South Africa Strengthens Global Wine Standing With Impressive Results At Sauvignon Selection 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.

A strong and consistent performance for South Africa Among the highlights of this 2026 edition, South Africa confirms its status as one of the most dynamic Sauvignon-producing countries on the international scene.

The country recorded a 12.5% increase in the number of samples entered, reflecting growing confidence from producers and a strong engagement with the competition. This increased participation was matched by a notable rise in the number of Gold Medals, underlining the steady improvement in quality across South African Sauvignon wines.

This dual progression, in volume and in top-level distinctions, positions South Africa as a key player, capable of competing with leading European producers.

South Africa Revelation: Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, Alvi’s Drift Wines International Pty Ltd A competitive global landscape

The 2026 results confirm the continued strength of historic Sauvignon leaders such as France and Austria, both maintaining their positions as global benchmarks thanks to the consistency and diversity of their terroirs.

Italy stands out with the most significant progression in the competition, reflecting a strong upward trend driven by key regions such as Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

New Zealand also confirms its presence among the top-performing countries, while Croatia, as host country, delivered a solid performance and demonstrated its growing competitiveness.

CMB Merit highlights rising global 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).

This distinction highlights a key trend: the overall rise in quality across all producing countries. In this increasingly competitive landscape, South Africa’s performance stands out not only for its growth, but also for its ability to consistently deliver high-quality Sauvignon wines.