The white wines of Sancerre are a warm-weather favorite and drinking them is a perfect reason to dust off the patio furniture. Usually made with Sauvignon Blanc from France’s Loire Valley, these bottlings’ crisp minerality, high acidity and herbaceous notes pair beautifully with the culinary staples of spring and summer, like shellfish and green salads. And as Sauvignon Blanc explodes in popularity, interest in Sancerre is also on the rise. Here’s everything to know about it.
What Is Sancerre?
Sancerre is an appellation on the eastern edge of the Loire Valley in France. Although the region is known to produce red and rosé wines, Sancerre often refers to a type of dry white wine made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. It’s the most popular white grape variety in the region.
The classic white Sancerre is loaded with bright acidity and crisp minerality, with the hallmark flavors of gooseberry, lemon and flint arising in most examples. Many also boast grassy and vegetal flavors.
Some are made entirely in stainless steel to keep the pristine, vibrant fruit flavors front and center. Yet, there are also richer styles of Sancerre that are aged in concrete or oak barrels, which add body, texture and lend potential for aging in the cellar. Sancerre tends to have a light to medium body, and can sometimes be blended with other varieties, most often Sémillon, to add complexity or body.
Where Is Sancerre Wine From?
The famous white wine comes from the Loire Valley, a winemaking region in the north of France, just southeast of Paris. Sancerre is directly across the Loire River from another popular AOC, Pouilly-Fumé.
Best Sancerre Wines to Try
Domaine Vacheron 2021 Le Pavé Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
This full-bodied wine is complex. Richness comes from the intense white fruits and good balance between almond and ripe spice. Underlying everything is youthful minerality that is destined to soften. Drink from 2025. Organic and biodynamic. 96 Points —Roger Voss
$ Varies Wine Searcher
Domaine Delaporte 2021 Les Monts Damnés Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
After aging for 10 months in large wood barrels, the wine has a broad, ripe feel. Its creamy texture shows density as well as lime and grapefruit fruits. From one of the top vineyards sites in Chavignol, the wine should age. Drink from 2024. 94 Points —R.V.
$ Varies Wine Searcher
J. de Villebois 2020 Terres Blanches Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
The chalk soil of this vineyard has given a wine with tight minerality that will soften. Behind this, rich white fruits and good acidity are bursting to get out. The wine will be ready from 2024. 92 Points —R.V.
$ Varies Wine Searcher
Domaine Masson-Blondelet 2021 Thauvenay Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
Balanced and fruity, this wine is dense, showing layers of white fruits and textured acidity. It is a ripe wine, the zesty character muted by the generosity. Drink from 2024. 92 Points —R.V.
$ Varies Wine Searcher
Fournier Père et Fils 2021 Les Vignes du Moulin Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
Highlighting ripeness and full apple and lime flavors, this wine has warmth as well as a tangy background. It comes from a single vineyard, offering a rich view of Sauvignon Blanc. 92 Points —R.V.
$ Varies Wine Searcher
François Crochet 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
This full, ripe wine offers red apple and kiwi flavors. It has a generous character, the fruit pure and with good acidity to balance the smoothness. Drink from 2024. Organic. 91 Points —R.V.
$ Varies Wine Searcher
Vincent Grall 2021 Le Manoir Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
Fermented in wood, this wine has a touch of spice as well as citrus and pink grapefruit flavors. It is an open wine, its fruit balanced by ripeness. Drink from 2024. 91 Points —R.V.
$ Varies Wine Searcher
Domaine Durand 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
Fresh and fruity with lively acidity, this wine shows a touch of minerality along with bright citrus flavors. Tension in the wine suggests it will soften and age. Drink from 2024. 90 Points —R.V.
$ Varies Wine Searcher
Michel Vattan 2021 M-K Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre)
Tight and zesty with a dense crisp texture, this wine is full in the mouth. A green edge gives it freshness that demands some aging. Drink from 2024. 89 Points —R.V.
$ Varies Wine SearcherFAQs
What Temperature Do You Serve Sancerre?
Like other light, dry white wines, Sancerre is served at 45–49°F. Pop it in the fridge about an hour and a half before serving. Learn more about the best wine serving temperatures here.
What Does Sancerre Taste Like?
Sancerre usually has high acidity, with flavors of citrus and green fruits, like lemons and apples. Many bottlings also have fresh, herbaceous flavors, like green bell pepper, grass and asparagus.
How to Pair Sancerre Wine
Sancerre’s zesty profile and intriguing complexity make it a great wine to pair with food. Goat cheese is a classing pairing for it, as the cheese’s creamy texture and tangy flavor profile complements the wine’s herbal, citrusy profile. The intensity of Sancerre also makes it a great match for shellfish dishes and tricky-to-pair vegetables like fennel and asparagus.
Why Trust Us
All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
Last Updated: July 11, 2023
