Marlborough
Marlborough is located in the northeast of New Zealand’s South Island and is the country’s largest wine region. It is world-famous for one wine: sauvignon blanc with an explosive aroma of passion fruit, lime and freshly cut grass. They also produce elegant pinot noir, pinot gris and riesling.
Wine from Marlborough, by grape
Marlborough also puts the grape on the label. We have a dedicated page about four grapes you often encounter here.
Sauvignon blanc
From the Loire to New Zealand: everything about the grape that made Marlborough famous.
About sauvignon blanc →
Pinot gris
In New Zealand, it is usually made in the fuller Alsace style, with pear and honey.
About pinot grigio →
Riesling
The cool climate produces riesling with singing acidity, ranging from dry to lightly sweet.
About riesling →Sunny days, cool nights
Marlborough lies at the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, around the town of Blenheim. The vineyards are located mainly in two river valleys: the broad Wairau Valley and, a little farther south and cooler, the Awatere Valley. It is one of the sunniest places in New Zealand, but the nights are cool because of the proximity of the sea and mountains. That large difference between day and night is exactly what the grapes need: they ripen well while retaining their fresh acidity and intense aromas.
Winemaking on a large scale is relatively new here; the first commercial vineyards were planted only in the 1970s. Yet Marlborough sauvignon blanc quickly became a household name. Its style is instantly recognizable: exuberantly fruity, with passion fruit, lime and gooseberry, underpinned by green notes of grass and bell pepper. Marlborough thus became, alongside the Loire, the best-known place in the world for this grape. Sauvignon blanc is by far the most important grape here, but winemakers also produce pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling and sparkling wine. Almost all bottles have a screw cap, which is perfectly normal in New Zealand and preserves freshness well.
In brief
Seven bottles, from sauvignon blanc to pinot noir
First, four sauvignon blancs, from a fresh entry-level wine to a version with some oak ageing and a lighter, lower-alcohol option. Then pinot gris, riesling and pinot noir.
Whale's Tale Sauvignon Blanc
Crisp sauvignon blanc, named after the whales that swim off the coast of the South Island.
Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc
Typical Marlborough style: green apple, gooseberry, lime, fresh herbs and passion fruit.
Lawson's Dry Hills Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
One fifth of the wine is fermented in French oak. Grapefruit, lime and gooseberry, with a subtle smokiness.
Yealands Lighter Alcohol Sauvignon Blanc
The familiar fresh style with green apple, lime and grapefruit, but with remarkably little alcohol.
Lawson's Dry Hills Pinot Gris
Spicy and fruity, with ripe pear, lemon and apricot. A small portion is aged in oak for extra structure.
Lawson's Dry Hills Riesling
Riesling with lively acidity: white blossom, red apple and freshly squeezed lime juice.
Lawson's Dry Hills Pinot Noir
Fresh and elegant red with strawberry, raspberry, a hint of vanilla and light earthy notes.
Why does sauvignon blanc from New Zealand taste so different from Sancerre? Find out on our sauvignon blanc page.
Passion fruit, lime and fresh grass
Tropical & green
You can smell it as soon as you open the bottle: passion fruit, lime, grapefruit and gooseberry, with green notes of freshly cut grass, bell pepper and tomato leaf.
Bursting with freshness
Dry, juicy and with plenty of fresh acidity. The wine is light to medium-bodied and feels lively. A version with some oak ageing is rounder and fuller.
Crisp and fruity
The finish is fresh and fruity, sometimes with a slight bitterness from grapefruit. Pinot noir from Marlborough finishes softly, with red fruit.
Flavour profile of an average sauvignon blanc from Marlborough. Compared with a Sancerre, it is fruitier and more exuberant, and less mineral.
How to serve wine from Marlborough
Sauvignon blanc well chilled and young, pinot noir lightly chilled.
White wine at 8 to 10 degrees
Sauvignon blanc and riesling should be served chilled, at 8 to 10 degrees. This keeps the wine fresh and makes the aromas leap from the glass. Pinot gris and an oak-aged sauvignon blanc can be served slightly warmer, around 10 to 12 degrees.
More about wine temperature →Drink it young
Sauvignon blanc from Marlborough is at its best when young, within a year or two of the harvest. That is when the fruit is most exuberant. The screw cap makes it easy: twist and pour, even outside on the patio.
More about sauvignon blanc →Pinot noir at 14 to 16 degrees
Pinot noir from Marlborough is fresh and fruity. Serve it slightly below room temperature, around 14 to 16 degrees, in a generous glass. A reserve wine aged in oak benefits from fifteen minutes of air.
More about decanting →Marlborough at the table
With its fresh acidity and exuberant fruit, sauvignon blanc from Marlborough pairs well with fresh, spiced dishes. It can handle lime, coriander and a little heat.
Asian and fish
Sushi, Thai salads, shrimp spring rolls and dishes with coriander and lime. Also with New Zealand green-lipped mussels, oysters and grilled fish.
Greens and goat's cheese
Green salads with avocado, asparagus, peas and courgette. Goat's cheese is a classic pairing, just as it is with sauvignon blanc from the Loire.
Chicken and ceviche
Pinot gris pairs with chicken, pork and mildly spicy dishes. Riesling, with its crisp acidity, is delicious with ceviche, crab and Asian fish dishes.
Salmon and mushrooms
Pinot noir is one of the few red wines that pairs well with fish: grilled salmon or tuna. It is also delicious with duck, mushrooms and charcuterie.
The right glass for wine from Marlborough
Sauvignon blanc is best served in a slightly smaller white wine glass: the wine stays cool and the aromas of passion fruit and grass come straight to you. Pinot gris can be served in a more generous bowl, while pinot noir should be poured into a red wine glass with a broad bowl. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about Marlborough
Can't find your question here? Read more about wine and food, or get in touch.
To wine and food →Where is Marlborough located?
Why is sauvignon blanc from Marlborough so famous?
What is the difference between sauvignon blanc from New Zealand and France?
How much alcohol is in wine from Marlborough?
Which glass do you use for sauvignon blanc?
What do you eat with sauvignon blanc from Marlborough?
Buy wine from Marlborough
Want the bottle at home right away? Order wine from Marlborough online at Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 24, including 1 on offer.
Yealands Lighter Alcohol Sauvignon Blanc
Clearwater Cove Sauvignon Blanc
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