How to Pronounce Sauvignon and Other Wine Questions

Have you ever not ordered a glass of wine or bought a bottle, simply because you weren’t sure how to properly pronounce the name? It’s not uncommon to read names such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Viognier or Vouvray over and over yet not have the confidence to say them out loud. Don’t miss out on some great wines or conversations. We’ll tell you how to pronounce Sauvignon and so much more.

And, you’ll feel better knowing that many people struggle with some of the pronunciations, especially of the French, Italian, and Spanish wines, so you are certainly not alone. 

Let’s tackle 13 of these wine pronunciations head on. Here’s your cheat sheet – a baker’s dozen of commonly mispronounced wine names or varieties.

Barbara: Bar-BEAR-ah

Beaujolais: Boh-jhoe-lay

Cabernet Sauvignon: Cab-er-nay Saw-vee-nyon

Chablis: Shah-blee

Châteauneuf-du-Pap: Shah-toe-nuf dew pahp

Cotes du Rhone: Coat do Rone

Gewurztraminer: Gah-VERTZ-Tra-Me-Nur

Nebbiolo: Neh Be-OH-Low

Pinot Grigio: Pee-noh GREE-joe

Sancerre: Sahn-sair

Sangiovese: San-joe-VAE-sae

Viognier: Vee-Own-YAY

Vouvray: Voo-VRAE

What wine name stumps you? Let us know. Our wine exerts love to help.Want to hear the wine names and terms pronounced? There are a number of sites that have audio files. Wines.com has one that does a good job.

Founded in 1934, Haskell’s has championed fine wines for over 80 years. We have 13 wine stores in Minnesota, two delis and one restaurant. As one of the top wine shops in North America, Haskell’s is known for legendary service and one of the finest collections of wine, beer and spirits. Led by Chairman and CEO Jack Farrell, and the Farrell family, Haskell’s continues to be at the forefront of the wine scene throughout the world. Haskell’s also can ship wine, beer & spirits all throughout the world, the U.S. and we deliver locally.