Marlborough

Marlborough lies on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. Commercial vineyard planting began at Montana's Brancott Estate in 1973, and Sauvignon Blanc plantings in the 1970s soon put the region on the international wine map. Sunshine, warm days, cooling breezes and cool nights shape the growing season.

Sauvignon Blanc changes noticeably across Marlborough's three main areas. Wairau Valley, the main quality-growing area, is associated with tropical fruit, blackcurrant leaf and citrus. Southern Valleys wines tend to be richer, with citrus and stone fruit, more weight and texture. Awatere Valley is cooler, drier and windier, and its wines are often crisper, herbaceous and mineral. Pinot Noir is the second most planted grape, with styles that vary by site, soil and climate. Regional, grape and vintage claims on New Zealand labels must account for at least 85 percent of the wine.

Producer profiles

Begin with this selection, or open the full directory when you want every producer currently placed in Marlborough.

• Clos HenriFamily-owned Marlborough estate established in 2000 by the Henri Bourgeois winegrowing family of Sancerre, producing organic estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from one Wairau Valley property.
• Cloudy BayMarlborough's founding Sauvignon Blanc estate, built in 1985 by David Hohnen in the Wairau Valley.
• Dog Point VineyardsDog Point Vineyards is a family estate in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough, founded by the former viticulturalist and winemaker of Cloudy Bay. The range runs from Sauvignon Blanc through Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Section 94, a barrel-fermented, wild-yeast Sauvignon Blanc aged 18 months and considered one of New Zealand's most complex whites.
• Goldschmidt VineyardsGoldschmidt Vineyards makes Boulder Bank Sauvignon Blanc in Marlborough, alongside a separate Forefathers bottling.
• Greywacke VineyardsSmall Marlborough producer built by Kevin Judd after 25 vintages at Cloudy Bay, using wild yeast fermentation and Sutherland family fruit to make a savoury, textured range of seven wines.
• Hunter's WinesMarlborough's founding family winery, known for Sauvignon Blanc that helped define New Zealand's signature white wine style.
• Lake Chalice WinesMarlborough producer making parcel focused Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
• Nautilus EstateA family-owned Marlborough winery making dry, food-friendly wines from selected parcels across the region’s cool valleys.
• Rose Family EstateA family-run Marlborough producer behind Wairau River, with a broad vineyard base and a documented Reserve Pinot Noir from Home-vineyard fruit.
• Saint Clair Family EstateMarlborough family estate founded in 1994, drawing on vineyard work by Neal and Judy Ibbotson that began in 1978.
• Stoneleigh VineyardsMarlborough wines shaped by Rapaura’s ancient riverbed, where sun-warmed stones support ripe, fresh fruit.
• The Delta Wine Company LtdMarlborough’s Delta began with Southern Valleys Pinot Noir and now follows site character from Dillon’s Point Sauvignon Blanc to Hawke’s Bay Merlot.