Saluting sauvignon this summer!

Strap in sauvignon blanc fans, and get ready for a sav-alanche of sensationally squinty, lipsmackingly citrussy sipping.

Sauvignon blanc sippers rejoice, because a herbaceously hefty smorgasbord of bottled sunshine awaits. Our tasting panel attracted a staggering 147 entries, and after rigorous blind tasting across a team of seven judges, a whopping 16 wines soared to gold-medal status, while 40 earned silver and 62 earned bronze across a multitude of vintages. As predicted, our gold-medal winners sprang from 2024 and 2025 and all but one hailed from Marlborough.

When it comes to super sav, Marlborough reigns supreme. This sun-saturated region is the beating heart of New Zealand’s wine industry, containing 72 percent of our total vineyard area and 90 percent of all the nation’s sauvignon blanc vines grow there. NZ sav is also the number-one selling white wine in Australia.

Sauvignon blanc, once dubbed “cats pee on a gooseberry bush,” is the fuel that powers Aotearoa’s wine engine. But here’s the catch: sauvignon blanc is a variety that demands respect. Push it too hard, overcrop the vines, and its signature zing and intensity can fade fast. That’s why skillful vineyard management and thoughtful winemaking are everything.

The best examples balance exuberant fruit with precision, texture, and length — and that’s exactly what we set out to find.

Our mission? To showcase the best and brightest, the greenest and grassiest, the crispest and crunchiest sauvignon blancs for our readers. From passionfruit-packed classics to mineral-driven, oak-kissed interpretations, this tasting panel revealed just how versatile and exciting sauvignon blanc can be.

What impressed us most was the consistency of quality. These gold-medal winners aren’t just good — they’re exceptional examples of what happens when growers and winemakers work in harmony. When the positive chi shines through from the east and when the feng shui of the vintage is perfectly in balance, they capture passionfruit, mango, peaches, and lime zest leap from the glass alongside smoky, boxwood notes. Concentrated and zesty with a lovely mouthfeel and drive, this wine is vibrant, long, and dangerously delicious. One glass won’t be enough.

TASTING PANEL JUDGES

Ant Mackenzie — Consultant winemaker
Matt Kirby — Winemaker, Clearview Estate
Sara MacDonald — Assistant winemaker, Sileni Estates
Gordon Russell — Winemaker, wine consultant and wine tour operator
Jordyn Harper — Winemaker, Craggy Range
Jordan Robinson — Winemaker, Sacred Hill
Yvonne Lorkin — dish Drinks Editor

1. Delta Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $20.00

BEST BUY | Gold Medal
Bursting with sweet passionfruit and a lift of classic thiols, this wine is concentrated yet not over the top. Citrus-driven with green apple, lime, and fresh herbs, it’s bright, zesty, and beautifully precise. High acidity gives it length and energy making it a textbook example, beautifully balanced and a firm favourite amongst our judges.

2. Martinborough Vineyard Home Block Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $27.00

Gold Medal
Utter magic from Martinborough, this is a wine brimming with grassy goodness, fresh herbs, lime, and vibrant green fruits. Passionfruit and lychee add tropical allure, while juicy acidity and citrus notes of lemon and orange make it irresistibly refreshing. Concentrated, long, and delicious, it’s fresh, clean and salivatingly superb to sip.

3. Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $36.00

Gold Medal
A powerhouse of tropical intensity, this garnered an instant “YUM” from our judges.

4. Lake Chalice The Raptor Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 — $29.00

Gold Medal
Pale and pristinely perfumed with aromas of lawn clippings, fresh herbs, and lime juice. Bright, refreshing, and lipsmackingly lush, it delivers passionfruit, citrus and taut tropicality on a supple, concentrated palate. A lively acid backbone gives it excellent energy.

5. Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 ‘43 Degrees’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 — $33.00

Gold Medal
Elegant and unmistakably, magically Marlborough, the 43 Degrees balances juicy tropical fruit and herbaceousness with chalky acidity and mineral salinity. Vibrant and fresh with great body and length, it’s zingy yet refined and a classic elegant style that’ll wow the crowds.

