Award-winning Sauvignon Blanc showcases its age-worthiness

The Wineworks Champion Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 & Older trophy at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, has been awarded to a recently-released Sauvignon Blanc by Villa Maria.

Winemaker Kathrin Jankowiec says the late release of the 2022 Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc was intentional, as the company works to showcase the age-worthiness of quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

She shared some insight into the wine, and how it felt to win an award for Marlborough’s flagship variety during the 50th anniversary year of modern winemaking in the region.

Congratulations on picking up the Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2022 & Older trophy. Sauvignon Blanc is Marlborough’s flagship wine. How did it feel to pick up this trophy, particularly with it being such a milestone year for Marlborough wine with the 50th anniversary?

We were very excited to receive the Trophy for our Villa Maria Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc. This Single Vineyard wine has long been a very special parcel and flagship Sauvignon Blanc for us. It seems very fitting to celebrate this wine at the 50th anniversary of Marlborough winegrowing, as this parcel has been at the heart of our Single Vineyard range for over 20 years and therefore holds its own piece of history for Villa Maria.

Can you tell me a bit about the Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc 2022? What are you looking for in a good Sauvignon Blanc and what makes this wine special?  

We have long believed in defining Marlborough and its sub regions by producing Single Vineyard wines. We are convinced that Marlborough’s future lies in recognising its multifaceted terroir. This Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc vineyard is planted on the northern bank on the stony terraces of the Awatere River and reflects the mineral and herbal characters of the Awatere Valley.

We aim for a wine that has power and elegance and a voice that speaks loudly of its sense of place. The 2022 vintage has just been released as we are aiming to consistently showcase that good Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is age-worthy and gets more complex with time. This wine is nearly ‘old world’ in style, showcasing restrained greener notes, a lingering salinity and chalky texture.

The Marlborough Wine Show is known for being a competition which encourages Marlborough wine producers to celebrate their peers within the region. Why is it an important competition for Villa Maria?

The Marlborough Wine Show is an important competition for us as it celebrates and recognises the high standard of wines and wine producers in New Zealand’s biggest and most important wine region. Not only can we shine a spotlight on excellence, we also benchmark our quality, explore future trends and see a tangible impact when we communicate with our markets and consumers. The Marlborough Wine Show pushes boundaries as it now serves as a platform for the definition of subregionality. Going forward, the discussion of provenance will be important for the next 50 years of Marlborough’s future and the wine show will serve as an important vehicle for this discussion.

As mentioned, Sauvignon Blanc has been Marlborough’s flagship wine in its first 50 years of modern winemaking. Do you have any predictions as to where it might be headed for the future? Do you think it will remain a frontrunner for Marlborough?

When we introduce consumers to Sauvignon Blanc, we introduce the region as a whole - Marlborough is now a well-known and recognised ‘trademark’ of its own. Now wine producers are recognising the importance of sub regionality and delivering exceptional wines that reflect this, such as our Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc. Going forward we need to invest in our world class product and ensure quality in the vineyard and winemaking practices, especially as we navigate the challenges of a changing climate. Sauvignon Blanc has a bright future, and Marlborough will continue to be an exciting region to discover.