Old World vs New World 'White Wine Challenge'

This is Sauvignon Blanc at its finest - a wine that captures the power, precision, and elegance of Marlborough’s coastal terroir. Aromas of guava, passionfruit, and citrus leap from the glass, layered with a distinctive oyster shell minerality. Aged on its lees, this wine has a silky, creamy texture that adds depth and complexity, balancing its bright acidity and saline edge. The result? A class act—focused, structured, and deeply expressive, with a long, lingering finish that sets a benchmark for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Blank Canvas, founded by Master of Wine Sophie Parker-Thomson and winemaking consultant Matt Thomson, is all about single-vineyard precision and minimal intervention winemaking. The Holdaway Vineyard, farmed by the same family for generations, sits on the coastal fringe of the Wairau Valley, where deep alluvial silts and regenerative viticulture create a Sauvignon Blanc of exceptional balance and purity. Harvested at night to preserve freshness, cool-fermented and aged on lees, this wine is a true expression of its site—refined, textural, and seriously sophisticated.

A pure and powerful Eden Valley Riesling featuring bright aromas of honeysuckle, dragon fruit, and citrus flowers, with undertones of musk and rose petal. The palate delivers citrus, crisp green apple, and lime flavours balanced by taut acidity and a refreshing finish. Golden in colour.

This historic single-vineyard wine comes from the 'Enchanted Garden' site, planted in 1910 in Eden Valley. The excellent 2023 vintage saw a wet spring and mild summer, leading to a later harvest that produced fresh, vibrant fruit with aging potential.

Dandelion Vineyards is the project of Elena Brooks, who began her wine journey at age 12 interpreting for international winemakers in her native Bulgaria, making her first wine by 16. Now based in McLaren Vale with her husband Zar, she crafts wines across South Australia's premium regions, from Barossa through Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills to McLaren Vale – what wine journalist Nick Stock dubbed the "blessed curve."

This is Riesling at its most vibrant—a zippy, mouthwatering drop that is full of life. This has flavours of green apple, lime zest and a zippy citrusy energy. There’s a touch of ripe peach in the background, adding just enough roundness to balance out the crisp acidity. Juicy, opulent and delicious.

Austria might be best known for Grüner Veltliner, but Ferdinand Mayr proves that Riesling is a star here too. A former musician turned winemaker, Mayr swapped symphonies for cellars in the late '90s, bringing his artistry into the bottle. Working with top growers across Niederösterreich and Burgenland, he crafts wines that are bright, expressive, and full of personality. If you love German precision with a touch more charm, this is one to have on your wine rack.