6. Lawson’s Dry Hills Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 — $27.00

Gold Medal
Vibrant, stylish and classically crafted, the Lawson’s offers up a garden-fresh nose of herbs and blackcurrant leaf and is layered with passionfruit, peaches, and mango. Zesty and vibrant with a tutti-frutti twist, there’s buckets of energy in every sip. Absolutely smashable.

7. Misty Cove Tamāhine Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 — $34.00

Gold Medal
A sophisticated and slightly savoury expression, with hints of oak and spice washing over its core of citrus and elderflower, and with saline, mineral notes in the mid-palate, it’s mouthwateringly good. Crunchy, complex and textural, it has a personality and flavour profile all of its own.

8. Wairau River Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 — $34.00

Gold Medal
Wow! This wine is intensely aromatic with stone fruit and citrus layered over oh-so-subtle toasty oak. It’s this expertly managed barrel fermentation that injects texture without overshadowing its juicy passionfruity, grapefruity goodness. Bright acidity and classic herbaceousness adds depth and drive. And deliciousness.

9. Lake Chalice The Falcon Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $21.00

BEST BUY | Gold Medal
Fresh passionfruit and lime leaf aromas lead to a classically zingy, bright palate. Restrained yet wholeheartedly sauvignon blanc, this lighter style offers tropical lift, subtle complexity, and a long, satisfying finish. Perfectly balanced and refreshingly elegant, it’s a sip-erstar.

10. Spy Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $23.00

BEST BUY | Gold Medal
Deliciously distinctive and heaving with tomato leaf, spearmint, and tangelo notes. The palate sings with juicy citrus layers, minerality, and a savoury edge, before finishing with spice and textural crunch. Loaded with character, personality and punch.

11. Wairau River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $20.00

BEST BUY | Gold Medal
Steely and mineral-driven with fabulous flint, green apple, and oyster shell aromas. Bright, juicy, and elegant on the palate, it delivers punchy citrus and boatloads of culinary herbs with precision and length. A deliciously refined sauvignon blanc with plenty of personality.

12. Lake Chalice The Nest Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $20.00

BEST BUY | Gold Medal
Vibrant passionfruit and a subtle bruised-basil lift mingle with basil, green pea, and sweet citrus. Zesty lime acidity keeps it fresh and lively, while ripe tropical fruit adds weight and balance. Concentrated and long, The Nest is a solid, satisfying style. Which is all we really want right?

13. Ara Single Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 — $19.00

BEST BUY | Gold Medal
Lean yet lusciously layered, this glorious thing offers punchy yellow fruits, honey, and spice alongside elderflower and grapefruit. Lemon pith, mineral magic with orchard fruit intensity, it’s dry, balanced, and has lacy saline on the finish. Stylish, classy and sippable.

14. Kim Crawford Small Parcels Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $27.00

Gold Medal
A stunning showcase of Marlborough sauvignon blanc! Aromatic and vibrant with ripe tropical fruit, fresh herbs, oyster shell minerality, and sugar snap peas. Mouthfilling yet zesty, it’s elegant, refined, and perfectly balanced. Long, luxurious, and utterly delicious.

15. Yealands Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $20.00

BEST BUY | Gold Medal
Heavenly herbaceousness and singing with tropical undertones, this wine is classically concentrated, long, and lively. Blackcurrant leaf notes bring the sexy back, while sweet fruit and cleansing acidity keep it fresh. Light on its feet yet full of flavour, it’s impressive.

16. Dashwood Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 — $14.00

BEST BUY | Gold Medal
No surprises seeing this classic in the Gold Medal line-up. Pure and vibrant, it has tropicality, passionfruit punch, and blackcurrant leaf layers, which lead to juicy acidity and excellent weight. Persistence, personality and stylish minerality make it a magic sip.