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.

Press Release Sarah Linklater Press Release Sarah Linklater

Wellness Week - Dealing with stress

Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps people manage the ups and downs of farming and growing. To find out what works for you and lock it in, visit www.farmstrong.co.nz

Here are some resources about dealing and managing stress.

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Press Release Sarah Linklater Press Release Sarah Linklater

Wellness Week - What’s on

The first Wine Industry Wellness Week runs from May 8 to 12, to support a culture of wellness and wellbeing in the industry, while highlighting effective and innovative initiatives from across the sector. That includes everyone from growers and vineyard workers to wineries and the services sector.

A range of different activities are taking place alongside Wellness Week. Find out more here.

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#SauvBlancDay, Press Release Sarah Linklater #SauvBlancDay, Press Release Sarah Linklater

#SauvBlancDay

Celebrated on the first Friday in May #SauvBlancDay is a global, social media wine tasting and opportunity to digitally connect wine lovers around the world with Marlborough. To find out how to get involved or find our toolkit please visit https://sauvignonblancday.co.nz/

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Lake Chalice Encapsulates Taste of Wairau Valley with Champion Riesling

Marlborough’s Lower Wairau Valley captured the tastes of judges when it came to Riesling at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Lake Chalice’s The Falcon Riesling 2021 was the pick of the bunch, winning the De Sangosse Champion Riesling trophy at the show.

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Conditions Align to Enable Champion Riesling

A wine made only in the best of years has been named the Barrel Finance and Logistics Champion Sweet Wine at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Tohu Wines picked up the trophy as one of a trifecta at the awards for the company this year, with their Tohu Raiha Reserve Noble Riesling 2016.

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Ageing Awatere Valley Vines Create Elegance in the Bottle

The WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc, previous vintage, at the 2022 QuayConnect Marlborough Wine Show has been over three decades in the making.

Vavasour Wines picked up the trophy with their Vavasour Papa Sauvignon Blanc 2021, made from the very first Sauvignon Blanc vines planted in the Awatere Valley more than 30 years ago.

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Respect from Vine to Bottle Makes Champion Pinot Noir

A concentrated effort from the entire Marisco team can be credited for their title of Classic Oak Products Champion Pinot Noir, current vintage at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

The same wine,‘The King’s Wrath’ Pinot Noir 2021, also saw the company pick up the trophy for Champion Wine of the Show.

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Top Sparkling Wine Captures Finesse of Marlborough

A marriage of top quality fruit and traditional winemaking techniques was the secret behind the winning sparkling wine at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Pernod Ricard picked up the Vitis & Winemakers Champion Sparkling Wine trophy with their Deutz Prestige Cuvée 2017.

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Tricky Harvest no Barrier for Champion Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc was a stand out for Vavasour Wines at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, who took home two Sauvignon Blanc category trophies.

Their Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2022 shone in the WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc, Current Vintage category, despite a tricky growing season.

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Winning Pinot Noir a Stand-Out for Winemaking Team

A traditional and hands-off approach in the winery paid off for Tohu winemakers, who came away from the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, with not one but two trophies for their Whenua Awa Pinot Noir 2019.

Tohu Wines Chief Winemaker Bruce Taylor says the wine is a favourite for the team in the winery; the 2019 vintage a standout amongst vertical tastings even now.

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Winning Chardonnay a Synergy of Flavours Thanks to Careful Handling from Vine to Bottle

Minimal intervention was at the forefront when Rapaura Springs Winemaker Mike Bann set about to make the trophy-winning Single Vineyard Bouldevines Vineyard Chardonnay 2020.

The wine was awarded the MRC Champion Chardonnay, Current Vintage, at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

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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.

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Lifetime Achievement, Our People, Press Release Sarah Linklater Lifetime Achievement, Our People, Press Release Sarah Linklater

Accidental Pioneer 

ALLAN SCOTT took a punt on a new job in August 1973, joining 90 bewildered workers in the dry and dusty Brancott Valley. A few months later only a dozen of the team remained, toiling to plant Montana’s first Marlborough vineyard, with little idea of what they were doing or why.

“Having to carve out a whole new life I didn’t know about was probably one of the best decisions I made,” says the recipient of the 2022 Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises his enormous contribution over the past 50 years.

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Growing Longevity 

“WHAT WILL your vineyard look like in 10 years with no intervention?” That’s the question Mark Allen likes to ask vineyard owners, given the risks of trunk disease and virus, and the opportunities of replanting. “Marlborough is in a huge transitional phase at the moment,” says Mark, who was awarded a Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award in late October, recognising his relentless commitment to viticulture over the past 35 years. “Now is the time to think about the future.”

Mark began his career in kiwifruit in Tauranga but was lured over to grape vines when his good friend and neighbour Morton Brown established Morton Estate Vineyards. His kiwifruit skillsets served him well in his new field, with soils and vines and canopy management key to the success of both crops, he says.

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Marlborough Wine Show 2022 Champion Other White a Labour of Love

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Pinot Blanc 2019 has shown huge promise in its second vintage, picking up the Move Freight Champion Other White Wine Trophy at the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show.

Saint Clair Family Estate Winemaker Heather Stewart says receiving the award was extra special for the company, given that it is a recent addition to their offerings.

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