Sauvignon Blanc shines at 2024 Marlborough Wine Show

Media Release: Friday 9 October 2024

Marlborough’s best wines of 2024 have been crowned following judging at this year’s Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Eighty-six gold medals were awarded this year, up from 46 last year. The total number of entries was on par with 2023, with more than 500 wines entered into the Show. Trophy winners will be revealed at the Marlborough Wine Show Celebration Long Lunch on October 18.

Chief Judge Stu Marfell says the quality of entries this year was spectacular, with both Sauvignon Blanc and Sparkling varieties making a particularly strong impression.

“We saw a big jump in the number of gold medals awarded to Sauvignon Blanc this year, particularly for the current vintage class, which received double the number of gold medals than the same category in 2023. We had been expecting some stellar Sauvignon Blancs this year after a stunning vintage, and the entries did not disappoint,” Stu says.

Deputy Chair and Guest Judge Sam Kim says the Current Vintage Sauvignon Blanc class was a standout of his entire career.

“The standout variety was Sauvignon Blanc, hands-down. In my over thirty years of tasting Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, I believe the 2024 vintage is the best I've ever tried. Many wines displayed stunning fruit purity and intensity, along with a textured mouthfeel and perfectly balanced acidity. They are truly mouth-watering and deliciously satisfying,” he says. 

Sam, the writer and publisher of wine review website Wine Orbit, has judged many wine competitions throughout the world. The boutique nature of the Marlborough Wine Show enables judges to take their time to evaluate, discuss and reward high quality wines, he says.

“Marlborough Wine Show is a terrific show … The subregional focus for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is an extremely important tool for showcasing each subregion’s unique character, strengths and differences,” he says.

Ten gold medals were awarded in the Current Vintage Chardonnay class, up from four last year, while the Pinot Gris and Riesling classes also attracted many quality entries, each seeing a jump in the number of gold medals awarded. Seven gold medals were awarded to Pinot Gris and six to Riesling, each up from three in 2023.

Emerging talent was celebrated at this year’s show with a gold medal awarded to a student wine in the Champion Other White class.

“It was so wonderful to be able to award so many gold medals this year, and even more wonderful to see the quality of entries produced by our young and emerging winemakers, giving us confidence that Marlborough will continue to be known as one of the best wine producing regions in the world,” Stu says. 

Alongside the announcement of the 22 trophy winning wines, this year’s Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented at the Celebration Long Lunch.