How much Savagnin in Australia these days?

by Wink Lorch
(UK and France)

Wink asks

Do you have any idea approximately how many hectares of Savagnin are grown in Australia these days?

Since the days when it was planted by growers thinking it was Albarinho, have there been any new plantings, or does most of it date back to those days?

Thanks for you help.

Darby replies

I don't collect figures for hectares planted of Savagnin but I guess that in the decade since the mistaken identity was discovered there has been a significant increase. There are now around 70 producers and probably half of them would have planted since 2009.

The crisp dry white styles are actually a huge success story quality wise but the problem is in the marketing end. The white wine industry here lives in the shadow of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and there is much confusion about what we should call Savagnin wines. One producer uses the Italian synonym Saverro to distinguish it.

Crittendens of Dromana have been doing some very interesting things with Savagnin using methods inspired by the Vin Jaune of the Jura to make quite distinctive wines.