16 Wines to Celebrate Sauvignon Blanc Day 2022
Raise a glass to New Zealand’s flagship wine this International Sauvignon Blanc day with one of these fabulous local varieties.
When you think about the icons of Kiwiana, your mind may conjure up images of buzzy bees, L&P and the unwavering smile of Mr. Four Square. But I think it’s safe to say that we can also add Sauvignon Blanc to that list. New Zealand’s entire wine industry practically owes its very existence to Sauvignon Blanc, and now it’s a staple of Kiwi fridges across the country – and many more around the world.
If you truly love Sauvignon Blanc, then fill your glass with one of these spectacular local varieties and join us in raising a glass to International Sauvignon Blanc Day this May 6th.
Emma Marris Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Made by Emma Marris, daughter of winemaker Brent Marris, this Sauvignon Blanc remains true to her independent and adventurous nature while expressing the essence of her family’s Leefield Station vineyard in Marlborough – made from premium fruit selected for its concentration and optimal balance.
Vibrant aromas of ripe citrus and perfumed greens dovetail into a palate of fresh lime, gooseberry and wet stone minerality. Bright and focussed with a persistent finish. Enhance the purity and textural presence of this wine by enjoying it alongside freshly shucked oysters with a splash of lemon juice.
Instagram: @marisco_wines
Facebook: @MariscoVineyards
Leefield Station Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Talk about expressive, the fruit of this Leefield Station Sauvignon Blanc was gently pressed and the resulting juices were fermented in temperature-controlled tanks with select yeast strains chosen for their ability to enhance the varietal intensity and mouthfeel of Sauvignon Blanc.
Vibrant and striking aromatics feature blackcurrant leaf and freshly clipped greens. The palate is audacious, revealing hints of ripe grapefruit and gooseberries followed by a backbone of mouth-watering acidity and a dry, clean finish.
The Leefield Station Sauvignon Blanc 2021 will pair beautifully with freshly grilled seafood, salads and crunchy green vegetables.
Instagram: @leefield_station
Facebook: @leefieldstation
The Ned 2021 Sauvignon Blanc
The Ned team were very excited by the quality of harvest 2021. With fruit harvested at optimum ripeness, fruit flavours were captured at their best which is reflected in this stunning Sauvignon Blanc.
Delightfully fresh aromas of ripe citrus, passionfruit and green apple lead into a palate of honeydew melon with herbal highlights. The vivid fruit flavours dance on a seam of lively Marlborough acidity flowing into a long-lasting finish.
The crisp, bold and refreshing nature of this wine will pair beautifully with vegetarian cuisine, and fish or white meats. Try alongside pan-fried blue cod with lemon and oregano.
Instagram: @thenedwine
Facebook: @TheNedWine
Amisfield Fumé Blanc 2019
Hand-harvested, wild-fermented and matured in French oak, the elegant Amisfield Fumé Blanc 2019 sings with ripe apricot, nectarine and pineapple notes and an irresistibly creamy texture.
Edged with mānuka smoke and guava, it’s a rich and charismatic drop, offering a flinty, toasty complexity that begs to be sipped and sipped again.
This light and fruity wine pairs beautifully with shellfish – think a platter of garlicky prawns or creamy oysters on ice. It’s also one of our favourite matches for top-quality goat’s cheese.
Instagram: @amisfieldvineyard
Amisfield Sauvignon Blanc 2021
The Amisfield Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is a bright, energetic wine with a highly aromatic nose. Tingling with passionfruit, green pineapple, lime and elderflower, it’s a veritable bouquet in the glass.
On the palate, this wine delivers an addictive punchy acidity underpinned with tropical fruit flavours. Juicy and vibrant, it boasts flavour in spades, along with an appealing depth and mineral finish.
With its lively, succulent fruit flavours, this drop is perfect paired with seafood. We love it alongside simple grilled fish or a bowlful of buttery mussels.
Instagram: @amisfieldvineyard
Mount Riley 2021 Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc
Made from some of the most expressive fruit of the 2021 vintage, the Mount Riley Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc 2021 offers a complex, expressive nose, rippling with passionfruit, crushed herbs and blackcurrant over undertones of boxwood and citrus pith.
Dancing across the palate, it’s strikingly pure and fruity, with a fresh but balanced acidity and outstanding length of flavour.
This impeccable drop is an ideal match with seafood or chicken, or alongside pasta, salads and the fragrant cuisines of Southeast Asia.
Instagram: @mountriley
Facebook: @mountrileywines
2021 Loveblock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
A gorgeous pale straw colour in the glass, the 2021 Loveblock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a complex and elegant sauv.
Offering an intoxicating combination of citrus blossom, wildflowers, crushed ripe herbs and pineapple on the nose, it has a dense fruit core of melon and peach on the palate. Juicy and sensually textural, it offers plenty of minerality, an intriguing umami quality and a long finish.
This fragrant and delicious drop shines paired with seafood, particularly oysters. It’s also an excellent match for chicken and pasta dishes.
Instagram: @loveblockwine
Facebook: @loveblockwines
2021 Loveblock Marlborough Tee Sauvignon Blanc
Made without sulphur and with a touch of green tea tannin extract, the 2021 Loveblock Marlborough Tee Sauvignon Blanc boasts lifted aromas of mandarin zest, quince, yellow peach and gooseberry.
White pepper and wet stone minerality round out the complex bouquet, while the palate offers juicy mandarin, ripe yellow starfruit, sweet basil and an intriguing hint of earthy cumin.
