Pouilly-Fumé

Pouilly-Fumé is a dry, crisp white from the Loire Valley in France, made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc. Expect lemon, grapefruit and green apple with herbs and a distinctive flinty, mineral edge. Fresh, elegant and seriously refreshing, it’s brilliant with oysters, prawns, grilled fish, goat’s cheese, salads and fresh herb dishes.

Taste:

Crisp Sauvignon Blanc with a sophisticated, smoky edge.

Pouilly-Fumé is typically dry and light to medium-bodied, with bright acidity and flavours of lemon, lime, grapefruit and green apple. You may also find gooseberry, fresh herbs and subtle floral notes.

The style is particularly famous for its mineral character, often described as flinty, stony or lightly smoky – the fumé part of the name certainly helps the reputation.

Compared with many fruit-forward New World Sauvignon Blancs, Pouilly-Fumé often feels more restrained, savoury and mineral.

Same grape. Very different accent.

Food Pairings:

Pouilly-Fumé and seafood are extremely good company.

Try it with oysters, prawns, mussels, crab, scallops, grilled fish, sea bass, cod or seafood salads. Its acidity and citrus flavours work particularly well with lemon, herbs and lighter seafood sauces.

Sushi, sashimi and ceviche are also excellent matches.

Goat’s cheese is a Loire Valley classic, so try Pouilly-Fumé with goat’s cheese salad, baked goat’s cheese or a cheese board featuring fresh, tangy goat’s cheese.

For lighter dishes, pair it with asparagus, green salads, grilled courgette, herb-roasted vegetables or dishes featuring parsley, basil, dill or other fresh herbs.

It also works beautifully with grilled chicken, particularly with lemon and herbs.

Similar Wines:

If you enjoy Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre is the obvious next stop. It’s also predominantly Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley and shares plenty of citrus, herbal and mineral character.

Sauvignon Blanc lets you explore how dramatically the grape changes around the world, while Albariño is a great option if crisp acidity, citrus and mineral flavours are what you love.

Grüner Veltliner is also worth trying for another fresh, herbal white with plenty of personality.

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More About Pouilly-Fumé:

Pouilly-Fumé comes from vineyards around Pouilly-sur-Loire in the eastern Loire Valley of France and is made from Sauvignon Blanc, locally sometimes called Blanc Fumé.

The region’s varied soils, including limestone, marl and flint-rich sites, contribute to the different expressions found across the appellation.

And now for the important bit: Pouilly-Fumé and Pouilly-Fuissé are not the same wine.

Pouilly-Fumé = Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire.

Pouilly-Fuissé = Chardonnay from Burgundy.

Two famous French whites, two different grapes, two different regions and names specifically designed to ruin your confidence in front of a sommelier.

You're welcome.