What kind of grape is Pouilly-Fumé?
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Dear Dr. Vinny,
What kind of grape is Pouilly-Fumé?
—Rusina, Montana
Dear Rusina,
Pouilly-Fumé is the name of a wine region in France’s Loire Valley. Pouilly-Fumé wines are made entirely from the Sauvignon Blanc grape (just like the other famous Loire Valley region whose white wines are dedicated to that grape, Sancerre).
“Fumé” means “smoke” in French, and it’s true that in addition to vibrant citrus flavors in wines from Pouilly-Fumé, there’s often a flinty note, reminiscent of either flint striking steel, or minerally, wet pebble-like flavors.
—Dr. Vinny
