2024

Wairau River Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

This is the wine judged best Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at the Marlborough Wine Show. In a region renowned for this distinctive varietal, it is a huge honour to have received the Trophy for Champion Sauvignon Blanc this vintage. Our team have consistently upheld a reputation for excellence since our inaugural 1991 Sauvignon Blanc won the Trophy wine at the New Zealand Wine Awards.

It starts in our Estate vineyards, in the region famous for introducing elegant, cool climate New Zealand wines to the world. Marlborough’s warm days and cool nights create an extended growing season allowing the grapes to develop delicious acidity which balances the intense varietal characteristics of ripe grapefruit, white nectarine, and tropical fruits resulting in an elegant, refreshing, crisp flavoursome wine that distinctly says Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

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$20

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Previous Years

2019

Flowering commenced in the first week of December. During this period the region experienced higher than average rainfall limiting the potential yields. January and February were some of the warmest months on record culminating in one of the earliest harvests seen in the region. Picking began in the first week of March and concluded in the first week of April.

2020

Flowering commenced in the first week of December. During this period, the region experienced perfect flowering conditions. January to March produced some of the driest months on record culminating in one of the most exceptional harvests ever seen from the region. Picking began in the 2nd week of March and concluded in the second week of April. The drawn-out nature of the harvest allowed the winemakers to pick at optimal balance and sugar ripeness, as well as physiological ripeness. The warm and fine weather through the late summer months has allowed the development of a riper spectrum of tropical flavours. The resulting wines have wonderful fruit concentration aromatic power.

2021

Flowering commenced in the first week of December. During this period, the region experienced less than perfect flowering conditions which resulted in a lower-than-average potential yield. Balance of yield to canopy health was excellent. January, February, and March produced some of the driest months ever recorded with picking beginning in the last week of February and concluding in the last week of March culminating in one of the earliest vintages in the region and also one of the most exceptional harvests we have seen. The warm fine weather through the late summer provided exceptionally clean and healthy fruit, creating the a riper spectrum of tropical fruit flavours, this provided the winemakers with an extensive array of complimentary blending components from which to assemble some fantastic wines. The resulting wines from the 2021 vintage have wonderful fruit concentration aromatic power and defining elegance which are all hallmarks of this outstanding vintage. The elegance and poise seen from the 2021 wines will truly make this one of the most celebrated years for some time.

2022

After a lower yielding 2021 vintage, Marlborough was blessed with outstanding weather in December providing near perfect flowering conditions and a subsequent great fruit set. This translated into an increased number of berries per bunch, and helped offset the slightly lower than average bunch numbers which was a result of the cooler weather we experienced during flowering in 2020. The great weather conditions continued through January with above average daily temperatures and sunshine hours, punctuated by timely periods of rainfall. This ensured optimal soil water status giving great canopy development and health. Initially it looked like an early start to harvest but then we saw periods with cooler temperatures and increased rainfall in late January and early February. This slowed development and extended the ripening period with harvest commencing in the 3rd week of March and concluding at the end of April. The extended ripening period has lead to wines with great balance and poise ensuring some outstanding components to go into this years’ blends.

2023

Warm settled weather in spring and early summer provided great conditions for flowering and fruit set, resulting in yields more aligned with the long-term average than in previous vintages. The classic dry windy weather which Marlborough normally experiences throughout summer was replaced this year with extended periods of cloud cover and rainfall, causing some initial concern from the viticulture and winemaking teams. However, once ripening commenced the weather settled and remained fine and windy throughout harvest. The increased soil moisture ultimately resulted in excellent canopy development and overall vine health, alleviating any initial disease concerns, and the reduced sunshine hours and cooler daily temperatures helped slow and extend the ripening period resulting in wines of intense concentration and poise. Harvesting progressed smoothly with the favourable weather conditions allowing the winemakers to hang the bunches out on the vine to achieve optimum ripeness, with picking commencing in the third week of March and completed before the end of April.

Wairau River Reserve Marlborough Albariño

Wairau River Reserve Marlborough Albariño

Wairau River Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Previous Years

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Pairings

Freshly Shucked Oysters in the Half Shell with Rock Sugar

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