22-07-2025
The World's Best Sauvignon Blanc Wine—According To The 2025 Decanter
Sauvignon Blanc wine with grapes on old wooden table getty
Six Sauvignon Blanc wines took top honors at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards. One wine was awarded Best in Show, and five received Gold Medals, each scoring 96/100 points. The DWWA is the largest wine competition globally and is considered one of the most prestigious in the world. Over 18,000 wines were entered in the recently completed 2025 judging. Here is a brief overview and tasting note for each of these wines.
Domaine Landrat‑Guyollot is based in Pouilly-sur-Loire, on the eastern side of the Loire Valley. A boutique operation, they specialize in two premium cuvées. Gemme de Feu is produced from flinty soils, and Gemme Océane comes from calcareous-clay sites near the river. Their aim is a pure expression of terroir, with minimal oak and stainless-steel aging. It was the highest-rated Sauvignon Blanc wine and was awarded Best in Show in the category.
The wine exhibits floral and fruity aromas of orange blossom and white flowers, complemented by notes of grapefruit, green apple, and gooseberry, with a subtle hint of smoke and flint. It's smooth and silky on the palate, with a pronounced acidity and intense flavors of ripe grapefruit, citrus zest, and a flinty minerality. The finish is long and brisk, with lingering citrus notes and a chalky minerality.
Château de Tracy is one of the oldest Pouilly‑Fumé domaines. It's located on the banks of the Loire. Renowned for distinctive smoky, flinty Sauvignon Blancs that reflect the silex-rich soils and cooler microclimate of the appellation.
The wine features aromas of pear, apple, and grapefruit, with an underlying note of gunflint and white floral notes. It's medium-bodied and savory on the palate, with brisk acidity, showcasing flavors of citrus fruit framed by a tangy, flinty, and mineral core. The finish is long and refreshing with smoky accents, lingering salinity, and a chalky minerality.
Vineyards of Sauvignon Blanc in Eppan municipality of South Tirol, Italy. getty
Founded by Markus Prackwieser in Alto Adige/Südtirol, Gump Hof is known for terroir-driven whites. The Praesulis sits near Tramin, at elevations of 1,000 feet or higher, thriving on mountain soils of dolomitic limestone and metamorphic soils.
The wine exhibits notes of citrus, green apple, peach, and herbaceous flavors, complemented by a delicate minerality. It's fruity on the palate, with crisp acidity and a persistent minerality, showcasing flavors of orchard fruit and citrus zest. The finish is long, slightly resinous, with lingering stone-fruit freshness. Rapaura Springs, Rohe Rapaura, Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, Marlborough, New Zealand, 14% ABV, 750 ml. $11
Rapura Springs is a family-run winery in Rapaura, Marlborough—New Zealand's premium Sauvignon producing region. It's known for juicy, expressive whites that channel classic Marlborough herb, melon, and passionfruit characters.
The wine exhibits pronounced aromas of passion fruit, ripe melon, citrus, and fresh-cut grass. The palate features a brisk acidity, showcasing tropical fruit flavors of mango and passionfruit, accompanied by layered crisp green apple and herbal tones. The finish is long and refreshing with lingering notes of tropical fruits and citrus zest. Durbanville Hills, The Tangram, 2023 Durbanville, Cape Town, South Africa, 14.12% ABV, 750 ml. $12
Durbanville Hills is a pioneering estate near Cape Town, specializing in cool-climate whites produced from ancient shale and decomposed granitic soils. 'The Tangram' is their signature Sauvignon Blanc cuvée.
The wine features aromas of citrus zest, green fig, gooseberry, and hints of herb and wet stone minerality. It's crisp and layered on the palate with a crisp acidity showcasing flavors of lime, pear, grapefruit, accompanied by a stony minerality. The finish is long and elegant, with lingering saline and tangy lemon notes. Clos du Val, 2023 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Yountville, California, USA, 13.6% ABV, 750 ml. $75.
Clos du Val, founded in 1972, is a cornerstone Napa Valley estate in Yountville. It was the top-ranked American Sauvignon Blanc wine at the 2025 DWWA. Its white wines emphasize balance and food friendliness, pairing well with a wide assortment of foods. The fruit comes from well-drained gravel and alluvial soils.
The wine features aromas of ripe pear, melon, honeydew, and fresh citrus zest. It's fruity on the palate, with a touch of minerality and brisk acidity, showcasing flavors of ripe orchard fruit layered with lemon-lime notes and subtle herbal hints. The finish is long and crisp with a touch of minerality and lingering citrus peel.
These selections showcase how Sauvignon Blanc adapts and thrives across diverse climates, both cool and warm, and soils—from the flinty terroirs of the Loire and Italy's alpine foothills to Cape Town's cool shale and California's gravel beds. Each wine brings a distinct expression of acidity, aroma, and finish, offering a global tasting tour of this increasingly popular grape varietal. More From Forbes Forbes The Top American Wines, According To The Decanter World Wine Awards By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Best New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Wines, According To The Top Wine Competitions By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Best California Sauvignon Blanc Wines, According To The Top Wine Competitions By Joseph V Micallef
