Marlborough is New Zealand's most important wine region by far. Situated at the northeastern tip of the South Island, this dry, sunny region is home to more than 500 growers and produces more than three-quarters of all New Zealand wine.
Marlborough is New Zealand's most important wine region by far. Situated at the northeastern tip of the South Island, this dry, sunny region is home to more than 500 growers and produces more than three-quarters of all New Zealand wine.
This region is particularly famous for its pungent, zesty white wines made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape variety, which dominates the Marlborough vineyards. In 2017 the variety accounted for 79 percent of vineyard surface area and 86 percent of regional production.
Situated at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, with Cook Strait to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the east, Marlborough has a maritime climate. this provides a cooling influence which, coupled with some of the highest sunshine hours in the country, creates the perfect environment for grape growing. Hot days and cooler nights add to the complexity of fruit grown in Marlborough, especially the diurnal range of around 11 degrees during summer. This allows fruit to ripen slowly, ensuring intensity and naturally high acidity; the perfect combination for producing delicious Sauvignon Blanc.
Those ideal conditions also suit a number of other varieties that Marlborough is becoming increasingly known for: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Sparkling Wines have long been stars in Marlborough’s portfolio. More recently, varieties such as Syrah, Albariño, Arneis and Grüner Veltliner are steadily making their mark on the region.
