Compare › Riesling vs Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling vs Sauvignon Blanc
similar body; similar tannin; similar acidity. Both are usually dry.
Typical structure · knowledge base
RieslingSauvignon Blanc1 light / dry / low · 5 full / luscious / high
sweetness
1 · 1
body
2 · 2
tannin
1 · 1
acidity
5 · 5
oak
1 · 1
Same 1–5 numbers as the table. Typical for the variety, not a tasting of one wine.
| Riesling | Sauvignon Blanc | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | white | white |
| sweetness | dry | dry |
| body | light | light |
| tannin | very soft | very soft |
| acidity | very high | very high |
| oak | none | none |
| Aromas | lime, green apple, white peach, blossom, jasmine | gooseberry, passionfruit, grapefruit, cut grass, asparagus |
| Classic regions | Mosel; Rheingau / Pfalz / Nahe; Alsace | Marlborough; Sancerre / Pouilly-Fumé; Bordeaux (Pessac-Léognan, Entre-Deux-Mers) |
| Food | Thai and Vietnamese food, spicy dishes (off-dry), pork, duck, smoked fish | goat cheese, asparagus, salads, white fish, sushi |
| Beginner-friendly | yes | yes |
Which should you buy?
Choose Riesling if you want light body with very soft tannins and lime, green apple, white peach; it suits Thai and Vietnamese food, spicy dishes (off-dry), pork. Choose Sauvignon Blanc for light body, very soft tannins and gooseberry, passionfruit, grapefruit; it suits goat cheese, asparagus, salads.
Top Riesling
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markus Huber Berg Erste Lage Riesling 2024 Markus Huber · Austria | £44.94 | |||
| Prager Wachstum Bodenstein Riesling Smaragd 2025 Prager · Wachau | £50.98 | |||
| Prager Ried Achleiten Riesling Smaragd 2025 Prager · Wachau | £53.50 | |||
| Prager Ried Klaus Riesling Smaragd 2025 Prager · Wachau | £57.61 | |||
| Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Grand Cru Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2023 Domaine Zind Humbrecht · Alsace | £81.50 | |||
| Framingham Noble Riesling 2024 Framingham · Marlborough | £21.89 |
Top Sauvignon Blanc
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eisele Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Eisele Vineyard · California | £105.22 | |||
| Rapaura Springs Rohe Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2025 Rapaura Springs · Marlborough | £15.95 | |||
| Rapaura Springs Bull Paddock Sauvignon Blanc 2024 Rapaura Springs · Marlborough | £18.32 | |||
| Two Rivers Convergence Sauvignon Blanc 2024 Two Rivers · Marlborough | £18.52 | |||
| Domaine Naturaliste Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Domaine Naturaliste · Margaret River | £25.13 | |||
| Blank Canvas Abstract Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Blank Canvas · Marlborough | £25.50 |