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Tracy Johnston, NZW Board member

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is up there with the All Blacks and The Lord of Rings as icons of New Zealand. I feel such a sense of pride when I hear international travellers rave about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  I am excited about the opportunity for our industry to come together to celebrate our world renown wine in 2027.

Rachael Everitt, Global Head of Marketing and Communications, Invivo

For many people around the world, enjoying a glass of Sauvignon Blanc may be their only experience of New Zealand - whether they’re ordering it in a restaurant in New York or picking up a bottle at their local supermarket in the UK. That global connection, built from our small but mighty country in the South Pacific - all from a single glass of wine - is powerful. I’m excited to take our flagship export to the world through Sauvignon 2027. Our approach will be creative, distinctive, and designed to resonate with global audiences in fresh, engaging ways… just like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Rich Ellis, Co-Founder and Winemaker, The Marlborist

 I love that in the space of 50 years, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has achieved what many countries have taken centuries to do – create a benchmark style with global recognition.   Delicious, distinctive, intensely aromatic wines unlike those from anywhere else in the world.  But we’re not done yet!  As a new generation takes the reins the breadth of wines emerging is awe-inspiring.  From natural and unadulterated to rich and complex, from sub-regional to single-vineyard, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is becoming increasingly sophisticated and without doubt, infinitely more exciting!  I can’t wait to see what the next 50 years will bring.

Richelle Tyney, Winemaker, Greywacke

Sauvignon Blanc has so many sides to her. Whether it’s a classic style with zingy acidity and beautiful tropical fruit, or a barrel fermented style showing a little bit of funk and savouriness - she can’t be confined! I love the influence of wild fermentation in winemaking and Sauvignon Blanc is incredibly responsive to this. There has been some complacency around Sauvignon Blanc recently and I enjoy surprising wine enthusiasts with the breadth and calibre of New Zealand’s flagship wine. Our Sauvignon Blanc shines in the glass, and I want people to see, feel, and experience this at our “celebration.”

Charlotte Read, GM Brand, New Zealand Winegrowers

As a kiwi who has spent most of my career overseas, when I shared where I was from and what NZ is all about, I have always been so proud to produce a bottle of Sauvignon. It’s never not been met by smiles. As soon as it’s opened, its fresh pungent aromas burst from the bottle and arrest the senses a bit like when you step off the plane in Aotearoa and squint in our brilliant bright light, casting your eyes over vivid greens and our raw beautiful landscapes. It’s such an incredible opportunity we have ahead of us to celebrate the grape that now calls Aotearoa home and has allowed us to excel on the global stage with an unmissable world-class event that allows our deeper NZ Wine story of purity, innovation, and care for the land to be told.  A privilege to be a part of making that happen.

Murray Cook, Winemaker, Dog Point and Winegrower, Nous

To be part of the story behind a wine that has had such a global impact is something special. We don't often pause to think about how unique Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has been in the world of fine wine. It's shows that the pioneers discovered something special but the generations that follow have a responsibility to uphold and push the boundaries much further than those pioneers could have imagined. I can't wait to see where we go next! 

Laura-Kate Morgan, Winemaker, Brancott Estate, Vinarchy

What excites me most about Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is how alive it feels the moment you pour a glass. I love walking into a room and being instantly greeted by those vibrant aromas; it’s like the wine introduces itself before you even take a sip. What really draws me in is how each appellation brings its own unique character. Tasting across our sub-regions feels a bit like traveling, each glass offering a glimpse into the land it came from. That ongoing sense of discovery, and the way these wines express place so clearly, is what keeps me engaged and constantly inspired to make more, to keep exploring, learning, and crafting wines that capture the energy of their terroir.

Jules Taylor, Owner, Jules Taylor Wines

Sauvignon Blanc is my favourite wine to make. In the vineyard, I love the diversity in flavour this variety has to offer and how it can change over only a few days. Once in the winery, and fermenting, vintage has finally started ‘for real’ when the SB starts to be harvested! My dream is for everyone to find the Sauvignon Blanc that suits their palate and could be their desert island wine. Let’s celebrate its diversity and uniqueness in Marlborough, one of the great regions of this varietal expression in the world.

Ben Tombs, Chief Winemaker, Craggy Range 

What excites me most about New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is the increasing recognition of regional and subregional identities. There’s also a huge sense of untapped potential in this discovery and storytelling. The global recognition for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is undoubtably strong, but we’re only just beginning to understand what this varietal can achieve in New Zealand at the premium end. We’re seeing Sauvignon Blanc evolve into something far more layered and age-worthy than the classic style it's known for. More than the initial aromatic hit, it's about texture, structure, and depth. The discovery and innovation behind this is very exciting. 

Ben Leen, Winemaker, Amisfield, Central Otago

Sauvignon Blanc. The grape that put us on the global wine map. Talk about stamping your authority! Along with being renowned for having a beautifully dramatic landscape, we are equally well-known for producing totally unique Sauvignon Blanc. SB hack: For an electric breakfast cocktail, try Gin & freshly squeezed SB Juice over ice. Only available at harvest. Snoop Dogg would be proud.

Nat Christensen, Chair and Chief Winemaker, Yealands Estate

Sauvignon is a variety with so much personality, and there are always new and emerging sites and expressions to discover. I personally love working with it; it's so versatile and textural. It's one of the ultimate varietals for pure site expression. It can be fun and spunky, restrained and demure. I can't wait to deep-dive into sub-regions and styles, look ahead to the future, and, of course, have a damn great celebration and party! 

Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027

💚 We are unbelievably excited to confirm Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand is on! 💚 Mark 2-4 February 2027 in your diary as our epic committee begin preparations to host an experience like never before. It’s time to celebrate the best, explore the unexpected, uncover the undiscovered, and tell the stories behind the grape that helped us blaze onto the world stage. Whether the world is fine dining, barbecuing, or falling in love, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is right there with them. February 2027 will be a true celebration of New Zealand’s best - raw, real, and remarkably us. Keep an eye on upcoming announcements or contact events@sauvignonnz.com