RAISE A GLASS

May is bookended by international days celebrating two of the most famous white grape varieties in the world.

One is International Sauvignon Blanc Day (May 3) and the other is chardonnay (May 26). To celebrate the former and in anticipation of the latter, I’ll try a few choice bottles of both.

Sauvignon blanc’s annual celebration was created by the lovely wine people in New Zealand, who are rightly proud of the grape variety.

I’m told that every second of every day 85 glasses of New Zealand wine are sold in more than 100 countries (wow!). Perhaps you were one of those people raising a glass of NZ sauvignon blanc last weekend. If you fancy another one this week, then try ASDA Extra Special Awatere New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (RRP £10.75), left, which won silver in last year’s International Wine Challenge for its notes of “zesty lemon sorbet and juicy gooseberries”.

The home of sauvignon blanc is the Loire Valley in France. Pouilly-Fumé Domaine Les Chaumes (£16, at the Co-op) has precise, and giving flavours of grapefruit, lemon and grass. It has a little creamy weight in the mouth, probably from the ripeness of the grapes when they’re harvested. Lovely!

And so to chardonnay! In its homeland in France, let’s move south from Chablis to the famous region of Meursault.

We’re still in Burgundy, but the warmer climate makes for fruitier styles, and here winemakers use many techniques to add flavours (vanilla, toast and buttery notes).

The Society’s 150th Anniversary Meursault Narvaux 2018 (£55, online at The Wine Society) is a gem of a wine for a special occasion. Indeed, it was crafted especially by top producer Louis Jadot to mark the society’s landmark anniversary. Italy isn’t a place I would normally associate with chardonnay, yet here is one: Nespoli da Maggio Chardonnay 2022 (£13.99 at Laithwaites, or £12.59 in a buy six deal), left.

Grapes grow in Romagna, and are planted at a little altitude which, together with a windy vineyard spot, helps the grapes ripen while keeping freshness.

Some of the wine is aged in new oak. So what we have is a creamy white, with some toasty notes and lots of ripe apple, stone fruit, pineapple and toast.

I’m sure I’ll share more chardonnay before the month is out!

■ Jane is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers. Find her on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes.