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Wine Region |
Wine Region |
Wine Region |
Wine Region |
Wine Region |
Wine Region |
Wine Region |
Welcome to the Wines of MarlboroughBlenheim is the main wine growing region of Marlborough. It is located near the top of the South Island, and is only 20 minutes south of the tranquil Marlborough Sounds.Marlborough is New Zealand's largest wine growing region. It also claims to be New Zealand's sunniest. Lots of sun combined with low autumn rainfall, free draining alluvial and stony soils and cool nights combine to make for a great wine growing region. Marlborough has an enviable international reputation for producing the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world. It also produces very good Chardonnay and Riesling and is becoming noted as a producer of high quality Pinot Noir. Of the region's 3,300 hectares of grapes, one third are planted in Sauvignon Blanc. The remainder are mainly in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Marlborough likes to celebrate the importance of wine, and each year features a number of special wine related events:
Regional Vintage GuideThe table below indicates the quality of wine vinatges in the Marlborough Region for each of the past ten years. Please note that the information is indicative only and that the quality of grapes grown may vary from one vineyard to another. | Marlborough Information Marlborough Sounds Information   
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| Allan Scott Wines is a family business established and operated by Catherine and Allan Scott. The winery is now one of the older established in the region, and has earnt a solid reputation for medal-winning wines, fine food and award-winning premises. The winery, sales facilities and Twelve Trees Restaurant are accomodated in a "rammed earth" building featuring warm natural timbers. The winery concentrates on the varieties for which Marlborough is famous - sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and riesling, althougg it also produces a good pinot noir. Allan Scott wines are exported to Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan. |
Allan Scott Wines | 
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| Cloudy Bay is Marlborough's, and probably New Zealand's, most famous winery. Winemaker Kevin Judd made Cloudy Bay's first Sauvignon Blanc in 1985, and hasn't looked back since. His wine took the world by storm, and established Marlborough's reputation as a top wine region. Cloudy Bay's Sauvignon Blanc is made in commercial volumes and represents excellent value for money. It is exported to Australia, the United Kingdom, other parts of Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Canada, Fiji, Japan and Singapore. The winery has just launched a new oak aged sauvignon Blanc called Te Koko (the Maori name for Cloudy Bay). This wine is made from grapes harvested in 1996, and has been described as "deliciosly aromatic and richly textured". It has been matured in oak barrels and fermented on wild yeast lees for 18 months. In taste, it brings to mind strong tropical fruit flavours. It has some of the buttery characteristics, typical of Chardonnay and is set to grab the attention of the world wine media. Cloudy Bay also produces excellent Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and late harvest riesling wines. For a special treat, try their sparkling Pelorous wine. |
Cloudy Bay Winery |
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| Fairhall Downs Estate Wines is located at Wrekin Road at the head of Marlborough’s Brancott Valley. The site is elevated and North facing with light to medium free draining soils providing the ideal combination for growing premium quality wine grapes. The first wine released was Fairhall Downs 1996 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc which achieved immediate success being awarded a Gold medal and Trophy for Champion Sauvignon Blanc in the Perth Royal Wine Show. Following this, Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc has won gold medals and trophies for the 1997, 1998 and 1999 vintages. Fairhall Downs Estate Wines are exported toHong Kong, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United states of America, Brazil, Belgium and Canada. |
Fairhall Downs Estate Wines |
| Forrest Estate combines hospitality with quality Marlborough wines. Operated by John and Bridgid Forrest, the winery has earned a reputation for excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay wines. The winery features two hectares of shady parkland for picnics, a garden winebar and tasting rooms. It takes pride in its warm, friendly and informative service. If you have time and make arrangements the owners will take you through the vineyard, winery and, of course, wine tasting. Forrest Estate wines are available in Australia, the United States of America, Austria, Germany, Canada, Holland, England and Norhtern Ireland. |
Forrest Estate |
| Fromm Winery is owned by Georg and Ruth Fromm, who also own a winery above the Rhine River valley in the south-east of Switzerland, close to the borders of Liechtenstein and Austria. Their Blenheim winery is unusual in that it specialises in reds, rather than the more common sauvignon blancs, chardonnays and rieslings. In fact, the home vineyard is planted only in red varieties and Gewürztraminer. While a relatively new winery, Fromm wines have met with success and rank with the best wines of the region. The Fromm's attribute their success to "hands on" vineyard management including organic techniques and hand picking of grapes. The winery features an architectually designed tasting room combined with open to the visitor barrel storage and production facilities. Fromm wines are exported to Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United states of America. |
