It is no secret that France is considered the home of great wines and has served as the inspiration for many grape growers and winemakers around the world, including here in our very own French corner. Most wine grape varieties also originate from France and as we traditionally celebrate our French heritage in July, we thought to share the French origin of varieties used in the La Motte wine portfolio. 

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is the most popular white wine in South Africa and the biggest seller for La Motte.

The name in French literally means “wild white” due to the fact that it grew in abundance in its native South-West France. French Sauvignon Blanc are from the winegrowing areas of Bordeaux and Sancerre, in the eastern part of the Loire valley. The steely, mineral soils of Graves in Bordeaux create some of the most intense Sauvignon Blancs, more similar in style to the Pierneef Collection Sauvignon Blanc.

The more tropical style favoured by most South Africans is more easily made in our warmer grape growing areas.

Chardonnay

Although the origin of its name is uncertain, Chardonnay is believed to have been named after the village of Chardonnay in the Mâconnais region of France. What is without doubt, however, is that the variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of North-Eastern France. Today, it is arguably the most diverse and most planted white wine grape in the world.

Chardonnay styles differ dramatically from the lean, steely wines of Chablis to the Chardonnays of the Côte d’Or which are fabulously complex and expressive.

Burgundian winemakers were the pioneers of the techniques that are now associated with premium Chardonnay production around the world. These techniques include barrel fermentation, barrel aging (typically 6 to 9 months) malolactic fermentation for white wines and the use of lees during maturation.

Chardonnay forms a critical part of Champagne-style wines as well as the La Motte Méthode Cap Classique.