Pouilly-Fumé is a dry white wine made exclusively from sauvignon blanc grapes. It comes from the Pouilly-sur-Loire area in the Nièvre département of France and typically has an alcohol content around 12-13%.
How it is made
Pouilly-Fumé is made purely from sauvignon blanc grapes. The small ovoid grapes have a grey bloom at maturity that resembles smoke, giving the wine its distinctive name and character. The terroir of Pouilly-sur-Loire imparts a smoky bouquet with a gun flint aroma to the wine.
History
The vineyards of Pouilly-Fumé date back to the fifth century during the Gallo-Roman period. Benedictine monks began developing the vineyards in the Middle Ages, not for profit but for sacramental wine production. The area experienced challenges including floods, mildew, and phylloxera in the nineteenth century, which devastated the vineyards before partial replanting on American rootstock in the early twentieth century.
Types and styles
Pouilly-Fumé is a dry white wine made exclusively from sauvignon blanc. It should not be confused with Pouilly-Fuissé, which is a chardonnay wine from Burgundy. The Pouilly-sur-Loire area also produces another white wine called Pouilly-sur-Loire, made from a different grape variety.
How it is served
Pouilly-Fumé is typically served chilled as an apéritif or with food. The wine's smoky character and acidity pair well with seafood, goat cheese, and light poultry dishes.