Cracker vintage sees two Wairau River wines recognised at Marlborough Wine Show

Cracker vintage sees two Wairau River wines recognised at Marlborough Wine Show

A drive by Wairau River Wines to ‘bottle’ a taste of Marlborough has been recognised with two trophies at the Marlborough Wine Show.

The team picked up two trophies at the 2024 event; Central Express Ltd Champion Wairau Valley Wine with their Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2024, and the Orora Limited Champion Riesling with their Wairau River Summer Riesling 2024.

Chief Winemaker Nick Entwistle said 2024 was a stellar vintage for each of these wines, which each showcase the soils within which they are grown, nurtured by careful handling and winemaking.

He told us a bit about what makes each of them, and the trophies they nabbed, so special…

Wairau River won two trophies at the Marlborough Wine Show this year, and has a particularly good track record at the show. Why is this an important competition for Wairau River and how did it feel to pick up another two accolades?

It was amazing winning another two trophies this year and highlights all the hard work the vineyard and winery teams have been putting in. Sauvignon Blanc is obviously our largest production and the one we always want to do well, but having the Summer Riesling also get recognised is a great result for those who know and love this wine.

We love entering this show because of the sub-regional focus, which allows a more diverse offering of wines to be recognised and rewarded. There are so many amazing producers here it’s a great opportunity to put your wines up against the very best of the best Marlborough has to offer.

Looking at the Champion Riesling title, can you tell me a bit about the Wairau River Summer Riesling 2024 - what made this vintage a standout? I believe it’s popular every year - can you tell me a bit about what goes into making this wine that makes it such a winner?

The growing conditions were just incredible, I’ve never experienced a vintage like it! The long hot summer meant that fruit quality was exceptional, and a more relaxed harvest tempo meant that we were able to pick and choose the perfect time to harvest without compromise.

The Summer Riesling comes from one of our oldest vineyards in the heart of Rapaura, right next to the winery, which is ideally situated to produce the concentrated but elegant style we are after. It’s 100% hand harvested with multiple passes throughout harvest to select bunches at optimal ripeness, before whole bunch pressing and fermentation in a variety of small format vessels.

Now looking at Sauvignon Blanc, which seems to have been the variety to beat this year. How did it feel to be among the best of the best with the Wairau River SB 2024, and can you tell me a bit about what made this wine stand out?

Obviously 2024 was a cracker of a season for Sauvignon, so it’s even more rewarding to take out the trophy when all the wines look so good. Sam and I have been working on the style of this wine for over 15 years, continually tweaking and improving our viticulture and winemaking to ensure consistent quality from year to year. 

The trophy it won was Champion Wairau Valley wine - can you tell me a bit about the characteristics of this area that have influenced or been expressed in the wine? What makes it uniquely ‘Wairau Valley’, if you like.

We’re firm believers in the style of Sauvignon Blanc from our stony Rapaura vineyards, the balance of tropical, stone fruit and citrus combined with a fine minerality is what makes our wines stand out. We’re lucky to have some incredible vineyards alongside the Wairau River, that give us a style of fruit that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

About the sponsors.

Each of these sponsors is a key player in the Marlborough wine industry. Get to know them a little better below.

Central Express Ltd (Champion Wairau Valley trophy)
Central Express Ltd, or CEL, provides dependable transport solutions that maximise efficiency, ensuring their clients’ product reaches the market in perfect condition and on time, every time.

Orora Limited (Champion Riesling trophy)
Orora Beverage Ltd provides market-leading sustainable packaging solutions for the beverage industry, specialising in glass bottles, aluminium cans and closures. They have manufacturing sites across New Zealand and Australia.