yes, this wine is from New Zealand – I explained – but its roots are in France.

In a nutshell some of the most popular grapes in the world can trace their ancestry back to France.

The wine which had sparked our conversation was Seifried Estate Sauvignon Blanc (£14.99, Waitrose), pictured left. It is crafted in Nelson, on the South Island coast of the Tasman Sea, not far from its famous regional cousin, Marlborough.

It’s an elegant, fresh, sauvignon, not as punchy as a Marlborough; yet still has the classy signature notes of tropical fruit, citrus, kiwi and gooseberry.

Sauvignon blanc grapes were first planted in New Zealand in 1975, which isn’t that long ago, on the grand scale of things. Put it this way: Elton John was in the charts in 1975, and he’s been in the charts in 2022. That’s a random timeline link to the dizzily fast rise of a much-loved wine style.

New Zealand’s most planted black grape variety is pinot noir. And guess what: That’s a French variety too, at the heart of Burgundy reds.

I enjoyed Yering Station, The Elms Pinot Noir (£12.99, which will be £9.99 in December), right.

It has bright red fruit notes

– think raspberry and cranberry. Then a hint of savoury appears, with some herbs and snapped twig.

Malbec’s ancestry is French. The grape was once widely seen in Bordeaux until a severe frost in the 50s. Now it takes a relatively backseat in its homeland. Step forward Argentina. Malbec was first planted in Argentina in 1868 and the

country now has the largest plantings anywhere in the world.

Cameleón Organic Malbec 2021 (£15.99 or £12.99 in a Buy Six deal), left, is ribboned with vibrant fresh, juicy, black fruits. It is made by Argentina’s leading organic winery, Domaine Bousquet – the family moved from their native France to Argentina in 1997.

I’ve not mentioned chardonnay, or sémillon, or chenin blanc, or cabernet sauvignon or others. Even though – you’ve guessed it – their ancestry is also in France. Maybe watch this space!

Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.