It's time to celebrate International Sauvignon Blanc Day

Sauvignon blanc originated in the Loire Valley region of France, with the grape producing aromatic white wines with distinctive passionfruit, gooseberry, citrus and herbaceous characters. Interestingly, sauvignon blanc's popularity in Australia was majorly influenced by it's success in New Zealand, specifically in Marlborough in the early 2000s.

It remains beloved across both countries and, observed on the first Friday in May each year, International Sauvignon Blanc Day is an opportunity for you to pour a glass and celebrate this fresh, classic variety. If you're a lover of the variety, or looking to expand your go-to varieties, the 11 sauvignon blanc wines below are perfect for you to try on Friday May 1.  

This well-curated list includes a range of regions, from Margaret River to New Zealand's Marlborough, as well as wines with notes such as "a cohesive, complex and very good drink" from Jane Faulkner and "lots of flavour and freshness" from Mike Bennie. Cheers! 

2024 Cape Mentelle Wallcliffe Sauvignon Blanc

There’s a decent splash of semillon and an array of fermentation vessels used (in which the wine was aged for 11 months). The result is a cohesive, complex and very good drink. Lemon-lime juice and zest, a hint of marmalade, as in the tartness, papaya skin with smoky, creamy goodness from the lees. The palate is poised with invigorating acidity, excellent length, and a neat tug of phenolics adds to its shape. – Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points

H. What makes your sauvignon blanc distinctive right now?
Winemaker Coralie Lewis. The grapes were chosen from our best blocks, some dating back to the early '90s, and separate portions are fermented in French oak, stainless steel barrels and concrete egg as the aim is to provide many layers and textures when it comes to blending. It is made to age beautifully with a racy bright acidity and depth of flavour however, will also drink deliciously on release.    

Best enjoyed: It is best enjoyed not too cold and not too young. The wine is complex enough on its own so we recommend pairing it with something simple, such as fettuccine with tiger prawns, a little hint of garlic and fresh herbs.

RRP $49 | Drink to 2034 | capementelle.com.au | Shop this wine

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2025 Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc

Yellow apples, pineapple and some lemon-lime cordial. This is fragrant and built from tropical and citrus presence. A hint of mezcal and some chewy texture, lemon pith and a gritty, sandy quality that adds dimension. A food-friendly style. – Shanteh Wale, Halliday Wine Companion, 90 points  

H. What makes your sauvignon blanc distinctive right now?
Winemaker Matthew Ward. For us it all comes back to place as we are sourcing from a handful of vineyards across the Southern Valleys. Our home estate ‘Sound of White’ in the Waihopai Valley makes this wine so distinct due to our specific soil profile and the growers that we have worked so closely with for 15+ years. There is magic in the way these sites weave together, creating our restrained and elegant style of sauvignon blanc.

H. Why were you drawn to sauvignon blanc as a variety?
MW. When we set out to make wines in 2005, establishing the winery and vineyard, we knew at our core that sauvignon blanc would be our hero. Today, we produce three different sauvignon blancs: our classic expression under the Estate label and then a further two Single Vineyard wines. Each has an independent winemaking philosophy, allowing myself and our vineyard manager Fraser Brown to experiment throughout the season. This allows for precision in the vineyards and then alternative formats in the winery, whether that’s machine vs hand harvesting, tank vs barrel fermentations and all the possibilities in between. Delivering a pure and consistent expression of sauvignon blanc season after season is a mighty task, and one we take very seriously!

Best enjoyed: In the sun, in a Plumm Three No.2 wine glass, amongst a great crew and probably with fresh oysters or a bucket of prawns somewhere nearby.

RRP $30 | Drink to 2029 | catalinasounds.co.nz | Shop this wine

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2025 Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc

Good with its depth and concentration, a slick to texture, a tensile core of lime and saline minerality. Faint tropical fruits, cut grass, cucumber in mineral water, a lash of passionfruit and lemongrass in there, too. Lots of flavour and freshness, is the gist, and the drinkability is set to charm. – Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion, 93 points

H. What makes your sauvignon blanc distinctive right now?
Winemaker Ben Tombs. While much of New Zealand’s sauvignon blanc comes from Marlborough and is known for its powerful, fruit-forward and herbaceous style, our wine from Te Muna vineyard in Martinborough offers a more saline, mineral-driven expression. Stony soils, cool sunny days and persistent winds shape the wine’s character, with thicker grape skins contributing to its depth and concentration of flavour. Each parcel is treated individually, with winemaking tailored to its microclimate and soil. Our approach includes whole-bunch pressing for aromatic finesse, fermentation in oak, amphora and foudre, extended lees ageing to build mouthfeel and selective wild fermentations to enhance texture and express terroir.

H. Why were you drawn to sauvignon blanc as a variety?
BT. This variety showcases the incredible complexity that defines our Te Muna vineyard in Martinborough. We are continually inspired by the level of seasonal variation and the sense of intrigue it brings. Every vintage presents new challenges, and we are constantly evolving our sauvignon blanc stylistically – the future is bright. With sauvignon blanc so well-known globally, it offers a real opportunity to diversify and showcase a wide range of quality markers, which keeps it exciting and full of potential.

