Saint Clair Family Estate are thrilled to receive two Gold Medals for Sauvignon Blanc at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2026, held recently in the United Kingdom.
The Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 43 Degrees Sauvignon Blanc 2025 received 96 points
alongside a gold medal and Saint Clair’s flagship Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2025
scored 95 points and also won gold.
The team of judges commented on the Pioneer Block 3 that its “delightful gooseberry,
apple, peach and nectarine fruit deftly lattices the plush leesy texture and steely acid line. Long and charming with a stirring saline edge.”
The fruit for Pioneer Block 3 43 Degrees is sourced from a single vineyard in the Dillons
Point sub-region of Marlborough. It is both the care and effort that the growers invest in the vineyard and the unique angle that the vine rows are planted on, that help to craft a wine that is truly unique and expressive of the terroir.
For the 2025 Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc the judges stated the wine’s “vivid sea spray freshness allies with apples, gooseberries and a squeeze of citrus. Taut and crystalline with tangy acidity and an inviting floral note to end.”
The Wairau Reserve is Saint Clair Family Estate’s top tier Sauvignon Blanc. Since its debut in 2000, it consistently demonstrates excellence, making it a favourite among consumers, wine critics and industry professionals. Each vintage it proves to be consistent in delicious, high-quality fruit, also sourced from Marlborough Dillons Point sub-region.
Now in its 23rd year, the Decanter World Wine Awards is the world’s largest wine
competition with nearly 17,000 wines from 58 countries entered this year. DWWA is
respected across the globe for its rigorous judging process and world class wine judges.
Reflecting on the win, Julie Ibbotson, Co-Managing Director for Saint Clair, said: “It is
incredibly satisfying to win not one, but two gold medals for our premium Sauvignon Blanc at Decanter 2026. This is testament to the skills and hard work of the winemakers, and indeed the whole team, in holding the Saint Clair vision to make some of the top Sauvignon Blanc in the world. To be recognised amongst the best is an absolute honour for the whole Saint Clair team.”
