Sauvignon Blanc Day: Not All Sauvignons Taste the Same
The first weekend in May celebrates Sauvignon Blanc Day - and that's all the excuse we need to pop open a bottle. We've selected a super Sauvignon Blanc to feature in all of our sites this weekend, but we've sidestepped the usual suspects to show something a little more interesting. So before we talk about the wine, let's get to know the grape!
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the clearest examples of how place changes flavour. Same grape, completely different personality depending on where it’s grown. If you’ve ever said “I like Sancerre but not New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc” (or the other way around), you’re not alone.
So let's take a look at the styles side by side - and see where this one fits in.
The Two Styles Most People Know
Loire Valley (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé)
This is the classic, and for some people, the “proper” expression of Sauvignon Blanc.
- Citrus, green apple, gooseberry
- High acidity, quite linear
- That flinty, mineral edge from limestone and flint soils
The Loire’s cooler climate slows ripening, which keeps the wines tight, fresh and lower in alcohol. Combined with limestone and flint soils, this gives that signature mineral edge and a more restrained, precise style.
It’s clean, precise, and brilliant with food - especially goats’ cheese or anything fresh and green.
Marlborough, New Zealand
This is the style most people recognise straight away.
- Big aromatics - you smell it across the table
- Passionfruit, lime, grapefruit
- That grassy, herbal hit
- Zingy, refreshing, very upfront
Marlborough’s sunny days and cool nights help build intense aromatics while locking in acidity. Free-draining soils keep the vines in check, concentrating those punchy fruit flavours that define the style.
It’s bold, unmistakable, and easy to like - but for some drinkers, it can feel a bit full-on.
The One We’re Pouring for Sauvignon Blanc Day
Hanewald-Schwerdt “Kalkriff” Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Pfalz, Germany)
So this is Sauvignon, but maybe not as you know it
It doesn’t sit neatly in either camp - which is exactly why we like it.
- You still get that freshness and structure you’d expect from Loire
- But the fruit is riper and a bit more open
- And there’s a soft, slightly creamy texture that rounds it out
If Loire can feel a touch sharp, and Marlborough a bit shouty, this lands somewhere more relaxed and balanced.
Why It Works So Well
Pfalz is one of Germany’s warmest regions, so you get proper ripeness in the fruit. But the vineyards here are rich in limestone - which helps keep that lift and tension while adding a subtle texture to the wine.
So instead of choosing between:
- lean and mineral
- or bold and tropical
…you get something that borrows a bit from both.
A Bit About the Producer
Hanewald-Schwerdt is a family estate founded in 1955, now run by Thomas Hanewald in the heart of the Pfalz. Thomas took over alongside Stephan Schwerdt, who sadly passed away a few years ago.
There’s a real sense of continuity here - a focus on quality and drinkability that runs through the whole range. We’ve championed their Riesling wines for years - they’re always precise, reliably good, and made to be enjoyed rather than overthought.
Pick Up a Bottle From Our Shops & Bars
Stock is extremely limited on this one, so it's only available in-store - but for a great deal.
Only £17 per bottle, while stocks last!
What to Have It With
This is a proper “spring table” wine:
- Seafood, especially grilled or citrus-led dishes
- Asparagus (a classic Sauvignon match)
- Goats’ cheese salads
That extra bit of texture makes it more forgiving with food than sharper styles.
Fancy Comparing Styles at Home?
If this has you thinking about where your own taste sits - whether you lean Loire, Marlborough, or somewhere in between - you can explore the full range here:
Shop Sauvignon Blanc at Reserve Wines
One Final Thought
Sauvignon Blanc has a bit of a reputation for being predictable.
But it doesn’t have to be.
This is a good reminder that sometimes the most interesting bottle isn’t the one you recognise - it’s the one that sits just outside it.
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