Sauvignon Selection 2025: Austria, New Zealand, and South Africa deliver, Chile surprises
From April 11 to 13, the city of Burgas in Bulgaria hosted the Sauvignon Selection by CMB, and the eagerly awaited results have just been unveiled! For this 16th edition of the most prestigious competition dedicated to Sauvignon wines, more than 1,000 samples from 26 countries were tasted by 60 international judges. France took home the largest number of medals, while Austria, South Africa, and New Zealand continue to prove the high quality of their production. Among the smaller wine-producing nations, Chile also stood out, winning the award for the best wine of the competition, alongside Romania and Bulgaria.
Find all the award-winning wines here
New Zealand: Land of Exceptional Sauvignons
No need to break out the Haka to impress—New Zealand’s reputation for outstanding Sauvignons is already well established, and the results from this 2025 edition confirm it: no fewer than 21 medals awarded out of 34 wines entered. A performance that once again showcases the talent of this small country with big flavors!
The Grand Gold Medal and New Zealand Revelation goes to Nelson Cliffs 2024 by Domain Boyar
Steiermark Continues to Impress
Austria, and more specifically Styria (Steiermark), has been making no secret of its ambitions to produce the world’s best Sauvignons for several years now. And it must be said that Austrian producers keep improving in quality, reaching a medal-winning rate of 45% in the 2025 edition! That includes 95 medals: 5 Grand Gold Medals, 40 Gold Medals, and 50 Silver Medals.
The Austrian Revelation of the competition goes to Pichler-Schober Sauvignon Blanc Ried Nebenegg 2021
Respectable Haul for South Africa
As a major producer of Sauvignon wines, South Africa leaves the competition with an impressive 48% of its wines earning medals—the second-highest average, just behind New Zealand.
The Grand Gold Medal and South African Revelation of the competition goes to Flagstone The Surge Sauvignon Blanc 2024, from Darling.
The nation’s total also includes 7 Gold Medals and 23 Silver Medals.
Breakthrough for Chile, Romania, and Bulgaria
What an exceptional vintage for the Latin American country, which takes home 7 medals—2 Grand Golds, 4 Golds, and 1 Silver.
The 2 Chilean Grand Gold Medals:
-
Day One Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2024
-
L’Aura Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2024, which was also crowned International Revelation of Sauvignon Selection by CMB 2025
Both wines are crafted by the renowned winery Viña MontGras, which owns vineyards across several Chilean wine regions, including the Leyda Valley. Founded in 1993 by brothers Hernán and Eduardo Gras, alongside partner Cristián Hartwig, Viña MontGras was born with the goal of producing world-class wines from Chile’s finest terroirs. In addition to combining cutting-edge technology with the passion and talent of its team, MontGras has also been recognized for its commitment to sustainability—certified under the Wines of Chile Sustainability Code since 2011 and with 100% of its portfolio vegan-certified since 2021.This unwavering dedication to quality is clearly reflected in the MontGras Aura Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2024, a wine of exceptional freshness, rich aromatic profile, balanced acidity, and long-lasting finish. In the words of the jury… “A Sauvignon Blanc of great complexity, fruity, multilayered on the palate, and with perfect balance!”
As the host of the competition, Bulgaria achieved a historic result with 20 medals (3 Golds and 17 Silvers).
Romania also showed strong progress, taking home 8 medals, including:
-
1 Grand Gold Medal – Sweet Revelation of the competition – for Conacul Ambrozy Sauvignon Blanc 2022 by Cramele Recaș
-
1 Gold Medal and 6 Silver Medals
France
A Higher Medal Rate for French Sauvignons at Sauvignon Selection by CMB 2025
Despite challenges faced by some vineyards this year, France demonstrated its expertise in Sauvignon winemaking. During the 16th edition of the Sauvignon Selection by CMB, the medal rate for French wines rose from 23% in 2024 to 29.30% in 2025.
Several regions stood out, such as Languedoc-Roussillon, which doubled its medal count, and Val de Loire, which confirmed its excellence with even more medals than last year (71 compared to 68), including 2 Grand Gold Medals:
-
Les Chailloux Silex, Domaine Chatelain, Val de Loire, 2024
-
La Grande Chatelaine, Vignobles Joseph Mellot, Val de Loire, 2022 (Vinolok Trophy – France Revelation)
About the Sauvignon Selection by CMB
The Sauvignon Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is the world’s largest international competition exclusively dedicated to Sauvignon wines. Created in Bordeaux in 2010, the event (formerly the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon) changes location each year, highlighting exceptional wine regions. After France, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, and South Africa, the event is making its first stop in Bulgaria. Its high standards and rigor make it a must-attend event for wine professionals and producers seeking global recognition.
Official pictures of Sauvignon Selection by CMB 2025 – Bourgas: https://www.flickr.com/photos/concoursmondial/albums/72177720324974906/
Press contact:
Anne de Bidlot Thorn
anne.debidlot@vinopres.com
