But our top insider secret? There's another 'M' out there making truly brilliant Sauvignon – Moldova.

Like Marlborough, Codru in Moldova has a long, slow ripening season.

It’s cold winds keep the grapes healthy and mean the vineyards can easily be grown organically.

Albastrele is made with handpicked grapes from the Tvarditsa Estate at an award-winning cellar well equipped for producing bright, modern whites.

Made from carefully selected handpicked grapes, winemaker Marian Haraba has crafted a truly impressive white wine.

Bursting with vibrant gooseberry and citrus aromas, Albastrele makes an elegant apéritif or a delicious match for grilled fish or smoked salmon.

Since 1980, Jacky Gilson has been a grower and winemaker in the tiny, forgotten Burgundy region of Saint-Bris. In fact, the appellation was only created in 2003. It lies just 10 miles west of Chablis and is the only one permitted to use Sauvignon Blanc in its wines. Jacky himself grows both Sauvignon and Aligoté in his 40 hectares of vines, specialising in tantalisingly fresh, pure, crisp whites.

Hard work in the vineyard and minimal intervention in the cellar makes for very pure fruit whites, big on aromatics and with a core of freshness. Aged on its lees for six months, it has roundness too. Chill and enjoy as an apéritif, with garlicky snails or grilled fish. And from such an exceptional vintage, there is no rush with this wine.

This is a refreshingly elegant white from the Holdaway estate in Marlborough. The family started the farm in 1854, buying up land in Wairau and Dillons Point, now two key areas for vines. Their previous vintage was described by Sam Kim in the Wine Orbit as "impressively aromatic" with "excellent concentration, together with terrific fruit purity and vibrancy." And quality in 2021 was even better, so look forward to great tangy-fresh glass. Tasty solo, with seafood, noodles or creamy risotto.

If you enjoy the freshness of Loire Sauvignon, you must try this great-value rival from the sunny south. It's from Hervé Sabardeil, a very gifted winemaker we've known for many years. His plan was to make the freshest, most aromatic, good-value white he could from whichever vineyards it took. Hence its ‘Vin de France’ classification. For Hervé, wine is an expression of nature's finest – the soil, the sunshine, the grape. La Belle Saison does that very well.

Pure and full of citrus zip, this wine has the freshness you'd expect from a Sauvignon, plus a light tropical fruit note thanks to the warmth of southern France. Delightfully refreshing, this Sauvignon is crisp, fruity and easy, on its own or with light dishes of grilled fish or salads.

This is a dazzling Sauvignon Blanc from an estate in Marlborough renowned for its Sauvignon. But even top estates occasionally have a vat or two surplus to requirements, be that due to a bumper harvest, a cancelled order, or the need to accommodate a new vintage. Either way, our Buyer Dan springs into action when such an opportunity arises.

It’s no wonder Marlborough has such a world-class reputation for Sauvignon Blanc. It’s long sunny days and cooling breezes produce grapes with vibrant, mouth-watering flavours. This is a quintessential style for Marlborough, filled with intense gooseberry, grassy notes, and ripe tropical fruits such as guava and passionfruit. It makes a refreshing aperitif or pairs perfectly with tomato and pesto tart.