Best enjoyed: As the palate is finely textured, driven by saline minerality and a savoury edge, it is a wine of depth, remarkable clarity and highly food-friendly.  Recommended pairings include: fresh oysters and shellfish, aged or fresh goat cheese, fresh salads (particularly with fennel, mint and citrus) and Asian cuisine with aromatic spice.

RRP $36.99 | Drink to 2029 | craggyrange.com | Shop this wine

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2024 Domaine Naturaliste Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc

It’s quite ridiculous how good Sauvage is in all sorts of vintage conditions, although the warmer ’24 does suit the variety. However, this is about building complexity, not simply a varietal wine. An amalgam of delicious flavours – from lime and lemon juice, zest and curd to fresh herbs, stone fruit, smoked bacon and lots of nutty/creamy lees and barrel-fermentation flavours ... yum yum yum. There’s texture, tangy acidity and excellent length. – Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points 

H. What makes your sauvignon blanc distinctive right now?
Winemaker Bruce Dukes. Sauvage is the intersection of pristinely farmed sauvignon blanc, wild yeast fermentation and nine months sur lie maturation in 500L French oak puncheons. It is an aromatic wine which has the texture and natural balances from the vineyard.

H. Why were you drawn to sauvignon blanc as a variety?
BD. Sauvignon blanc, when paired with ancient granitic soils in Margaret River can parent wines of amazing aromatics, textures and complexity. The sur lie and barrel matured styles exhibit complexities of red currant, cassis flower and hints of flint, thus offering a very complete and unique experience.

Best enjoyed: We love to enjoy (our) Sauvage lightly chilled so that we can explore the full spectrum of textures and flavours. Although it is simply delicious in youth for vitality, it is insane with a few years of bottle conditioning, when the flint, mineral and cassis flower elements emerge. Sauvage sings when paired with grilled veal chops, good old-fashioned roast chicken and fish of character. On the cheese front, life can’t get much better than a slice of goat’s cheese and a glass of Sauvage.

RRP $39 | Drink to 2030 | domainenaturaliste.com.au | Shop this wine

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2025 Flowstone Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc

The aroma of this wine is filled with a delightful build of scents, including elderflower, lemon verbena, lime skin, passionfruit, gooseberry, stone fruits and black currant bud. The fragrance is further enhanced with sweet herbs, lemon curd, wet stones and vanilla pod spice, creating a layered and lively bouquet. On the palate, the wine is fleshy and bursting with flavours of citrus, passionfruit, custard apple, stone fruits, herbs and spice. The bright citric acidity, savoury mineral and flinty edge balance the intense fruitiness. You will savour the wine's immense complexity and depth as you sip, showcasing the perfect blend of varietal fruit, texture, finesse and precision, making it a joy to taste.

H. What makes your sauvignon blanc distinctive right now?
Winemaker Stuart Pym. The cool maritime climate of southern Margaret River, grows sauvignon blanc of great varietal purity, expression and exactness. These ideal ripening conditions, and the perfect 2025 vintage have resulted in a classic Queen of the Earth Sauvignon Blanc, with a more textural and sophisticated expression, while retaining a beautiful crystalline and focussed drive. I love this wine.

H. Why were you drawn to sauvignon blanc as a variety?
SP. In my time growing up as a winemaker, I did spend time working overseas (Bordeaux and Rioja), and doing lots of travelling in the word of wine. My first introduction to serious sauvignon blanc was at Domaine de Chevalier, where it is blended with semillon, and spends time in barrels. This does make it a very serious wine. I did also travel to the Loire Valley, particularly Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, and visited a number of producers. These visits were a fantastic example of just what sauvignon blanc can be, and it is certainly the inspiration behind Flowstone. Our wines have similar complexity and texture, but more palate weight and presence due to the wonderful climate of Margaret River. 2025 was a fantastic example of that (although we had very small crops). Serious and sophisticated, sauvignon blanc is my passion.

Best enjoyed: A special sauvignon blanc glass would be good, but the wine will work nicely in any glass. Serve at just cooler than room temperature, with your seafood entrée. Dijon crème fraiche dressing or Pissaladiere would also be perfect. 

RRP $55 | Drink to 2037 | flowstonewines.com | Shop this wine

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2025 Hunter's Wines Offshoot Sauvignon Blanc

The Offshoot label for this sauvignon blanc bottling demonstrates the Estate's ability to show finesse and detail in a wine that is all about purity and freshness. Here, elderflower and morning dew aromas begin the tale, with pomelo and cut aloe following. The palate is slinky like riverwater and acidity, though firmly in the driver's seat. This is a delicate but precise wine that shows the established sites and capable hands at Hunter's. – Shanteh Wale, Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points. 

