Marlborough Wine Stories
Marlborough is unique – not for any one reason but for many. This region is full of colour, complexity and diversity – making this part of New Zealand truly special. Explore our uniquely Marlborough wine stories.
From August 2023 the region’s winemakers and growers are celebrating 50 years of Marlborough’s official beginning as a wine region. Discover the history of our region’s wine brands and explore stories about our people and place that make it special here.
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Alun Kilby crowned 2022 Young Winemaker of the Year
Congratulations to Alun Kilby from Marisco in Marlborough for becoming the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year.
Alun, 28, is Production Winemaker at Marisco. He has worked in the New Zealand wine industry for 13 years from Auckland to Central Otago before settling in Marlborough and is thrilled to take out this prestigious title.
King’s Wrath the King of the Show
Marisco Vineyards ‘The King’s Wrath’ Pinot Noir 2021 has been crowned the Champion Wine of the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
The company wasn’t the only one to make waves with Pinot Noir; the variety shined at the 2022 competition, across all vintages and subregions.
45 gold medals have been awarded to Marlborough wines today
With judging complete for the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, 45 gold medals have been awarded to Marlborough wines today.
More than 550 wines entered in this year’s Marlborough Wine Show
Seventeen judges are about to immerse themselves in Marlborough wine as the Marlborough Wine Show sponsored by QuayConnect kicks off this week.
Those judges will be kept busy with entries in most categories well above previous years. Chief Judge Ben Glover says wineries are well aware of the importance of shows, particularly regional ones such as Marlborough.
Alun Kilby from Marisco wins Marlborough 2022 Young Winemaker of the Year
Congratulations to Alun Kilby from Marisco, who came became the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Marlborough Young Winemaker of the Year. The competition was held on 21st September at MRC and the winners were announced at the Awards Dinner the same evening.
Wine Enthusiast’s 23rd Annual Wine Star Award Nominees
Wine Enthusiast’s 23rd Annual Wine Star Award nominees have been announced, honouring individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world. We are pleased to let you know Marlborough has once again been nominated for Wine Region of the Year.
Q&A with Marlborough’s 2022 Mayoral Candidates
In the lead up to the local government elections, Winepress reports a Q&A with Marlborough’s 2022 Mayoral Candidates and checks in with candidates in the Wairau Awatere ward.
Tahryn Mason is the 2022 Corteva Young Viticulturist of the Year
Congratulations to Tahryn Mason from Villa Maria in Marlborough, who became the 2022 Corteva Young Viticulturist of the Year. The National Final was held on 30 August at Indevin’s Bankhouse in Marlborough with the announcement made at the Awards Dinner the following evening.
RSE Scheme in the news
The Marlborough community is justifiably outraged by recent media stories relating to some RSE employees in our community. A Labour Inspectorate investigation is underway, and we await the results. If any of the recent allegations are upheld, we should all be concerned.
It is critical to everyone that the RSE scheme ensures the win-wins it was set up to achieve are strengthened for the workers, businesses and communities involved. We fully support the move to push ahead with a review of the RSE scheme.
Who will be Marlborough’s next Young Winemaker of the year?
The Young Winemaker competition aims to help ambitious and passionate young people become future leaders of the NZ wine industry. It is a fantastic opportunity for emerging young winemakers to grow, develop and advance their careers. We are pleased to introduce you to the young Marlborough contestants competing in the Marlborough competition 21st August 2022.
Marlborough Young Viticulturist
Congratulations to Tahryn Mason from Villa Maria who became the 2022 Marlborough Corteva Young Viticulturist of the Year on 7 July at the competition held at Giesen House in Rapaura. He will now go through to the National Final which will also be held in Marlborough at the end of August.
Whitehaven supports LegaSea
Produced by Whitehaven Wines, the Kōparepare wine range has been created to support the protection and restoration of New Zealand’s marine environment. All sales of Kōparepare benefit the work of LegaSea, a non-profit organisation dedicated to restoring the abundance, biodiversity and health of New Zealand’s marine environment.
Champion of NZ winegrowing
When Dominic Pecchenino arrived at Matador Estate in 1993, Marlborough winegrowers were plagued by phylloxera and sceptical of plant science. Three decades on, the viticulturist has been recognised for his tireless work - using innovation, research and collegiality, to improve the way we grow wine.
Young Viticulturist 2022
The Corteva Young Viticulturist of the Year competition celebrates the future of viticulture. We are pleased to introduce you to the young Marlborough contestants competing in the Marlborough competition 7th July 2022.
Pioneering viticulturist
A stalwart of the Marlborough wine industry, Dominic Pecchenino, has been honoured by the board of Wine Marlborough with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award, which recognises service to the development of the Marlborough Wine industry, was presented to the viticultural consultant during the Winter Pruning Field Day held at Matador Estate today [Wednesday, 25 May].
Pinot Gris Making its Mark
When it comes to the Marlborough wine scene, Pinot Gris is a relatively new kid on the block. But it hasn’t taken long for it to make its mark in the region.
On May 17, we’ll be celebrating International Pinot Gris Day and Marlborough’s second-most produced white wine, following Sauvignon Blanc.
Balancing Act
Marlborough’s 2022 vintage was “edge-of-your-seat” stuff, with higher yields, inclement weather and the impact of Covid infections on crews, says Sophie Parker-Thomson, MW.
And it required a change in mindset from industry, following three consecutive drought years and light crops last year. “There has been a temptation to replenish the very empty pipelines with the bountiful yields - principally Sauvignon Blanc,” says Sophie, who owns and runs Blank Canvas Wines with her husband Matt Thomson.
#SauvBlancDay
Marlborough: Its long days of sunshine, crisp mornings, towering mountain ranges, meandering riverbeds and the sunken valleys of the Marlborough Sounds, glistening with crisp, emerald green waters.
If Marlborough came in a flavour there’s no doubt it would be Sauvignon Blanc, the wine that put the region on the map more than 30 years ago.
Top Tips for Touring
When covid-19 put an end to international wine tours for Wellington man Trevor Garrett, Marlborough moved to the top of the hit list.
Previously spending weeks walking and biking around some of the world’s oldest wine regions, including Burgundy and Chablis in France, Trevor opted to do Marlborough by bike.
Alternative styles
For Sauvignon Blanc lovers, the thought of putting their aromatic, fruity and uniquely Marlborough drop in oak can be intriguing and tantalising.
Pioneering Marlborough winemaker Kevin Judd has been using different styles with Sauvignon Blanc for years – fermenting it in oak barrels and using wild yeasts. Doing so provides a significant savouriness and a totally different mouthfeel from the classic crisp and clean Marlborough Sauvignon.