Fromm Winery |
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| Grove Mill has been producing wine since 1988. The winery's wines are labelled according to quality. Top of the range wines are labelled Reserve, with every day drinking wines released under the Santuary label. Wine maker David Pearce is proud of his success in local and overseas wine competitions. Most recent awards include silver medals for the 1998 Chardonnay at both the Japan International Wine Challenge 2000 and the London International Wine Challenge 2000. The Winery's 1998 Sauvignon Blanc was awarded gold at the 1999 Royal Easter Wine Show, the 1999 Sydney International Wine Show and the 1998 Air New Zealand Wine Awards. The 1999 Sauvignon Blanc fared less well winning just silver at both the 2000 Royal Easter Wine Show and the 1999 Air New Zealand Wine Awards. Grove Mill Wines are exported to Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands and the United States of America. |
Grove Mill |
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| Hunter's Wines is a great place to visit. Visitors can enjoy dining at a top quality restaurant which is open every day of the week for lunch and dinner, barbeque and picnic facilities, wine tasting and sales. Owned by Jane Hunter, the winery is a big producer of high quality wines. Top varieties include award winning Savignon Blancs (oak aged and unoaked) and a very good Chardonnay. Hunter's Wines are made by Gary Duke and exported to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Denmark, Japan, Singapore, Australia and the USA. |
Hunter's Wines |
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| Isabel Estate Vineyard is owned by Michael and Robyn Tiller. It is one of the region's larger wineries, and one of the few to make its wines soley from its own grapes. Best varieties are sauvignon blanc, riesling and chardonnay. If you are a lover of dessert wines, yopu must try their Noble Sauvage. Isabel Estate wines are exported to the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, North America and Asia. |
Isabel Estate Vineyard |
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| Jackson Estate is operated by John Stichbury. One hundred and fifty years ago John's great-grandfather, Adam Jackson, grew bountiful crops of wheat, oats and barley on the rich riversilt soils of Marlborough’s Wairau Plain. Today Jackson Estate produces some of New Zealand’s best Sauvignon Blanc wine. Jackson Estate wines are available in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Asia and Australia. |
Jackson Estate |
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| Lawsons Dry Hills is owned by Ross Lawson. With a very good restaurant and great wine, it is a wonderful place to visit while in Marlborough. Winemaker Mike Just has built the winery's reputation on his beautifully floral Gewurztraminer and his zingy Sauvignon Blanc, awarded a gold medal at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2000. He also makes an excellent Chardonnay and a good Riesling. Lawson Dry Hills' wines are exported to France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Holland, the United States of America, Singapore and Australia. |
Lawsons Dry Hills |
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| Montana Brancott Winery is situated just outside of Blenheim. The winery is a fascinating combination of new and old. It not only has the only Coquard Champagne press in the Southern Hemisphere and the first bulk grape tipper tanks in the world, but also houses imposing wooden cuves and a cooperage with 6500 traditional oak barriques. Montana Marlborough Chardonnay was awarded white wine of the year at the 1997 International Wine Challenge in London. In partnership with the House of Deutz in France, the Brancott Winery specialises in making top quality méthode traditionnelle wines. The winery's Deutz Marlborough Cuvée was named Sparkling Wine of the Year at the International Wine Challenge in 1998. The winery also produces a good Sauvignon Blanc and is rapidly increasing its production of Pinot Noir. For vistors there is a restaurant, wine shop and education facilities. |
Montana Brancott Winery |
| Mud House Wine Company is owned by John Joslin, a former farmer from Essex. He and his wife Jennifer brought 20 acres of land in Marlborough after cruising the world for six years. The vineyard is named "Legrys", and the Mud House Wine Company is its marketing arm. It was planted in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, varieties all suited to the silty, stony river run soil. In the first year of production, Mud House Wines' 1997 Sauvignon Blanc won the Winestate "Gregoire Trophy" and was judged best of the 332 wines entered. The winery has continued to win an impressive tally of medals and trophies in national and international wine competitions. Most recently, its Suvignon Blanc 2000 was awarded the Sauvignon Blanc trphy at the London 2001 International Wine and Spirit Competition. The vieyard welcomes visitors and offers a restaurant and accomodation (for details go to the separate Legrys Vineyard website). Mudhouse Wines are exported to the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States of America, Hong Kong and China.
