New Zealand’s cool, maritime climate and long sunshine hours ensure its white wines retain vibrant natural acidity and aromatic intensity. While Marlborough remains the country’s most defining region, producing some of the world’s most recognisable Sauvignon Blancs, there is far more to explore beyond its borders. From expressive Pinot Gris to textured Chardonnay, this year’s IWSC results highlight the breadth and quality of New Zealand’s white wines across a range of regions and styles.
The highest scoring wine in the list below was Awatere River AR Sauvignon Blanc 2024 that impressed IWSC judges with ‘a vibrant palate bursting with grapefruit, lemon, peach, and mango.’
Sauvignon Blanc continues to dominate New Zealand’s production, and it features strongly across this year’s top-scoring wines, sitting alongside a broader mix of styles that demonstrate the category’s growing depth.
Among the leading bottles, Saint Clair Family Estate Omaka Reserve Chardonnay 2023 showed a different side to New Zealand white wine, earning 94 points for a profile of ‘creamy mandarin and delicate blossom’.
Sauvignon Blanc remains the clearest thread running through the list. Villa Maria Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc 2024 scored 93 points with ‘bright lemon and subtle bell pepper aromas’, while Waitrose Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc 2023 followed with 92 points and a refreshing mix of ‘candied citrus, fresh lemon juice, asparagus, and hints of cracked pepper and pea shoots.’ Te Pā Family Vineyards Oke Sauvignon Blanc 2023 also scored 92 points, standing out for its ‘orange peel, vanilla, and smoky notes’.
Chardonnay also made a strong showing. Lake Chalice Plume Chardonnay 2022 was awarded 92 points, combining a ‘toasty nose with layers of green apple skin and dry herbs’. Urlar Sauvignon Blanc 2024 also achieved 92 points, bringing a more textural expression of the variety with ‘white grapefruit and pithy Sicilian lemons’.
Together these wines highlight not only the strength of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, but also the growing confidence and stylistic range of the country’s wider white wine offering. Read on for 12 top bottles of New Zealand white wine as tasted and rated by the experts.
HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE WINES?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE WINES?
Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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12 of the best New Zealand white wines from the IWSC
