Time, Love and Care Behind Winning Alternate Sauvignon Blanc

Extra love in the vineyard and unconventional winemaking methods are behind the Wine Marlborough Champion Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc of the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

The Wine Marlborough Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc trophy was awarded to Te Pā Oke Sauvignon Blanc 2020, beating out 10 other entries in the emerging category.

All 10 of the wines entered received a gold medal.

Head Winemaker Sam Bennett says texture, complexity and balance is what makes their wine special, the result of a careful growing and winemaking process.

“The first and most important bit is identifying a couple of special sites on our vineyards, and then giving these areas a bit of extra love. We shoot thin and green thin these rows, and then hand-pick the fruit at harvest,” he says.

“We get to throw out the Sauvignon Blanc winemaking rule book a bit too. We press the juice directly to barrel, which gives us warm high solids ferments. We use 320 litre cigar barrels for extra lees contact, and leave the wines unsulphured on gross lees for five to six months post-ferment. We are looking for texture and complexity to balance the ever present Marlborough fruit.”

Alternate style Sauvignon Blancs are gaining traction in Marlborough, as winemakers look to show the region’s full wine producing potential.

In striving for diversity, producers are also breeding resilience, Sam says.

“It is good to get some style diversity into the region. As successful and delicious as more traditional styles of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc are, we don’t want to be a one-trick pony,” he says.

“The alternate styles often age well and are sold at a higher price-point, so I think it benefits the region to have these wines around.”

To be recognised for their work in this area was a nice boost for the team, Sam says.

“We were honoured and very grateful to be awarded the Wine Marlborough Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc Trophy. It was a tribute to all the hard work our team puts into making this wine. We love making and drinking these styles of Sauvignon Blanc so it’s nice to get the recognition.”

Wine Marlborough General Manager Marcus Pickens says the organisation is passionate about supporting winegrowers and makers to push the boundaries. 

Sponsoring the Alternate Style Sauvignon Blanc Trophy is just one way for them to get behind the producers who are doing so, he says.

“There are so many wonderful winegrowers and winemakers thinking outside the box here in Marlborough, and experimenting with what they can do.

“Like much of the world, we love Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, and we get excited seeing, and tasting some of these new styles our producers are making. We can’t wait to see what is to come for Marlborough wines.”