Marlborough: Wine Region

Missionaries planted the first grapevines on the North Island in the early 1800s, but the first winemaker credited with New Zealand production was James Busby in 1836. It wasn’t until well over a century later, in the early 1970s, that viticulture took hold in the Marlborough region. Advances in planting and the establishment of an official trade organization, the Wine Institute of New Zealand (now called NZ Winegrowers), spawned an uptick in new vineyards and wineries. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc came onto the scene in the 1980s, propelling the region onto the international wine map. Today, New Zealand is considered a young and dynamic wine industry focused on quality and innovation.

August 2023 marks 50 years of the Marlborough Wine Region.

In 1873 David Herd planted a small vineyard of Brown Muscat at Aunstfield in Fairhall. One hundred years later, in August 1973, Montana started planting vineyards in Marlborough. At the celebration ceremony, Frank Yukich, the man behind the plan to buy land and plant grapes here made the statement that “Wines from here will become world famous.” At the time, no one took him seriously, but the prophetic words would go on to be remembered as this variety took Marlborough’s name to the world.

But while Montana Wines was the first to place its faith in the region, there have been many others that have helped secure its reputation, kick-starting what would become the province’s dominant industry, responsible for around 80% of New Zealand’s wine exports, and creating a global reputation for Sauvignon Blanc. 

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. 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, and the diurnal range of around 11 degrees during summer keeps acid levels high over long ripening times creating piercing fruit intensity and strong varietal expression. The eastern coastal aspect bestows cooling sea breezes and protective mountains give relief from extreme rain and wind. Long Indian summers occasionally dice with drought but more often allow a wide range of styles to flourish.

Southern Valleys

Wrapping around the surrounding hills, the Omaka, Fairhall, Brancott, Ben Morvan and Waihopai Valleys make up this important sub-region. Soil and meso-climates vary but tend to be heavier and contain more clay than Wairau. It also becomes cooler and drier further south into the valleys. A broad range of varieties are grown according to the merit of each site, with particularly good Pinot Noir and aromatics being produced by the area.

The central part of Marlborough is locked in between two large rivers - the Wairau and the Awatere. There, in the very heart of the Southern Valleys, lies the Waihopai Valley and Craiglochart Vineyard – the home of Midalidare New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Wairau Valley

The Wairau sits closer to the Richmond Ranges, which sees more rainfall than the Wither Hill range that dominates the Southern Valley. It is these ranges that protect the Wairau Valley and Marlborough from weather events coming from the north and northwest. Old, gravely riverbed soils, and diverse aspects and rainfall create numerous meso-climates within this sub-region. Broadly, it covers a range of cooler, drier inland sites; barren stony, early ripening sites; and sea-breeze moderated coastal sites. Across the sub-region wines reflect the strengths of individual vineyards and vignerons, but all have the hallmark fruit intensity and body.

"Wairau" is a Māori word meaning "many waters". This subregion is broadly defined by its proximity to the 170km long Wairau River that runs from the mountains in the west to the ocean at Cloudy Bay. Marlborough's earliest vineyards were established on the characteristically alluvial river plains that include the acclaimed Rapaura and Renwick areas.

Awatere Valley

The Awatere Valley is the most geographically distinct sub-region, lying south of the Wairau Valley and stretching inland from the sea, and climbing towards the inland Kaikoura ranges. Cooler, drier, windier and often with a degree of elevation, sites with typically lower yields produce bright, aromatic Pinot Noir and dramatic, distinctive Sauvignons, both of which are attracting increasing international acclaim.

Southeast of Wairau and closer to the coast, the vineyards of the narrow Awatere Valley include the Awatere River valley, Seaview, Redwood Pass and Blind River. The area can be more exposed to cold weather from the South than the other sub-regions, which tends to create a later ripening crop and even longer growing season. The soils are typically alluvial gravel and wind-borne loess, often exhibiting a diverse composition of stone materials. The Māori word Awatere means fast flowing stream. 

The Awatere subregion was the last to be fully recognized even though its high quality and potential was noted by early pioneers who planted in the late 1980's. Prior to becoming highly regarded viticultural land this area also formed part of giant stations such as Flaxboume and Starborough and is also where Marlborough's tallest peak, Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku (2,880m or 9,450 feet) is found.