Entries are open for the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect; a key event on the Marlborough wine calendar celebrating excellence in wine.

Newly-appointed Chief Judge Stu Marfell says the show is a wonderful opportunity for Marlborough wine producers to benchmark their wines against others in the region, which has become widely known as the region that put New Zealand on the world wine stage. 

Three new trophies are up for the taking this year, with a champion wine being awarded for three subregions: the Wairau Valley, the Southern Valleys and Awatere & South Marlborough.

The Young Winemaker Competition provides a fantastic opportunity for future winemakers 30 years or under to upskill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry. The winner of the regional competition will compete in the National competition against other regions. We are pleased to introduce you to the contestants competing in the Marlborough competition taking place Wednesday 13th September.

We are excited to share with you the new brand identity for our wine industry – the Marlborough wine industry.

Few would have predicted Marlborough’s rapid ascent to become one of New Zealand’s preeminent – and internationally renowned – wine-growing regions. This month, the region’s winemakers and growers are celebrating 50 years of Marlborough’s official beginning as a wine region, and inviting the country to re-discover the depth of Marlborough wine.

For the first time SWNZ has also produced regional-level reports to further assist with communicating the environmental performance of vineyards in each winegrowing region. Marlborough’s regional report is now available here.

Congratulations to Zac Howell, from Indevin, who became the Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year 2023 following the competition on 6th July. 

Congratulations also goes to Laura Hammond from Cloudy Bay who came second and Liv Bishop from Delegat who came third.   The other contestants were Harry Panesar, Aaron Hood, Gordon Browne, Josh Anderson and Henrietta Steele.  They all did themselves proud, getting out of their comfort zone and tackling the various challenges with gusto. 

The Young Viticulturist of the Year competition celebrates the future of viticulture. We are pleased to introduce you to the contestants competing in the Marlborough competition 6th July 2023.

Blenheim, New Zealand — Get ready to experience the latest and greatest in the wine industry with the highly anticipated New Zealand WinePRO trade event! This new trade event will be held in Marlborough, the biggest wine production region in New Zealand, from 25 to 27 June, 2024.

Whitehaven Wine Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Ross to the role of Chief Executive Officer.

Steve is not new to Whitehaven, having joined the company in 2008 following several years with Fonterra in commercial, analytical & project management roles.

Congratulations to Spy Valley Wines, who have taken out the first “Marlborough Wine Industry Workplace Wellbeing Impact Award”! The entire Spy Valley team, from vineyard to winery, connected over Taco Tuesday and an exclusive preview of the 2023 vintage straight from the tanks & barrels.

Marlborough’s 2023 vintage “could have gone so wrong and came out so well”, says Astrolabe Winemaker Simon Waghorn. “Every winemaker I’ve spoken to is pretty excited and also a bit bemused.”

Despite the perils of a wet and cool spring and summer, harvest was “magic” across the board, thanks largely to a lingering harvest under optimal autumnal conditions, he adds. “I think all the varieties have benefitted from more time on the vines and ripening a bit later.”

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.

International research found that people who thrive had five things in common. The key is to lock them in as small, but regular improvements, so they become a habit.

Rugby great Sam Whitelock talks about his role as Farmstrong ambassador and what he does to manage stress and pressure and build his resilience.

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.

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/

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.

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.

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.

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.