All the medallists from the Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters 2025

If Marlborough is Sauvignon Blanc’s heartland, this hugely popular grape variety is capable of excellence in an array of locations. Patricia Stefanowicz MW reports.

A SHINY, bright and crisp early autumnal day greeted us as we gathered to judge Sauvignon Blanc, often considered a simple, crowd-pleasing, spring-and-summer drink, but we were excited to prolong the freshness of summer days.

This year there were 113 wines to tickle our palates. As expected, New Zealand provided the most – around 45% – almost all of them from Marlborough, the region which is responsible for more than three-quarters of New Zealand’s wines. South Africa and Chile were also well represented. We had some wines from a number of other countries: Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Romania, Spain and Turkey in Europe; California, Australia and Argentina in the New World. New Zealand dominated the Master medals, taking home three of the five, with one Master going to South Africa. But Austria came top of the Sauvignon Blancs this year, bagging the Grand Master for Potzinger’s Ried Pössnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc from Steiermark. Gold medals were a little more varied, with 19 given in total to seven different countries. While Marlborough stood out with eight Golds, it was good to see the diversity to be found across that single region. South Africa, Australia, California, Chile and Greece were awarded two Gold medals each, and Italy one.

When considering price points, the quality of unoaked Sauvignon Blanc was variable at under £10, although Kaiora Bay (from Booster Wine Group) and Brancott Estate achieved well-earned Golds. The £10–£15 bracket did not wow the judges either. There were some good medals, even Golds, but there was a surprising number of wines that did not gain medals. These lesser wines seemed formulaic, and often just too ‘mean, lean, and green’, rather than enticing.

Above £15, the judges expected a step-up in quality, and mostly found it, but not always. When the wines had texture and layers of flavours, they showed well, but there were examples, even at higher price points, that were one-dimensional.

ABSOLUTE DELIGHT

Where this judging day earnt its kudos was with the oaked Sauvignon Blancs. Admittedly, there were only a couple of these priced below £15, but both earned Silver medals. From £15, quality swiftly moved upwards, and the wines themselves were an absolute delight to judge. Golds and Silvers were legion, and three of the day’s Master medals were in the oaked category.

Speculation, perhaps, but it seems that winemakers are taking a much more careful approach to making these wines. The craftsmanship to create these integrated, balanced, layered and textured wines shines through in every sip.

The best wines in this tasting are worth searching out… and drinking. But, if there is a lesson to be learnt here, it is certainly to taste before you buy, or at least read what experienced tasters have to say.

Unoaked 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Winery
Wine Name
Region
Country
Vint.
Medal

Under £10

Booster Wine Group
Kaiora Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Gold

Schneeberger
Sauvignon Blanc
Steiermark
Austria
2024
Silver

Spy Valley
Satellite Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Luis Felipe Edwards
Sauvignon Blanc Bin Series
Central Valley
Chile
2025
Silver

Concha y Toro
Casillero del Diablo Reserva Especial Sauvignon Blanc
Rapel Valley
Chile
2024
Silver

Cramele Recas
Paparuda Sauvignon Blanc
Banat
Romania
2024
Bronze

Cantina I Magredi
Sauvignon
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Italy
2024
Bronze

Kavaklidere Şarapları
Ancyra Sauvignon Blanc
Aegean Region
Turkey
2024
Bronze

Concha y Toro
Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc
Central Valley
Chile
2025
Bronze

J García Carrión
Pata Negra Rueda Sauvignon Blanc
Rueda
Spain
2024
Bronze

£10-£15

Booster Wine Group
Kaiora Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Gold

Villa Maria
Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Gold

Viña Haras de Pirque
Albaclara Sauvignon Blanc
Leyda
Chile
2025
Silver

Nuala Wines
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

Wairau River Wines
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Rose Family Estate
Rose & Rose Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

Lawson’s Dry Hills
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Bruce Jack Wines
Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Napier
South Africa
2024
Silver

Luis Felipe Edwards
Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc
Leyda Valley
Chile
2025
Silver

