Champion Sauvignon Blanc showcases sense of place

One of Marlborough’s pioneering winemaking companies has picked up the trophy for the region’s flagship wine at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2023 was presented the WineWorks Champion Current Vintage Sauvignon Blanc trophy at the celebration evening, which was also a celebration of 50 years of modern winemaking in Marlborough.

Chief winemaker Nick Entwistle says the wine is made using grapes from their  ‘Home Block’, the first vineyard block established by the Rose Family in 1978.

To receive the award in this milestone year was special for the team. He shared with us a little about what sets the wine apart…

Congratulations on picking up the Current Sauvignon Blanc trophy at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show. Can you tell us a bit about this wine and what you think makes it special?

Thanks, it’s an awesome result for the team and we’re super stoked to take out such a competitive category with our flagship wine. A large proportion of this blend comes from our Home Block vineyard that Phil and Chris [Rose] originally established back in 1978. It’s right down the end of Giffords Road, literally a stone’s throw from the Wairau River, and we believe it’s the combination of these super stoney soils and the old vines that give this wine its depth of fruit concentration and aromatic intensity. Hamish and Sam [Rose] grew up amongst these vines, so for us, having the ability to tap into their deep connection with the land and their intimate knowledge of how to best translate the unique characters of this vineyard into the bottle, that helps set us apart.    

The 2023 Marlborough Wine Show Awards evening was also a celebration of 50 years of modern winemaking in Marlborough. The Rose Family is widely known for being involved with the industry from the beginning, while Sauvignon Blanc was putting Marlborough on the map. How did it feel to receive the champion Sauvignon Blanc trophy in this milestone year for the industry, which is also no doubt a significant year for the Rose family?

It was such a great night, and it was so fantastic to be able to celebrate this big milestone for the industry, made even more special by having Phil and other industry legends there and up on stage talking about the early days. Having our name called as the Champion Sauvignon Blanc was the icing on the cake for the team who put so much effort into growing, making, and bottling our wines, and it reiterated our belief and commitment to the Rapaura subregion and the quality of wines it produces. We’re eternally indebted to the foresight of Phil and Chris in establishing our original plantings in such an ideal location for Sauvignon Blanc, so it was nice to be able to send Phil home with another trophy for the pool room shelf.  

The Marlborough Wine Show is a competition for Marlborough producers, judged by many other Marlborough based wine judges, why is this an important competition for Rose Family Estate / Wairau River Wines?

It’s one thing to receive a high score or be awarded a medal from a wine writer or professional wine judge, but it’s all the more special when the recognition comes from your industry colleagues, those who truly understand the hard work and struggle that goes on in the background. This show is unique in its format and the context it gives to the categories and judging, and has become the one we really want to do well in each year.

Sauvignon Blanc has dominated the first 50 years of the modern Marlborough Wine Industry. Do you have any predictions as to where it might be headed in the next 50? Do you see it remaining a front-running variety for the region?

I can’t see Sauvignon Blanc going anywhere, it will continue to be the largest and most recognised variety for Marlborough, but that’s not to say it's the only variety we can produce well. We’re blessed with diversity here, and our climate gives us the ability to produce outstanding wines from a multitude of different sites and varieties. I think the key to the ongoing success of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is to continue to focus on quality. We’ll never be able to compete on price or volume with the larger producing countries, we must continue to showcase the uniqueness of our subregions and their distinct wines. The Rose Family is committed to our place and the wines that come from it, and we’re excited to see what the next 50 years has in store.