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7 of the Best English Sauvignon Blancs

13 Oct 2026 · By Stephen Pritchard in Wine Guides

Sauvignon Blanc is a relatively rare grape in England and a small corner of English wine. These seven are Vinebound's picks, chosen from our own favourites, critic acclaim and award wins, from Cornwall to Essex and Gloucestershire to Surrey. They run from £17.50 to £30, and one of them has bubbles.

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Best English Sauvignon Blanc: our top picks

  • Most awarded: Balfour Scout's Sauvignon Blanc, £30. It won WineGB gold at 95 points for the 2024.
  • Best value: Greyfriars Still Sauvignon Blanc 2025, £17.50. It won WineGB silver in 2026.
  • Something different: Greyfriars Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc NV, £21.

What does English Sauvignon Blanc taste like?

English Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh, cool-climate style: gooseberry and elderflower, with lime or lemon acidity running through the middle. English vineyards are cool, so alcohol is lower than in warmer countries, with Polgoon's at 11%.

Most are made in small amounts. Looking for other English whites? Start with the best English Bacchus or the best English Chardonnay.

The best English Sauvignon Blancs

Balfour: Scout's Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Location: Staplehurst, Kent

The 2024 won gold at WineGB 2025 with 95 points, the top result in this guide. The 2025 is the one on sale, at £30, grown in the Crouch Valley in Essex and fermented mainly in stainless steel with a little oak for texture. Balfour's notes list gooseberry, elderflower and lime zest, with green apple and a gentle tropical edge, and suggest oysters, grilled fish or goats' cheese. Jancis Robinson's note on the 2024 opens: “Real cut of the variety!”

Visit: open every day, 10 to 6 from May to October and 10 to 5 from November to April.

Buy from Balfour ↗

Woodchester Valley: Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Location: Woodchester, near Stroud, Gloucestershire

It won silver at Decanter 2026 with 91 points. It is fermented in stainless steel. Woodchester Valley's notes list gooseberry and elderflower aromatics and a touch of tropical fruit, with a clean, long finish. It is £28 a bottle, and there is a discount on six or more. Tamlyn Currin's Jancis Robinson review of the 2021 opens: “Crushed sorrel leaf. Unripe green coriander seeds. Green mango...”

Visit: the cellar door shop is open Monday to Saturday, 10 to 6, and Sunday 10 to 5 (closed on Sundays in January and February). The vineyard itself is open for pre-booked tours and events only.

Buy from Woodchester Valley ↗

Abingworth: Sunken Stones Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Location: Thakeham, near Pulborough, West Sussex

It won silver at WineGB 2026. It is made from 100% estate-grown fruit. Abingworth's notes list lime, gooseberry and greengage, a hint of blackcurrant leaf, and crisp acidity with a mineral edge. The name comes from the Roman road buried beneath Greenhurst Field, the estate's largest vineyard site. John Mobbs, founder of Great British Wine, reviewed it for Abingworth: “A delicate, fragrant expression of Sauvignon Blanc. Expect floral and hedgerow notes, zesty lime and light minerality.” It is £23, and the 2024 is also listed.

Visit: prebooked tour and tastings are available.

Buy from Abingworth ↗

Greyfriars: Still Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Location: Puttenham, near Guildford, Surrey

It won silver at WineGB 2026 and, at £17.50, is the cheapest wine here. Greyfriars' notes list cut grass and elderflower, then gooseberries, with a green bell pepper note and a long finish of gooseberry fool. It is also sold by the case, at £105 for six.

Visit: open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 to 4, with self-guided vineyard tours and no booking.

Buy from Greyfriars ↗

Polgoon: Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Location: Rosehill, near Penzance, Cornwall

It is £19.95 and 100% Sauvignon Blanc at 11%. Polgoon's notes list lemon, lime and nectarine, with high acidity and a white pepper finish. There is a 10% discount on six.

Visit: the shop is open seven days a week, 9 to 5 (Sunday 10 to 5). The bar and the food pop-ups on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4.30pm run through the summer only.

Buy from Polgoon ↗

Missing Gate: Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Location: Bicknacre, near Chelmsford, Essex

This Essex Sauvignon Blanc is £27.50, and the shop also lists the 2021 and 2022 vintages, which is useful if you like to compare years.

Visit: tastings run Thursday to Saturday, 1 to 5, and Sunday 12 to 3, all year, with walk-ins welcome for tastings without charcuterie.

Buy from Missing Gate ↗

English sparkling Sauvignon Blanc

Greyfriars: Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc NV

Location: Puttenham, near Guildford, Surrey

It is a non-vintage sparkling wine made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc. Greyfriars describes it as refreshingly different, with floral notes and a crisp, vibrant finish. It is £21 a bottle.

Visit: open Wednesday to Saturday, 10 to 4, with self-guided vineyard tours and no booking.

Buy from Greyfriars ↗

Can you buy English Sauvignon Blanc in supermarkets?

English Sauvignon Blanc is made in small amounts, so the best way to buy it is direct from the vineyard, whether online or at the cellar door. If you would rather buy an English white from a supermarket, try Bacchus. It is quite similar, fresh and herbal with elderflower and hedgerow notes, and the IWSC has called it England's answer to Sauvignon Blanc. Chapel Down's Bacchus is stocked at Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's, and our best English Bacchus guide has more.

FAQ

What is the best English white wine?
It depends on the style you like. Bacchus is England's best-known still white and the one most producers lead with, Chardonnay is the grape behind most of the sparkling wine, and Sauvignon Blanc is the small, fresh, gooseberry-and-elderflower option covered here. See the best English Bacchus and best English Chardonnay for the other two.
Which Sauvignon Blanc is best in the UK?
If you want an English one, Balfour's Scout's Sauvignon Blanc has the top result in this guide, a WineGB gold at 95 points for the 2024, and Woodchester Valley's 2025 took silver at Decanter at 91 points. Greyfriars' Still Sauvignon Blanc is £17.50 and won silver at WineGB in 2026.
Is English Sauvignon Blanc as good as New Zealand?
It is a different style more than a lesser one. English vineyards are cool, so the wines are lower in alcohol (Polgoon's 2023 is 11%) and lean on gooseberry, elderflower and citrus with bright acidity. There is far less of it, and the wines in this guide cost £17.50 to £30.
Where can I buy English Sauvignon Blanc?
Direct from the vineyards, all of which sell online: Balfour, Woodchester Valley, Abingworth, Greyfriars, Polgoon and Missing Gate. Each entry above has a buy button. Most of these wines are made in small quantities, so it is worth checking stock before you plan around one. If you want an English white from a supermarket, Bacchus is quite similar to Sauvignon Blanc, and Chapel Down's is stocked at Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's.

Buy the wine from vineyards featured in this post

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