Austria dominates Sauvignon Selection with Steiermark gems

Steiermark, the host of this year’s Sauvignon Selection by CMB, has earned a reputation as one of the world’s best regions for Sauvignon Blanc, and the results of this year’s competition attest to this. Of the 161 Gold medals awarded, 81 – in other words, half of them – went to Steiermark. In addition, two Sauvignon Blancs from Burgenland and one from Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) also won a Silver medal. An impressive 42 % of the Austrian wines submitted were commended by the members of the expert jury in the blind tasting.

The world’s best Sauvignon came from Südsteiermark – like it did in 2023

The best Sauvignon in the competition was from Steiermark: Südsteiermark DAC Sauvignon Blanc Ried Grubthal 2020 from the Muster.Gamlitz winery (Gamlitz). This wine impressed the judges with its elegance, length and complexity, as well as its exquisite notes of pineapple. A winery in Steiermark also produced the best Sauvignon in last year’s competition.

Steiermark’s record success

Steiermark also received two more of the coveted “Revelation” trophies this year. The “Tonnellerie Sylvain Trophy” for the best wine matured in oak barrels went to the 2019 Südsteiermark DAC Sauvignon Blanc Kitzeck-Sausal Privat from the Schmölzer winery (Sausal), while the Frauwallner winery (Straden) scooped up the “Sweet Revelation” award with the Vulkanland Steiermark Sauvignon Blanc Trockenbeerenauslese Essenz Ried Stradener Rosenberg 2017.

“This is the first time in the history of the Sauvignon Selection that a region has performed so well. Steiermark received 11 out of 19 Grand Gold medals. This is an incredible result that the whole of Steiermark can be proud of”, commented Quentin Havaux, Managing Director of the competition organiser Vinopres.

Chris Yorke, CEO of Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine), concurred, “Congratulations to the winners! I am delighted that we were able to defend the Sauvignon world championship title. This proves once again that Steiermark produces world-class Sauvignons. And the remarkable number of awards for Austrian Sauvignons also shows that we are among the highest-quality wine-producing countries in the world. All of these wines are shining testaments to Austria as a wine-growing nation.”

Other comments:

“All three regions in Steiermark produce world-class Sauvignon Blancs. When so many leading winegrowers are focussing on one variety, success is inevitable. But what’s also fundamental to this success is that Steiermark’s terroir is ideal for these wines.” 
Stefan Potzinger, Chairman, Wein Steiermark

“I’m proud that Steiermark has not only distinguished itself as a host region at the Sauvignon World Championships, but also as a highly successful participating region. Our local winegrowers were rewarded for their hard work with a real shower of medals. I’d like to congratulate all the winners, and especially those from Steiermark. I also look forward to being able to welcome the international audience from the wine-growing industry, the wine trade and the wine press back to this beautiful region again soon!”
Simone Schmiedtbauer, Styrian Councillor for Agriculture

About the competition

Sauvignon Selection by CMB (formerly Concours Mondial du Sauvignon)

The Sauvignon Selection by CMB is currently the world’s largest competition focussing on Sauvignon Blanc. Launched in Bordeaux in 2010, the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, now called Sauvignon Selection by CMB, soon became the most important event for Sauvignon Blanc wines. The unique feature of this event is that the tasting takes place in a different region every year, which enables a particular region or country that specialises in this grape variety to be given the spotlight. The Sauvignon Selection has already been held in seven different regions in France, as well as in Italy, Austria, Spain and Portugal. Last year, the Sauvignon Selection by CMB was held in South Africa, its first time outside Europe. Steiermark first hosted the event in 2018, and now the competition returned to the region after six years.

• Press photos (JPG)
• Press release as PDF

• Revelation award winners from Steiermark: Results • Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2024 (sauvignonselection.com)
• All results from Steiermark (Styria): Results • Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2024 (sauvignonselection.com)
• All results from Austria: Results • Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2024 (sauvignonselection.com)
• All results of the competition: https://results.sauvignonselection.com/en/results/2024