Bold and fruity, this sauv is a great match for fatty fried foods, as well as pork belly, a juicy roast chicken, the flavours of Vietnamese cuisine – or your favourite funky cheese.
Instagram: @loveblockwine
Facebook: @loveblockwines
JOIY Savvy Society Sauvignon Blanc
Delicious, portable and perfect for at home or on the go.
Lively, dry and vibrant with hints of passionfruit and citrus zest. Otherwise known as ‘the one that wins all the awards’. Pairs well with fish dishes, particularly salmon and works a treat with cream sauces too! And perfectly happy with an antipasto platter.
With the chic cans and stylish packaging, JOIY appeals to all occasions and lifestyles.
Available nationwide in supermarkets and liquor retail outlets.
Wairau River Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2021
The flavours for this wine begin in the vineyards which grow beside the Wairau River. Warm days and cool nights help create the intense flavours of ripe grapefruit, white nectarine, and tropical fruits. This wine is refreshing, crisp and revitalising and leaves you reaching for more, a perfect end to your day. Try with fresh seafood, shellfish, sashimi or fresh asparagus with hollandaise sauce to really treat yourself!
Instagram: @wairauriverwines
Facebook: @WairauRiverWines
Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Crafted by gifted winemaker Natalie Christensen, Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is proof that sustainability can taste sensational. Abundant in flavours of passionfruit, luscious lime and fresh herbs, the Reserve Sauvignon Blanc was named Champion Sauvignon Blanc at the 2021 New World Wine Awards and Sauvignon Blanc of the Year at the Winestate Wine of the Year Awards. All the Yealands Reserve wines are also vegan, vegetarian and gluten free.
Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is abundant in passionfruit, luscious lime and fresh herb flavours, with a vibrant, crisp finish. It is a generous, weighty style, with punchy fruit and herbal notes, and a delicious salty, almost savoury palate.
Yealands.co.nz
Instagram: @yealands
Facebook: @yealandswine
Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc
The Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc is crafted to capture the distinctive varietal characters of Marlborough, creating the fresh and expressive flavours that make it so delicious. The nose is lifted with fresh notes of passionfruit, citrus, and blackcurrant leaf. The sweet fruit characters on the palate and fresh acidity combine to create an expressive and attractive Sauvignon Blanc. Beautiful on its own, or with fresh seafood and salad. All Babydoll wines are also vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
Instagram: @babydollwines
Facebook: @BabydollWines
2021 Mission Estate Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc
For those who enjoy dreaming of quintessential holidays in France, Mission Estate’s sophisticated Sauvignon Blanc will transport you right there. With Mission’s enduring French winemaking influence, the nose is fresh, bright and vibrant with gentle aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and piquant fresh herbs. On the palate the wine is zesty with mouth-filling flavours of passionfruit, grapefruit and lime.
While enjoying a glass, why not take the time to sign up to Mission’s fabulous new loyalty programme, Mission Rewards so you can reap the irresistible benefits when ordering online?
Instagram: @missionestate
Facebook: @missionestate
Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Immediately complex and seductive bouquet of Sauvignon Blanc, this wine displays intense lifted aromas of blackcurrant, guava, ripe grapefruit and a hint of smoky flint. The palate introduces delightful citrus based mouth-watering intensity and finishes with a strong textural component. A perfect wine to celebrate Sauvignon Blanc Day!
Instagram: @nautilusestate
Facebook: @nautilusestate
Opawa Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Celebrate Sauvignon Blanc Day with this delicious wine. Exotic perfumes leap from the glass with vivacious aromas of fresh goosberries, passionfruit and hints of fresh sweet herbs. The palate is refreshing and intense, displaying crisp citrus notes and passionfruit flavours, this wine is well balanced and focused with crisp acidity and a long, juicy, mouth-watering finish.
Instagram: @opawawine
Facebook: @opawawine
2021 Pa Road Sauvignon Blanc
Widely available across New Zealand, the popular 2021 Pa Road Sauvignon Blanc displays attractive floral aromatics with notes of citrus, lemongrass, passionfruit and guava.
The lemon zest and passionfruit theme carries through the palate, supported by delicate black currant and aniseed notes. The finish is crisp and clean with hints of lingering spice and a touch of chalky minerality.
This crowd-pleasing Sauv pairs perfectly with fresh fish and seafood dishes. Local clams, Szechuan squid or crab match particularly well. Good quality Chevre cheese is another favourite pairing for Sauvignon Blanc.
Vegan-friendly, and sustainably produced by the award-winning, independent and Māori owned winery, te Pā Family Vineyards. Available in major supermarkets & independent liquor stores.
Buy online now: www.tepawines.com
Instagram: @paroadwines
Facebook: @paroadwines
Enter the dish tasting panel:
New Zealand Emerging Whites.
It’s that time again where our next Dish Tasting Panel will focus on New Zealand Emerging Whites, with results to be published in our April/May 2025 issue.
latest issue:
HOLIDAY
dish HOLIDAY is your go-to magazine for summer entertainment. Chock-full of recipes to share in the warmer weather dish HOLIDAY is a one-off special edition, designed for the beach, bach, boat or back yard. Different than a regular issue of dish, it is dedicated to making the most of warm-weather leisure time, including barbecue and salad recipes, Spotify playlists, a beach read, crosswords and puzzles, fish and chip and ice cream guides and much more.
This issue is not part of the 12-month subscription and is available only at retail in Aotearoa New Zealand.