A remarkable rise for Italian wines at the Sauvignon Selection by CMB 2026
From April 7 to 9, the city of Varaždin, Croatia, hosted the 17th edition of the Sauvignon Selection by CMB 2026, whose results have just been revealed.
Exclusively dedicated to wines made from the Sauvignon grape variety, this benchmark competition brought together nearly 1,000 samples from 25 countries this year. No fewer than 50 international experts took part in the blind tastings, once again confirming the high standards and diversity of a competition that has become a global reference.
Find all the results here: sauvignonselection.com
A 2026 edition marked by strong international momentum
The results of this edition confirm the solid performances of the historic leading producer countries such as France, Austria, South Africa and New Zealand, each maintaining their position as key references on the global Sauvignon scene.
A remarkable Italian vintage
Among the highlights of this edition, Italy stands out with wines of exceptional quality, achieving the most significant progression in the competition, with an impressive 66.67% increase in the number of medals.
This positive dynamic is particularly evident in several regions, reflecting an increasingly structured approach to quality:
- Trentino-Alto Adige, and more specifically the Alto Adige Sauvignon DOC appellation. It is from this region that the International Revelation Sauvignon Selection of the competition originates: A.A. Sauvignon Blanc Riserva Mervin, 2021, Cantina Merano – Kellerei Meran
Tasting note to follow: Complex nose with pastry aromas. On the palate, citrus fruits come to the fore with orange and yellow grapefruit, supported by fine acidity. A well-balanced wine.
- Friuli Venezia Giulia, with its emblematic appellations:
- Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC
- Collio (Goriziano) DOC
- Friuli DOC
France and Austria confirm their leadership
France maintains its leading position in both volume and number of awards, illustrating the richness and diversity of its terroirs.
Austria, for its part, confirms a very strong performance with a particularly high medal ratio, with 48.4% of wines awarded, reinforcing its status as a global reference for Sauvignon.
- Revelation Sauvignon Selection Austria: Ried Sulz Sauvignon Blanc, 2023, Weingut Hofmann
- Revelation Sauvignon Selection France: Petit Villebois Sauvignon Blanc, 2025, Villebois
South Africa and New Zealand maintain their competitiveness
Outside Europe, South Africa stands out as one of the most dynamic and competitive markets. The country recorded a 12.5% increase in the number of samples entered, along with a higher number of gold medals compared to last year. This evolution confirms a continuous improvement in the quality of South African Sauvignon wines.
- Vinolok Trophy – Revelation Sauvignon Selection South Africa: Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, Alvi’s Drift Wines International Pty Ltd
New Zealand also confirms its excellence with the Revelation Sauvignon Selection New Zealand : Ferngreen Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Les Grands Chais de France
Croatia stands out on home ground
As the host country of this edition, Croatia delivered a strong performance, with results showing clear improvement compared to last year. This dynamic can partly be explained by increased participation linked to its role as host, allowing for greater representation of its wines.
Nevertheless, this edition highlights the country’s growing competitiveness, as it successfully held its own against the major Sauvignon-producing nations.
- Grand Gold Medal: Vinarija Puhelek Purek, 2025
This performance is also accompanied by a notable presence of wines awarded the CMB Merit label, underlining real and growing qualitative potential.
CMB Merit, reflecting an overall rise in quality
The 2026 edition also confirms the growing importance of the CMB Merit label, awarded to wines scoring 86 points or more without receiving a medal (with the top 33% of wines awarded medals).
CMB Merit highlights a key underlying trend: the overall rise in quality. Beyond the traditional leading countries, many nations are now demonstrating their ability to produce high-quality wines, deserving the attention of both professionals and Sauvignon wine enthusiasts.
Pictures : https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCQoMq
Press Contact : anne.debidlot@vinopres.com
