Saturday 6 May marks the 14th annual International Sauvignon Blanc Day. One of the world’s most popular grape varieties, and one of the most widely-planted, Sauvignon Blanc is recognised worldwide for its fresh and aromatic qualities.
Sauvignon Blanc has found many places to call home, from New Zealand where it has gained worldwide recognition and acclaim, the Loire Valley, France where the grape originates, to South Africa, Chile, the USA and beyond.
Premium read – Celebrating Sauvignon Blanc: A global guide
To celebrate this truly global grape variety we have a range of 24 Sauvignon Blancs from different countries and regions from across the world.
DWWA 2022: Top award-winning Sauvignon Blancs
Argentina
Salentein, Single Vineyard Los Nogales, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2019
Silver, 94 points
Inviting aromas of honey, lemon peel, herbaceous nettle and asparagus lead to a zesty acidity and fresh fruit on the palate. Alc 13.5%
Australia
Robert Oatley, Craigmoor Estate 2021
Value Gold, 95 points
A wine with nice typicity, good acidity and some ripe fruit flavours. A very nice wine for the price. Alc 12%
Austria
Sattlerhof, Ried Kapellenweingarten, Südsteiermark, Steiermark 2018
Platinum, 97 points
Elegant and refined aromas of well judged oak, with notes of passionfruit, starfruit, kiwi and hints of lemon zest and aromatic herbs. Fine creamy texture on the palate, with a lovely crisp acidity and delicate spiciness. Alc 12.5%
Brazil
Bárbara Eliodora, Serra da Mantiqueira 2021
Silver, 91 points
Inviting, grassy aromatics of guava, melon and green bean; then a palate of stony minerality and a zippy acidity. Alc 13%
Canada
Inniskillin, Reserve Fumé Blanc, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia 2020
Silver, 90 points
Elegant and inviting with pretty floral notes leading to a palate apple, lemon curd, honey and herb. Alc 11.9%
Chile
Miguel Torres, Cordillera de los Andes, Osorno Valley 2020
Platinum, 97 points
Pure and seductive aromas of gorgeous white peaches and ripe apricots balanced with grapefruit skins. The palate is zippy and crystalline, lovely and long and linear with notes of cream and custard from oak. There is an appealing crystalline purity and sleek elegance. Alc 12%
China
Nanshan Manor, Yantai, Shandong 2019
Silver, 90 points
Citrusy nose with notes of gooseberry, crisp apples and delicate oak undertones. Light-bodied and elegant, fresh and elegant, showing tension. Alc 13%
Croatia
Puhelek Purek, Prigorje – Bilogora, Continental 2021
Value Gold, 95 points
An aromatic, crisp, and refreshing wine with plenty of grassy-green pepper varietal typicity. There are additional accents of green apple and citrus fruits on the elegant, quite pronounced mineral palate. The finish is long, dry, and vibrant. Alc 12.5%
France
Savas, Cuvée Eva, Bordeaux Blanc 2020
Value Best in Show, 97 points
Bordeaux is rarely acclaimed as a source of great-value Sauvignon — because the varietal message in this part of the world is often obscured rather than validated by origin, and because many Bordeaux whites are based on the blends traditional in Pessac-Léognan and Graves. This was the only single-variety Sauvignon amongst our Value Best In Show wines this year — and its grassy freshness, purity and poise make it a terrific winner. Our judges felt, though, that origin was indeed a part of its appeal — palpable via the soft grain of its faintly oak-infused aromas, and the vinous drive and length of its palate. At this price, don’t look for complexity or concentration, but there is a class to the fruit which is rare at this level and which will provide much drinking pleasure for Sauvignon fans. Alc 13%
Domaine des Brosses, Sancerre, Loire 2021
Silver, 93 points
Elegant floral and biscuity aromatics. Complex in the mouth with ripe stone fruit and citrus characters. Long, leafy finish. Alc 13%
Germany
Martin Waßmer, SW Markgräflerland, Baden 2020
Platinum, 97 points
Exotic fruit with a passionfruit lead and underlying grapefruit, kiwi, and physalis. The palate is full-bodied, yet elegant, with minty freshness, ripe tropical fruit, and hints of fine spice and white asparagus. Excellent and opulent: This makes you pay attention. Alc 13.5%
