Sauvignon Blanc under £10

And the winner is...

Waimea Estates, Sauvignon Blanc, Nelson,

New Zealand 2010 (13.5%)

Pungent nettle, passion fruit and gooseberry with a

touch of asparagus. Crisp and lively with light acidity,

juicy mouthfeel, creamy texture and a perky finish.

UK: £9.99; Maj

It was left to the two most prominent torch bearers for Sauvignon Blanc in the New World to vie for this title. Chile loses out this year, perhaps not surprising given that its vanquisher also saw off the might of Marlborough on its path to the final. Waimea Estate’s Trevor and Robyn Bolitho started planting vines on the Waimea plains in 1994, having previously grown assorted vegetables, pears and apples. As the winery became moresuccessful, the apple trees gradually made way for the vines and the only fruit that now grows on the 104-hectare estate is grapes. The Nelson wine industry is tiny, making up just 4% of the country’s total production. Most producers are small too: Waimea is considered one of Nelson’s major players, yet its output is dwarfed by most ‘small’ wineries in Marlborough.

For more information, subscribe to Decanter magazine, and receive your Awards issue, here.

Written by