Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough has a distinctive, if not charmingly addictive character. The high mouthwatering acidity complements rich tropical flavors contrasted by an asparagus, green grass savory character. It can range from bone dry to subtly sweet (8g/l RS).
What wine is Marlborough known for?
Marlborough is home to New Zealand’s signature wine, Sauvignon Blanc, alongside a range of other mouth-watering varieties. Situated at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, with Cook Strait to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the east, Marlborough experiences a maritime climate.
Where is Marlborough wine from?
Known throughout the wine world for its production of Sauvignon Blanc, the Marlborough Wine Region is the most prolific of all wine producing areas in New Zealand. It is located in the northeast corner of the South Island and accounts for over 60% of the country’s grape production.
Is Marlborough a type of grape?
A survey in 2009 showed that Marlborough dominated the New Zealand grape and wine industry, and that the sauvignon blanc grape dominated Marlborough. Marlborough accounted for 57% of all vineyard hectarage, and 76% of its hectarage was planted with sauvignon blanc grapes.Is Marlborough wine good?
It 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. … Other grape varieties also perform well here.
Is Marlborough wine sweet?
Is Sauvignon Blanc sweet or dry? Sauvignon Blanc is usually made as a dry, still white wine. However, some producers in Marlborough, New Zealand make sparkling wine with it or leave a touch of sugar for richness.
Why is Marlborough famous?
Marlborough is about world famous Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s largest winegrowing region, and the soils and enviable climate that create it. It’s about fresh seafood sought by the world’s finest chefs. It’s about diverse landscapes, from valleys of vines to sheltered waterways of the Marlborough Sounds.
How do you get to Marlborough New Zealand?
Two airlines fly direct to the region. Air New Zealand fly to Marlborough Airport from Auckland and Wellington. Sounds Air fly to Marlborough Airport from Christchurch, Wellington, Napier and Paraparaumu, and also from Wellington to Picton Airport (Koromiko).What is a good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc?
- Cottesbrook Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. 4.3 out of 5 stars. …
- Fire Road Sauvignon Blanc. 4.5 out of 5 stars. …
- Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc. …
- Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin. …
- Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. …
- Giesen Sauvignon Blanc. …
- Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc. …
- Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc.
Classic New Zealand Wine Trail Marlborough’s vast flat areas are also ideal for a gentle gourmet cycle tour. From the small township of Renwick(opens in new window), there are 30 great wineries within a 24 kilometre circuit.
Article first time published onWhy is Marlborough good for grapes?
Being one of the sunniest and driest areas in New Zealand, Marlborough also has relatively cool climate conditions, providing the grapes with a long slow, flavour-intensifying ripening period.
Why is New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc so good?
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs are bold wines with loads of flavor. That “boldness” is likely part of the reason these wines are so popular in America. The hallmark high level of acidity in these wines makes them refreshing on a hot summer day and also helps them pair well with a wide variety of foods.
Where are the sounds in New Zealand?
The Marlborough Sounds are an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand. The Marlborough Sounds were created by a combination of land subsidence and rising sea levels. According to Māori mythology, the sounds are the prows of the sunken wakas of Aoraki.
Is Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand?
Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship varietal of New Zealand, and is typically a very crisp aromatic wine with notes of grapefruit, tropical fruit and cut grass. … When it comes to pairing, think white meat, shellfish, and try to accentuate the herbaceous qualities of the wine with ingredients like parsley and cilantro.
How much sauvignon blanc does Marlborough produce?
In 2020, the region harvested 343,036 tonnes of grapes – 77 per cent of New Zealand’s total grape harvest – from more than 27,000 hectares of vines. With some 90 per cent of the country’s sauvignon blanc plantings, it is certainly Aotearoa’s capital of the grape variety.
Is Chardonnay better than Sauvignon Blanc?
Chardonnay is richer and fuller-bodied, with a viscous mouthfeel. Sauvignon Blanc is more light, acidic, and herbaceous. Both Chardonnay and Sauv Blanc are traditionally quite dry, but some Sauvignon Blancs contain residual sugar, making them sweeter. In fact, some are even so sweet they are dessert wines!
