Welcome to the first in a series of blog posts which aim to broaden your drinking horizons and give alternatives to some popular varieties and regions. We hope we can enable you to step away from your old favourites, safe in the knowledge that these wines will be in the same ballpark as those you know and love, and still allow you to change things up.

As some of you may or may not already know, it’s looking likely that we’ll see a shortage of one of the country's most beloved wines this year. Marlborough has reported around 30% less Sauvignon Blanc was harvested in 2021 and there’s very little 2020 stock still around to plug the shortfall. Frosts in springtime did a chunk of the damage, but then extreme draught in the three months leading up to harvest meant yields were heavily affected in one of the worlds most popular wine regions.

With this in mind, along with our overarching vision of introducing people to new wines, we thought it would be a great opportunity to showcase some alternatives to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from around the world. 

We’ve chosen six wines, each sharing some similarities with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and because they’re similar in style they all make a great match for food - particularly seafood, BBQ-grilled fish, sushi or fresh shellfish. 

We’ve even collated them into a 6 bottle mixed wine case so you can try them all. (You can purchase that here.)

Ecker, Gruner Veltliner von Eckhof

Gruner Veltliner is Austria’s premium white grape variety and here Ecker have captured that zingy citrus fruit and starburst like acidity to create a light, easy drinking white that you’re sure to enjoy. Gruner pairs brilliantly with poultry so try whipping up some of the local cuisine - Austrian Schnitzel would work brilliantly.

Paolo Leo, Pianerosse Verdeca

A delightful, fresh and fruity wine from the south of Italy that shares the same zippy citrus peel and lively acidity that you’ll find in NZ SB. The aroma is delicate with hints of apple, citrus and white peach. Fresh and salty on the palate, with a bright refreshing character, and a subtle almond hint on the long and elegant finish.

Cramele Recas, Solevari Reserve Feteasca Regala

Potentially the most unusual grape variety of the bunch, Feteascã Regalã showcases some real native Romanian character. This is much easier to drink than it is to pronounce, full of aromatic fruit and gentle minerality. It has that crisp, dry finish often found in NZ SB and is the perfect wine for a midweek glass in the garden.

Hanewald-Schwerdt, Riesling "Auf Der Pochel"

Riesling is Germany’s premier variety and has a fantastic citrus & stone fruit aromas with nuances of melons and herbs. It shares the minerality of NZ SB Dry Riesling and is silky, lively with nice acidity. Really great quality stuff. Look beyond the unnassuming label you're in for a treat. A perfect pairing for fish taco's bursting with fresh lime juice and creamy avocado.  

Lavradores de Feitoria, Douro Branco

Another great example of expressive, fruity and fresh Portuguese white wine. This has aromas of pear, pineapple and citrus notes that carry on to the elegant palate with a little melon rounding out the flavours. very nicely balanced and a joy to drink. Not unlike NZ SB it’s bursting with tropical fruits with added lemongrass and a refreshing minerality on the finish.

Alceno, Sierra de Enmedio Sauvignon Blanc

We felt we had to put at least one Sauvignon on the list, so we decided to go to Spain for it. A very fresh and aromatic Spanish Sauvignon Blanc with a nice intensity of tropical fruit, floral blossom notes and a hint of almond nuttiness. On the palate it is round and fruity with balanced acidity keeping it refreshing leading to a persistent finish.