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.

Third Time’s a Charm for Champion Rosé

Whitehaven’s Kōparepare Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2022 has been crowned Scenic Hotel Marlborough Champion Rosé at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Kōparepare Brand Ambassador Samantha White says it was the third year in a row that the wine had taken out a gold medal at the Show. To get the trophy was an added bonus.

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Giesen Chardonnay Shines at Marlborough Wine Show

A drive to produce fantastic Marlborough Chardonnay has been recognised at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Giesen Wines received two trophies for their Single Vineyard Clayvin Chardonnay 2018: the MRC Champion Chardonnay, 2019 and Older, as well as the Vit Management Ltd Best Organic Wine of the Show.

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Award-winning musicians matched to award-winning wines

Ten-time NZ music award-winning duo Broods will grace the main stage with an hour-long DJ set, drawing from their popular albums.

Wine Marlborough General Manager Marcus Pickens anticipates that the Nelson-born artists will be one of the festival’s musical highlights, alongside Coterie – a five piece band with a reputation for excellent live shows.

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Immaculate Fruit Makes for Champion Small Parcel Gewürtraminer

When Indevin Winemaker Dean Boyce set about making the Honorary Lilac Vines Gewürztraminer 2021, creating something special was front of mind.

His efforts came to fruition when the wine was crowned the Wine Brokers New Zealand Champion Gewürztraminer at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

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Complexity and Elegance a Winning Combo for Champion Pinot Gris

A careful synergy of unique flavours was at the forefront when Saint Clair Family Estate winemakers set out to create their award winning Saint Clair James Sinclair Pinot Gris 2021.

The wine picked up the Litho and Label Champion Pinot Gris at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, one of three wines to take home a gold medal in the category.

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Exciting newcomers join festival favourites for the 36th Marlborough Wine & Food Festival

The locals-only and early-bird tickets sold out in a flash, a balmy La Niña summer is forecast and wineries are getting ready for the 2023 Marlborough Wine & Food Festival.

Wine Marlborough is delighted to see the return of New Zealand’s longest-running food and wine festival after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This will be the 36th Wine & Food Festival, bringing exciting newcomers such as Rimapere Vineyard and The Uncommon Wine of New Zealand to the fore alongside family-owned wineries that have exhibited at the festival for many years to become part of the festival’s heritage – such as Hunter’s Wines, Forrest Wines and Wairau River Wines.

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Tohu Wines takes The Coterie Wine of Provenance Trophy for the second time with Pinot Noir

If you’re searching for a taste of the Awatere Valley, you’ll find it in a bottle of Tohu Whenua Awa Pinot Noir 2019.

Tohu Wines picked up The Coterie Wine of Provenance trophy for the second time at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, showing their expertise when it comes to capturing a sense of place in the bottle.

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Many Winemakers Contribute to Legacy Award

Knowledge passed from one winemaking team to another over nearly a decade has come up trumps at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Despite previously being a category dominated by white wines, Wither Hills picked up the Marlborough Museum Legacy Award with their Wither Hills Taylor River Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, 2015 and 2011.

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Marisco Leads the Way for Marlborough Pinot Noir

The 2022 Marlborough Wine Show Champion Wine of the Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, is the result of years of hard work on the road to perfection.

Marisco Vineyards Proprietor and Winemaker Brent Marris says the journey of Marisco Vineyards ‘The King’s Wrath’ Pinot Noir 2021 began long before the 2021 vintage, way back when they first planted Pinot Noir grapes in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys.

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Young Winemaker, Our People, Press Release Sarah Linklater Young Winemaker, Our People, Press Release Sarah Linklater

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.

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Press Release, Marlborough Wine Show Sarah Linklater Press Release, Marlborough Wine Show Sarah Linklater

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.

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Press Release Sarah Linklater Press Release Sarah Linklater

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.

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Young Winemaker Sarah Linklater Young Winemaker Sarah Linklater

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.

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