How many hectares of grapes are in Marlborough?
Marlborough also harvested 77 per cent of the total number of grapes for all of the New Zealand wine industry last year. Marlborough currently has 27,471 hectares of vineyards.
What does chardonnay taste like?
But in general, Chardonnay is dry, medium- to full-bodied with moderate tannins and acidity. It typically has tropical fruit flavors (think pineapple, papaya, and mango) although it’s not sweet. If Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels, it will have a creamier texture and buttery taste with hints of vanilla and spice.
Is Marlborough a wine region?
Marlborough is about world famous Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s largest winegrowing region, and the soils and enviable climate that create it. It’s about fresh seafood sought by the world’s finest chefs.
What is the Maori name for Marlborough?
The Marlborough Region (Māori: Te Tauihu-o-te-waka, or Tauihu), commonly known simply as Marlborough, is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Marlborough is a unitary authority, both a region and a district. Marlborough District Council is based at Blenheim, the largest town.
Why is Marlborough High Street so wide?
The High Street is as wide as it is because there used to be a row of buildings down the middle, over market stalls known as The Shambles. The Great Fire of 1653 cleared out many of the older buildings leaving the wide High Street that we see and enjoy today.
Which is better Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio?
Sauvignon Blanc is more aromatic (jumps out of the glass into your nose) than Pinot Grigio. … Pinot Grigio is very easy to match with food (because think about it, the Italians LOVE to match wine with food) and that’s why its quite crisp and dry; to clean the palate after each bite.
Is Pinot Noir red or white?
Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most popular red wines. It’s made from black-skinned grapes that thrive in a narrow spectrum of cooler climates. It’s also notoriously difficult to grow.
Are Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc sweet?
3.5Nice change of pace Sauvignon Blanc. Strong lemon and lime flavors along with other citrus notes. Dry, very tart, with a short uneventful finish. Very inexpensive and nice on a hot summer day.
Which country has the best Sauvignon Blanc?
While Sauvignon Blanc was most likely created in Bordeaux, it is the variety in two of the most famous wines from France’s Loire Valley, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé. The cooler climate of the Loire helps create compounds called pyrazines, which contribute to grassy, herbal or green bell-pepper flavors in the wine.
Was 2020 a good year for NZ wine?
Even in a year such as 2020, both the country and the wines managed to triumph. New Zealand was almost Covid-free and the vintage was one of the best in recent history. The early months of the year were less than auspicious. … The grapes for Craggy Range winery’s Sauvignon Blanc come from a vineyard in Martinborough.
What is the best New Zealand white wine?
- Yealands Estate, Single Block L5 Sauvignon Blanc, Awatere Valley 2019. …
- Brancott Estate, Letter Series O Chardonnay 2018. …
- Villa Maria, Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Taylors Pass 2019. …
- te Pā, Oke Sauvignon Blanc 2018. …
- Baron Edmond de Rothschild, Rimapere, Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019.
Is there an airport in Picton?
Picton Harbor, Nelson Tasman Picton’s small airport operates frequent daily flights to Wellington. It offers limited passenger facilities. From this small airport, Sounds Air(opens in new window) offers up to 8 return flights daily between Picton and Wellington, with a flight time of just 25 minutes.
How do you get to the Marlborough Sounds?
Getting to Picton & the Marlborough Sounds Wellington – you can either catch the inter-islander ferry across Cook Strait (3 hour journey) to Picton or fly to Picton or Blenheim with either Soundsair (flies to both towns) or Air New Zealand (Blenheim only).
Where are grapes grown in New Zealand?
Nearly 70% of NZ’s wine grapes are grown in Marlborough. The rest are grown from Auckland to Otago.
Where is Cloudy Bay in New Zealand?
Location. The Cloudy Bay winery buildings are located in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, approximately 8 kilometres north-west of Blenheim. Cellar doors are located at the winery in Marlborough and at Northburn Station in Central Otago.