Thanks to snowmelt from the Andes and the wonders of irrigation, green and flourishing vineyards stand out in contrast to their lunar-like surroundings.

Alta Tierra is from Viña Falernia, owned by cousins Aldo Olivier and Giorgio Flessati.

They have 135 hectares of beautifully manicured vineyards and an ultra modern cellar. In 2005 their first vintage won a Trophy and put Elqui on the map.

This dazzling Sauvignon Blanc displays classic varietal character of elderflower and freshly mown grass with ripe melon and citrus fruit.

Serve as an aperitif or partner with spicy Asian dishes or fish.

Meet Dog Point – an outstanding, award-winning range of wines from New Zealand’s Marlborough region. In 2004 Ivan Sutherland and James Sealy decided to take the skills they’d learnt as viticulturalist and winemaker at Cloudy Bay and set up on their own. They had a head start as Ivan had planted vineyards in Marlborough back in the 1970s. Dog Point remains very much owned by the two families – a boutique winery aiming firmly for high-quality wines, produced as naturally as possible.

Using hand-picked, low-yield grapes, the wine is meticulously made and hugely expressive of both Sauvignon Blanc and the terroir of the Wairau Valley. No stranger to awards, this is a white to chill down and savour with salmon with salsa perhaps or spicy noodles.

Reuilly is a real gem for lovers of classic Loire Sauvignon. It offers the dazzling mineral finesse of nearby Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, but its wines come at a more affordable price. It's a bit of a rescue story, in fact. In the 1970s, its wines almost disappeared and the little that was produced was only enjoyed locally. Enter Claude Lafond – the saviour of Reuilly. He encouraged the planting of vines, established a shared winemaking facility for all Reuilly producers, and built an impressive, modern winery at Domaine Claude Lafond.

Now run by his daughter, Nathalie, the domaine is farmed organically and continues to go from strength to strength – just like Reuilly itself. La Raie is crisp and elegant. Ideal with goat's cheese.

So our Buyer Dan has been searching out some new best buys. Of course we love the wines from Sauvignon's Kiwi home, Marlborough, but Dan knows that there's great quality and value to be found in the rest of this gorgeous island. Like The Hour-Teller. Dan found this delicious gem on the East Coast of North Island. The cool climate there really brings out the refreshing herbaceous notes. Combined with that classic Kiwi exuberance, it's a delicious lemony, gooseberry-filled white. Superb enjoyed well chilled in summer, it gets the taste buds tingling in winter too. Spot on solo or with Thai green curry, chicken pie or seafood.

Winzer Krems in Niederösterreich is one of the best known wine addresses for dry white wines in Austria. Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are the typical star grapes here, but the Sauvignon Blanc is equally ravishing and fresh. The soil of its loess terraces, where these grapes grow, brings a rounder, fuller bodied style to Sauvignon Blanc, while minimal intervention in the cellar ensures the purest fruit in the wine.

This crisp white won Gold for its 2016 vintage and the 2020 is tasting just as dazzlingly fresh. Danaris Sauvignon Blanc is a great example of the region's mastery at making elegant, dry white wines; a hugely enjoyable and refreshing glassful on its own or with a spring vegetable risotto or paired with many sorts of seafood.

Since their wines first appeared in 2004, Château Vartely has established itself as one of Moldova’s top wineries. The winery controls 300 hectares of vines grown in conditions and soils very similar to the best of Bordeaux. Glowing online reviews every vintage prove that UK wine lovers have given this estate a big thumbs up. From grape harvesting to bottling, every step takes place under the watchful eye of Arcadie Fosnea, ‘Moldovan Winemaker of the Year’ in 2014. Having studied winemaking at Weinsberg, Germany, he has drawn worldwide acclaim for his skill at producing impressive wines.

Like this brilliantly fresh blend of native Feteasca Regala and crisp, grassy Sauvignon. Serve chilled on its own, with goat's cheese bake or with fish.

Cala Rey is the result of blending two popular white grapes – Sauvignon and Verdejo. It’s the creation of a new winery, founded in 2017, in Castilla La Mancha. Tomasso Ciampoli fell in love with the Alpera region and a particular 25-hectare plot of ancient vines. It was this passion that rekindled the family’s long-held tradition of making wine.

From the age of four, he’d help his grandfather craft wines that were enjoyed at every celebration. Now, he’s harnessed his knowledge, joining forces with winemaker Diego Lopez. The vineyard boasts vines that are up to 100 years old, their roots reaching deep to find nourishment. The result? A wine bursting with delicious, vibrant flavours. A zesty white – great for solo sipping or with tapas.