An international premiere will take place from 26th to 29th August in Graz (Steiermark/Styria, Austria). Scientists and professionals from all over the world dedicating their expertise to the grape variety Sauvignon Blanc will come together to exchange their experiences and discuss the latest scientific findings. On an international scale, this is the first event ever exclusively devoted to Sauvignon Blanc.

Experts from all areas

20 top presenters will cover all aspects of the Sauvignon Blanc grape, for instance the influence of soil and climate (Mike Trought from the Marlborough Wine Research Centre), various viniculture methods for improving quality (Richard Smart, Australia), clone research (Laurent Audeguin, France), development of aroma (Denis Dubourdieu, Bordeaux University), volatile thiols (Chris Winefield, Lincoln University, New Zealand) as well the analysis of consumer trends in different parts of the world by leading wine critics. (Find more details on www.worldsauvignon.com )

A lobby for Sauvignon Blanc "Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most fascinating grape varieties in the world and reflects the climatic and geographical conditions and the personal decisions of the winemaker to a great extent," explains Johann Seitinger, the Styrian Chief agricultural officer and initiator of the congress enthusiastically. However, this grape variety is often underestimated in the international context and hardly reaches the top rankings of red wines or Chardonnays. It is the declared aim of this initiative to develop strategies to improve the knowledge and raise the profile of this grape variety jointly.

Profound knowledge for experts

The idea behind the World Sauvignon Congress is to provide a meeting place for experts whose daily routine involves viticulture, vinification or wine marketing, i.e. vintners, oenologists, traders, restaurateurs, sommeliers and representatives of specialised journals. The congress is, of course, also open to interested consumers wishing to gain an insight into the science of wine. All lectures, by the way, will be held in the three congress languages: German, English and French.

Registration for the congress and reservation of hotels and tours through the Styrian wine region can be made via the congress website www.worldsauvignon.com .