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 FAQs 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.