Greece
Domaine Costa Lazaridi, Amethystos Blanc, Drama, Macedonia 2021
Silver, 90 points
Flinty and smoke nose with crunchy nectarines and persistent sea shells salinity. Long with a sappy fruity finish and tangy acidity. Alc 12.9%
India
Sula Vineyards, Nashik, Maharashtra 2021
Silver, 90 points
Lovely aromatics of fresh cut grass and gooseberries, with touches of stone fruit and citrus. Fresh and harmonious, ripe palate. Alc 12.5%
Italy
Meroi, Zitelle Barchetta, Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy 2019
Platinum, 97 points
Complex and rich, candied lemons, yellow grapefruit, gooseberry pulp, and plenty of buttery, oaky richness. The layers shine on the palate which is lively and precise, with brilliant acidity, a warming finish, and a delicious touch of bitterness. Incredible release! Alc 14%
Japan
Manns Wines, Solaris Shinshu, Nagano, Chubu 2019
Silver, 90 points
Gently aromatic with a touch of struck match, gooseberry, mango and guava. Attractive concentration, very refreshing, with a mineral character. Alc 13%
Moldova
Gogu Winery 2021
Silver, 91 points
A serious Sauvignon Blanc with excellent depth showing green-tinged fruits and cut grass with a vibrant grapefruity acidity. Alc 13%
New Zealand
Rimapere, Plot 101, Marlborough 2021
Best in Show, 97 points
We all now know just what a fine natural fit Sauvignon and the various districts and sub-regions of Marlborough are: varietal style and the exuberance which comes with the South Island’s bright light and clean air are never in doubt. Looking for the grain and complexity which will take each wine a little further is the great challenge, but it was one our judges felt this wine met. Bright green-gold in colour, its aromas are haunting, layered and subtle, without overt grassiness or passionfruit extravagance; look instead for the soft leafiness of a sunlit copse in spring. It’s fresh, bright and urgent on the palate, but once again the primary notes are muted to benefit texture and perspective, sinew and line. The memorable acids are rounded, ripe and resonant in this wholly successful Sauvignon. Alc 14%
Romania
Avincis Vinuri, Cuvée Petit, Dragasani, Muntenia & Oltenia 2021
Silver, 92 points
A properly grassy, pungent, limey Sauvignon with excellent intensity and proper penetrative power. Excellent character. Alc 13.5%
Serbia
Matijašević, SoviNoa Fumé Blanc, Oplenac, Šumadija-Great Morava 2020
Gold, 96 points
A classy oak-fermented Sauvignon Blanc. This layered wine shows ripe tropical and apricot fruits balanced by fresher, lighter, white peach, elderflower, and green herbs. An impressively long and complex palate builds with a flinty-mineral backbone, white pepper spiciness, and a sweet vanilla richness. Alc 14%
Slovakia
Habsburg, Víno Bez Zemepisného Oznacenia (Wine without origin) 2021
Silver, 91 points
A ripe Sauvignon verging on Pinot Gris-like Cox apple with a note of passionfruit. Off-dry but balanced with racy acidity. Alc 13.2%
South Africa
Constantia Glen, Constantia, Cape Town 2021
Platinum, 97 points
A vibrant nose with aromas of lemon, kiwi, elderflower, green jalapeno, capsicum, and a toasty, smoky top note. The palate shows a taut crisp vivacity and a light flinty nuance to the grenadilla, mango, gooseberry, and blackcurrant leaf flavours. Alc 13.5%
Turkey
Suvla, Thrace-Marmara 2021
Silver, 91 points
Spot on sauvignon blanc with well defined fruit. Clean, crisp acidity, yet a creamy texture. Fruit lingers on the palate long after the last sip. Alc 13.5%
United Kingdom
Woodchester Valley, Gloucestershire 2021
Silver, 91 points
A classic expression of Sauvignon Blanc from England. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc delivers oodles of gooseberry, gorse, crisp green apples, lemon and lime, and white pepper and has a hint of steel that delights the palate. Impressive. Alc 11.5%
United States
Edna Valley Vineyard, California 2020
Silver, 91 points
Super vibrant nose with juicy ripe grapefruit, passion fruit, and aromatic lemon. Crisp palate with gooseberry, kiwi, basil. Solid example. Alc 13.1%
