Marlborough Wine Stories

Marlborough is unique – not for any one reason but for many. This region is full of colour, complexity and diversity – making this part of New Zealand truly special. Explore our uniquely Marlborough wine stories.

From August 2023 the region’s winemakers and growers are celebrating 50 years of Marlborough’s official beginning as a wine region. Discover the history of our region’s wine brands and explore stories about our people and place that make it special here.

Goldilocks vintage leads to gold at Marlborough Wine Show

A ‘goldilocks’ vintage has resulted in gold for te Pā Wines, who picked up the De Sangosse NZ Champion Pinot Noir, Current Vintage trophy at the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Made using a blend of fruit from two carefully selected sites, te Pā Pinot Noir 2023 was the winning wine. te Pā has a long history in Marlborough which extends back 800 years; long before the first grapes were planted in the region.

Below, owner Haysley MacDonald shares a little about that history, while Chief Winemaker Sam Bennett shares some insight into the wine and what made this vintage so special…

Read More
Marlborough Wine Show 2024, Press Release Sarah Linklater Marlborough Wine Show 2024, Press Release Sarah Linklater

Perfect vintage conditions contribute to perfection in the bottle

Perfect grapes and ideal growing conditions led the Tūpari Late Harvest Riesling 2024 to be crowned Champion Sweet Wine of the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Tūpari founder and winemaker Glenn Thomas said the Awatere Valley produces intensely flavoured Riesling, and was pleased to see the 2024 vintage recognised with the trophy, sponsored by Barrel Finance & Logistics, at a show which is important for the region.

He told us a bit about the wine, and the conditions that led to such a stand out vintage…

Read More

Whites the stand-out for Saint Clair at 2024 Marlborough Wine Show

Saint Clair Whites were a stand out at the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, where they picked up trophies for both Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Their Omaka Reserve Chardonnay 2023 was crowned Bragato Research Institute Champion Chardonnay, Current Vintage, while their Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2023 picked up the WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2023 & Older trophy.

Following the celebration long-lunch, Senior Winemaker Stewart Maclennan shared a little about the wines and how they strive to achieve excellence in every bottle…

Read More
Marlborough Wine Show 2024, Rose, Press Release Sarah Linklater Marlborough Wine Show 2024, Rose, Press Release Sarah Linklater

Kōparepare Rosé nabs another crown at Marlborough Wine Show

Whitehaven’s Kōparepare Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2024 has joined its 2022 predecessor in being named Champion Rosé at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

The trophy, sponsored by Scenic Hotel, joins a long collection of many the company has received at the Show over the years.

Senior Winemaker Diana Katardzhieva said a collective effort in the vineyard and winery brought the latest standout vintage to fruition. She shared a little more about the wine…

Read More

Chosen Rows epitomise ageability of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Brancott Estate was the winner of this year’s esteemed NZ Wine Centre Legacy Award at the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

NZ Group Winemaker Jamie Marfell said it was the first time they’d entered the winning wines into any competition, deciding the time, and the category, was right.

They entered the 2010, 2013 and 2016 vintages of their Chosen Rows Sauvignon Blanc into the running, saying it provided the perfect opportunity to showcase the ageability of the variety.

The trophy, sponsored by Marlborough Research Centre, is designed to celebrate wines with the highest scores from three vintages within a 10-year period and a minimum gap of two years between each wine; the ultimate recognition of excellence and consistency.

Jamie shared some insight into what makes this wine a standout, and why it was the perfect one to enter for this award…

Read More

Double win for Nautilus Wines at 2024 Marlborough Wine Show

It was a double win for Nautilus Estate at the 2024 Marlborough Show, sponsored by Quay Connect, with the team making an impression in both the Sparkling and ‘Other White’ Categories.

The Nautilus Cuvée Brut NV picked up the Winequip Champion Sparkling trophy, while the Nautilus Albariño 2024 picked up the title of Marlborough Wine & Food Experience Champion Other White Wine.

The company has been working hard at both varieties for many years, taking care to showcase the quality of grapes grown in Marlborough.

Winemaker and General Manager Clive Jones told us what makes these wines, and awards, special for Nautilus Estate…

Read More

Triple win for Clayvin Pinot Noir at 2024 Marlborough Wine Show

Clayvin Pinot Noir 2021 made big waves at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, picking up three separate category trophies.


Giesen Chief Winemaker Jeremy Tod said a great vintage had made an already special wine even more exciting, and the fruits of the harvest were really just starting to shine through now. This was confirmed when it picked up Vit Management Ltd Champion Organic Wine, Fruitfed Supplies Champion Southern Valleys Wine and De Sangosse NZ Champion Pinot Noir 2021 & Older at the 2024 Show.

He shared a little insight into the wine and what makes it so special…

Read More

Mount Riley Wines continues success at Marlborough Wine Show with two new trophies

Mount Riley Wines have added to their collection of Marlborough Wine Show trophies, picking up two at the 2024 show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

For the second year running, the team was awarded the Wine Brokers New Zealand Champion Gewürztraminer, this year with the 2024 vintage of their Mount Riley Marlborough Gewürztraminer, following the same success by the 2023 vintage last year.

The team was also awarded the Chandler Glass & Packaging Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc with their Mount Riley 17 Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023.

Chief Winemaker Matt Murphy said it was validating to have received the Gewürztraminer trophy two years in a row, and he was proud to have made an impression with their alternative style Sauvignon Blanc, made in an effort to push the boundaries of the wine our region is so well known for.

He shares a little more insight below…

Read More

Champion Wine of the Show a taste of Marlborough’s southern coast

Yealands Wines was the winner of the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, Sponsored by QuayConnect, walking away with four trophies for their Yealands Estate Single Block L5 Sauvignon Blanc 2024. 

Senior Winemaker and Winery Manager Anthony Walkenhorst and his team had some big competition at the show this year, with Marlborough’s flagship wine making a big splash across the board.

Despite the strong competition, the wine was crowned QuayConnect Champion Wine of the Show, The Coterie Wine of Provenance, Circuit Logistics Champion Awatere and South Marlborough Wine, and WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc, Current Vintage for 2024.

Anthony shared some insights into the wine, and what made this vintage so good…

Read More