Joel Gott
Sauvignon Blanc
California
USA
2023
Silver

Forrest Wines
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

Durbanville Hills
Sauvignon Blanc
Durbanville
South Africa
2025
Silver

Mount Riley Wines
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Echo Bay
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

Crowded House
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Lawson’s Dry Hills
Blind River Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

te Pa Family Vineyards
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Yealands Estate Wines
Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

De Bortoli Wines
Deen Vat 2 Sauvignon Blanc
Riverina
Australia
2024
Bronze

Bruce Jack
Tumbleweed Sauvignon Blanc
Western Cape
South Africa
2024
Bronze

Kavaklidere Şarapları
Egeo Sauvignon Blanc
Aegean Region
Turkey
2024
Bronze

Cavit
Bottega Vinai Sauvignon Blanc
Trentino-Alto Adige
Italy
2024
Bronze

Forrest Wines
The Doctors’ Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Bronze

Luis Felipe Edwards
La Corriente Sauvignon Blanc
Colchagua Costa
Chile
2025
Bronze

Villa Maria
Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Bronze

te Pa Family Vineyards
Signature Series Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Bronze

Schneeberger
Sauvignon Blanc Kitzeck-Sausal
Steiermark
Austria
2024
Bronze

Flagstone Winery
The Surge Sauvignon Blanc
Darling
South Africa
2024
Bronze

Stoneleigh
Latitude Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Bronze

Lawson’s Dry Hills
Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Bronze

Yealands Estate Wines
Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc
Marlbrorough
New Zealand
2025
Bronze

£15-£20

Kim Crawford Winery
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Master

Eva Pemper Wines
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Gold

Mount Riley Wines
Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Gold

Jäger
Sauvignon Blanc Smaragd Weißenkirchen
Niederösterreich
Austria
2024
Silver

Tokara
Sauvignon Blanc
Western Cape
South Africa
2025
Silver

te Pa Family Vineyards
Reserve Seaside Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

Villa Maria
Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

Yealands Estate Wines
Single Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Viña Garces Silva
Amayna
San Antonio
Chile
2025
Silver

Napa Cellars
Sauvignon Blanc
California
USA
2024
Bronze

Fournier Père & Fils
Les Deux Cailloux
Pouilly-Fumé
France
2022
Bronze

Kavaklidere Şarapları
Cotes Avanos Sauvignon Blanc
Central Anatolia
Turkey
2024
Bronze

Fournier Père & Fils
Côtes de Morogues Menetou-Salon Blanc AOP
Menetou-Salon
France
2023
Bronze

Trois Maisons
Blanc
Bordeaux
France
2022
Bronze

te Pa Family Vineyards
Hillside
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Bronze

Yealands Estate Wines
Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Bronze

Yealands Estate Wines
Single Block L5 Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Bronze

Unoaked 100% Sauvignon Blanc (continued)

Winery
Wine Name
Region
Country
Vint.
Medal

£20-£30

Tokara
Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc
Western Cape
South Africa
2024
Master

Edmond de Rothschild Heritage
Rimapere Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Gold

Maturana Winery
Trohe
O’Higgins
Chile
2024
Gold

Cono Sur Winery
20 Barrels Limited Edition Sauvignon Blanc
Casablanca Valley
Chile
2025
Silver

Daniel Chotard
Sancerre
Sancerre
France
2023
Silver

Alpha Estate
Sauvignon Blanc
Florina
Greece
2024
Silver

Cadgal
Piemonte DOC Sauvignon
Piedmont
Italy
2024
Silver

Alphonse Mellot
La Moussière
Sancerre
France
2023
Silver

Masùt da Rive
Sauvignon
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Italy
2024
Bronze

£30-£50

Edmond de Rothschild Heritage
Rimapere Plot 101
Marlborough
New Zealand
2023
Gold

St Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
Napa Valley Estate Sauvignon Blanc
California
USA
2024
Gold

Oaked 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Winery
Wine Name
Region
Country
Vint.
Medal