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Mud House Wine Company |
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| Nautilus Estate has been producing wine since 1985 and has developed a reputation for top quality Sauvignon Blanc. Over the past few years, Nautilus Estate has undertaken an extensive expansion programme into Pinot Noir and has over 60 acres of Pinot Noir planted in the Marlborough region. The Estate's imposing winery was inspired by traditional 'Kentucky barn' architecture and provides a stable temperature environment for wine processing and storage. The cellar door area makes extensive use of the natural curves found in the shape of the Nautilus shell and incorporates an underground cellar for storage of library wines in optimum storage conditions. Nautilus welcomes visitors daily in summer from 10am - 5pm and in winter from 10.30am - 4.30pm. Nautilus wines are exported widely and available in North America, Australia, Asia and Japan, Europe and the United Kingdom. |
Nautilus Estate |
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| Seresin Estate is a new Marlborough winery and probably the Region's classiest - check out their branding, designer web site and the news that Peter Gordon of London's Sugar Club flew back to New Zealand to cook for the winery's recent birthday party. Seresin was established in 1992 by Michael Seresin, a New Zealand born film-maker based in London. The wineries first vintage was produced in 1996. Unlike some other Marlborough wineries, all of Seresin's wines are produced from grapes grown on the winery's 50 hectare Wairau Valley vineyard. Main varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Wine writer Bob Campbell MW, writing in Cuisine Magazine, described Seresin's Reserve Chardonnay as "a symphony of subtle hazelnut, butter scotch, spicy oak and tight citrus flavours". Made by Brian Bicknell, Seresin's wines are exported to the United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Holland, Australi, Canada and the USA. |
Seresin Estate |
| Stoneleigh Vineyards lie on the banks of the Wairau River in the heart of Marlborough's Jacksons Road wine growing area. Located on the site of a former riverbed, the Stoneleigh Vineyards take their name from the stones that cover the area, which reflect sunlight into the vines, and speed the ripening process. Wines from the vineyard are of consistent quality and reasonably priced. I can personally recommend Stoneleigh's Sauvignon Blanc, its Riesling and its Pinot Noir. Its wines are widely available, both domestically and internationally. |
Stoneleigh Vineyards |
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| Vavasour Wines, established in 1985, are the pioneers of the Awatere Valley. The winery is located thirty minutes south of Blenheim on the stony river terraces of the Valley. It is an area of stark and majestic beauty. Scorching sun and dry winds result in ripe and concentrated fruit that winemaker Glenn Thomas turns into some of New Zealand's best wine. The best wines are marketed under the Vavasour label, with more affordable "drink now" wines labelled Dashwood. Vavasour's Chardonnay is particularly good, as is its Sauvignon Blanc. Vavasour wines can be found in select outlets across France, Switzerland, the United Kingdon, Ireland, the United States and Australia. If you would like to visit the winery, the cellar is open all week over summer from 10am - 4 pm and in winter from Monday to Saturday. |
Vavasour Wines |
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| Wither Hills is located in the heart of the Region's Wairau Valley. Father and son team, John and Brent Marriss, established the vineyard in 1992 with the mission of crafting wines from the highest quality fruit. The area is characterised by free draining, silty alluvial loams over deep stony river deposits. These soils and the Region's high sunshine hours combine to produce grapes of great flavour and concentration. Wither Hills is best known for its elegant award winning Chardonnays, its complex and fruity Savignon Blancs and its wonderful Pinot Noir which was recently judged best Pinot Noir at the 2000 Sydney Wine Show. Its 1997 Chardonnay picked up a gold medal at the 1999 Air New Zealand Wine Awards as did its 1998 Pinot Noir and its 2000 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. |
Wither Hills |
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