H. What makes your sauvignon blanc distinctive right now?
Winemaker James Macdonald. What sets this wine apart begins at the site. The Offshoot range focuses on single vineyard expressions which are still relatively uncommon in Marlborough, where most wines are blends from multiple sites. This sauvignon blanc comes from an older, low-cropping block beside the winery on Rapaura Road, in the heart of Marlborough’s wine-growing region. The site naturally delivers concentration and depth. In the winery, the approach is deliberate and minimal. The fruit was hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed, then fermented predominantly in tank (80%) to retain purity, with a portion in French oak barrels (20%) to build texture and complexity. The resulting wine is a more restrained and layered expression of Marlborough sauvignon blanc. Rather than overt aromatics, it shows subtle intensity, fine citrus, gentle tropical notes and a savoury edge with a structured palate and a long, composed finish. It’s a style that speaks clearly of its site, offering precision, texture and quiet complexity.

H. Why were you drawn to sauvignon blanc as a variety?
JM. What continues to inspire us about working with sauvignon blanc is its potential when treated with intent and without compromise. The Offshoot project began as a way to explore the upper limits of quality in Marlborough, imagining what the wine could become if decisions were driven purely by site and expression, rather than cost. Each vintage presents a new opportunity to learn. Small seasonal shifts mean the wine is never static and the constant variation keeps the process engaging and pushes us to refine both our viticulture and winemaking year on year. We also take inspiration from regions like Sancerre, where sauvignon blanc has long demonstrated its ability to express site with precision and, at its best, rival the depth and complexity of great chardonnay. That pursuit of nuance, texture, and true single-vineyard character is what continues to drive us and keeps the project endlessly interesting.

Best enjoyed: It is a beautiful Marlborough wine that would be perfect with fresh seafood, citrusy salads or creamy goat cheese.

RRP $29.90 | Drink to 2030 | hunters.co.nz | Shop this wine

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2025 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

The aromatic profile follows through on to the palate with mouth-filling mid-palate concentration of flavour. On the palate the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc has refreshing flavours of tropical fruits – passionfruit and guava – with citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon. 

H. What makes your sauvignon blanc distinctive right now?
Winemaker David Edmonds. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is a true expression of Marlborough sauvignon blanc. The blend draws from vineyards spread over the whole Marlborough district. The wines that make up this blend need to not only bring varietal aromatics, but they also need to contribute either through their juicy acidity, their weight and presence, or their overall fruit concentration on the palate. 

H. Why were you drawn to sauvignon blanc as a variety?
DE. I was drawn to sauvignon blanc almost by accident. I intended to stay in Marlborough for several years, learn more about sauvignon blanc and then move on. I remember the moment that I realised the huge range and scope that sauvignon blanc was capable of, and realising Marlborough was where my career was going to play out. Now years later surrounded by a team of like-minded Sauvignonphiles intent on unlocking more of the variety's secrets, I couldn’t be happier.

Best enjoyed: This wine is perfect to pair with so many foods, from freshly shucked oysters to grilled chicken and salads. One of the standout dishes for pairing is a grilled asparagus and chicken salad topped with toasted almonds and goat's cheese. 

RRP $22 AUD | Drink to 2027 | kimcrawfordwines.au | Shop this wine

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2024 Mulline Single Vineyard Modewarre Fumé Blanc

From a single vineyard on the Surf Coast. Whole-bunched pressed into one 320L new 'cigar barrel'. A pure, bright green gold. Another superb Modewarre sauvignon blanc from Mulline. A mineral-accented bouquet with pure lime and citrus scents together with stone fruits, nettles and wildflowers. The oak has been totally swallowed up by the fruit. Just as good on the gently fleshy, chalky textured and impeccably balanced palate. – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points

H. What makes your sauvignon blanc distinctive right now?
Owner & winemaker Ben Mullen. Its just two rows of 2001 planted sauvignon blanc on the sandy loam and estaury marls on the surf coast. The ocean winds coming from the south keep this site cool resulting in a fresh, vibrant wine which we ferment and age in Cigre shaped barrels, that are 100% new, for 9 months. The wines mineral lift gives the extra dimension of what sauvignon blanc can be made into.

H. Why were you drawn to sauvignon blanc as a variety?
BM. Sauvignon blanc is a really fun and interesting wine to make. Most examples are made very traditional, bright and fresh but as an aromatic variety, where you can give it all the winemaking artifact in the way of lees, oak and skin contact to a degree, it gives it the next level of complexity and challenges the idea of what the variety is known for. Clonal expressions and regional identity are very distinct and this means consumers are always going to get something different and expressive when they start to explore the wines more.

Best enjoyed: The wine is best served at 11–15°C in a chardonnay/burgundy glass after some time with air. It will pair well with anything from the ocean and as fresh as you can get. While the wines acidity works well with richer sauced dishes, it also works perfectly with simple sashimi.

RRP $62 | Drink to 2030 | mulline.com | Shop this wine

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2025 Swiftsure by Man O’ War Sauvignon Blanc