£10-£15

Marisco Vineyards
The Ned Skyscraper Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Cantina La-Vis
Sauvignon Trentino DOC I Classici
Trentino
Italy
2024
Silver

£15-£20

Eva Pemper Wines
Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Master

Catalina Sounds
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Master

Terre à Terre
Crayères Vineyard
Wrattonbully
Australia
2024
Gold

Durbanville Hills
Collectors Reserve The Cape Mist Sauvignon Blanc
Durbanville
South Africa
2024
Gold

Domaine Costa Lazaridi
Amethystos Sauvignon Blanc
Drama
Greece
2024
Gold

te Pa Family Vineyards
Signature Series Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

Spy Valley
Envoy Johnson Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2023
Silver

Brancott Estate
Letter Series B Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Silver

Doña Paula
Single Vineyard
Mendoza
Argentina
2024
Bronze

£20-£30

Potzinger
Sauvignon Blanc Ried Pössnitzberg
Steiermark
Austria
2024
Grand Master

Terre à Terre
Crayères Vineyard Fumé Blanc
Wrattonbully
Australia
2023
Gold

Schneeberger
Sauvignon Blanc Kitzeck-Sausal Resi
Steiermark
Austria
2024
Silver

Attems
Cicinis
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Italy
2024
Silver

Schneeberger
Sauvignon Blanc Ried Kittenberg
Steiermark
Austria
2023
Silver

Schneeberger
Sauvignon Blanc Ried Hochbrudersegg
Steiermark
Austria
2022
Silver

Châteaux Jean Faux
Les Pins Francs
Bordeaux
France
2020
Silver

£30-£50

Alpha Estate
Ecosystem Sauvignon Blanc Fumé Single Block Kaliva
Florina
Greece
2024
Gold

St Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery
Dollarhide Estate Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
California
USA
2024
Silver

Concha y Toro
Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc
Casablanca Valley
Chile
2024
Silver

£50-£70

Clos du Val
Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley
USA
2023
Gold

Inama
Vulcaia Fumé Sauvignon Blanc
Veneto
Italy
2023
Silver

White Unoaked Sauvignon Blanc Blend

Winery
Wine Name
Region
Country
Vint.
Medal

Under £10

Brancott Estate
Flight Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Gold

Flagstone Winery
Free Run Sauvignon Blanc
Cape Coast
South Africa
2023
Silver

J García Carrión
Pata Negra Rueda Sauvignon Blanc Verdejo Special Edition
Rueda
Spain
2024
Bronze

Domaine Costa Lazaridi
Amethystos Blanc
Drama
Greece
2024
Bronze

Brancott Estate
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Bronze

£10-£15

Yealands Estate Wines
The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Silver

Stoneleigh
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2025
Bronze

De Bortoli Wines
Winemakers Selection Sauvignon Blanc
Riverina
Australia
2024
Bronze

Nederburg
The Winemasters Sauvignon Blanc
Coastal Region
South Africa
2025
Bronze

Yealands Estate Wines
Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough
New Zealand
2024
Bronze

£15-£20

Tagaris Winery
Sauvignon Blanc
Washington State
USA
2023
Bronze

£20-£30

Calcu
Tiny Blocks Sauvignon Blanc Semillón
Colchagua Valley
Chile
2025
Bronze

Oaked Sauvignon Blanc Blend

Winery
Wine Name
Region
Country
Vint.
Medal

£30-£50

Tokara
Directors Reserve White
Western Cape
South Africa
2022
Gold

Santa Rita
Floresta Sauvignon Blanc
Leyda
Chile
2023
Gold

La Roncaia
Eclisse DOC Friuli Colli Orientali
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Italy
2024
Gold

Clos du Val
Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley
USA
2024
Silver

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2025 competition was judged on 11 September at Brix London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolades – the titles of Sauvignon Blanc Master or Grand Master. This report features medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information or, to enter future competitions, with a chance to appear in print and online, call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Aston at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com