Warm, dry and settled weather predominates during summer. [5] It expanded from 4,516 hectares (11,160 acres) of vineyard area in 2003 to 23,102 hectares (57,090 acres) in 2018, a five-fold increase in just 15 years.[1]. MWE produce some of New Zealand’s finest Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. The region's average annual rainfall is 655 mm. Wines have intense aromatics of passion fruit, gooseberry, along with grassy-lemongrass flavors. Each selected city will show you the following graphs: 1. Most of that rain was between March 26 and April 18. [10][11] In the same year, several Marlborough wineries formed Appellation Marlborough Wine to further protect the integrity and quality standards of Marlborough wines through a certification process. In 2011, the Marlborough wine region represented 62% of total vineyard area in the country New Zealand wine is world renowned, known for intensity of flavour and purity, intrinsically linked to the bucolic New Zealand wine regions. If you only know one thing about Marlborough in New Zealand, it’s probably that it has a whole lot of vineyards. “We were asking so much of them, and subconsciously some of that translated into the way people were working in the winery.” People were looking out for everyone else and working under pressure, and that meant “people were here for business”, he says. Growing degree days were well above average, but lower than the previous two years, which Rob describes as having delivered “pretty brilliant, out-of-the box” summers. It’s true, Marlborough produces 75% of New Zealand’s wines and is the home of most of New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc. This terroir alongside cooler, winder conditions influence the profiles of wines produced here, making them highly regarded and distinctive. “Wine is a very substantial contributor to the overall prosperity of Marlborough so I’m relieved that this is one Covid bullet that we’ve managed to dodge.”. In little more than 30 years, Marlborough’s wine industry has led an extraordinary expansion in the production of, and global regard for, New Zealand wines. “Not having disease or rain pressure made things a lot easier,” he says. New Zealand is ahead of the curve when it comes to social and ecological responsibility. Rob says the main reason the 2020 season did not suffer the same water stress was the big dump of rain between December 16 and 20, 2019, which ensured plants, soils and waterways were more resilient to the subsequent dry patch, long as it was. [13] In 2013 several Marlborough producers established Méthode Marlborough, a collaborative organisation to standardise and promote the brand both domestically and internationally. The region has a population of 50,200 (June 2020) . This provides a cooling influence which, coupled with some of the highest sunshine hours in the country, creates the perfect environment for grape growing. It accounts for about a third of the total Marlborough vineyard area. The average high during this season is between 75.2°F (24°C) and 69.7°F (20.9°C). Marlborough District Council is based at Blenheim, the largest town. The soils in the Wairau Valley and the wine-growing districts surrounding Blenheim are primarily free-draining alluvial gravels. Nelson Region: Just Northwest of Marlborough, Nelson makes slightly more restrained Sauv. While there have long been small grape plantings around the New Zealand wine regions, including Marlborough, it wasn't until the 1970s, when sauvignon blanc was planted, that Marlborough would begin its rapid ascent to a classic wine region of the New World. New Zealand Wine Regions Marlborough A combination of a cool yet high sunshine climate, low rainfall and free-draining, moderately fertile soil produces uniquely vivid wines.. Marlborough put New Zealand on the international wine stage with its exquisite Sauvignon Blanc in the 1980s.. Over 20,000ha of vines (around 2/3 of the national total) are under the care of local wine … Rose Family Estate winemaker Nick Entwistle says great fruit made for happy workers in the 2020 vintage, setting the tone for positive - if unusual - winery work. MRC is an independent charitable organisation working with primary producers, scientists and innovators to improve Marlborough’s economy. Commercial planting began at Montana’s Brancott Estate at Fairhall. MRC has strong links to Marlborough District Council, Massey University, FoodHQ and key primary sector organisations such as NZ Wine and Plant & Food Research. Climate varies widely from relatively high rainfall in parts of the Marlborough Sounds through to highly arid areas such as the Awatere, back to more a more humid climate further south. Where to Wine in Marlborough. Shop All Marlborough Wines New Zealand’s largest wine region is world-famous for its crisp, fruit-driven Sauvignon Blanc. You’ll also find good Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer. Or they can get active and walk, cruise or kayak the Marlborough Sounds. According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as Cfb. Nowadays, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is world famous, and the Wairau Valley is home to some of New Zealand's most famous producers. Here in the late 1970s, Marlborough produced Sauvignon Blanc, among other varieties, which led to confidence that New Zealand could produce interesting wine. The climate and weather of Marlborough. “Everyone has been under huge pressure to get the grapes in, aware that a Covid-19 outbreak could knock down the workforce at any moment.”, It was to the industry’s credit that harvest was completed without incident “and, by all accounts, it’s a highly successful vintage”, he said. However, despite the very dry conditions in 2020, vines fared far better than the summer of 2019, when a similarly low amount of rain fell in January and February. “If there was average quality fruit it would have been hard to keep people motivated.” Instead they had sunny days, cool nights, low disease and good crop levels, with the ability to “pick and choose” throughout harvest. The Marlborough wine region is by far New Zealand's largest, accounting for three quarters of the country's wine production, 70% of its vineyard area and 85% of its wine exports. The winery crew, including Nigel’s wife Kathy, were also living on the property, all part of the same isolation bubble. Taste of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc A big dump of rain in late December or early January can result in big berries, “and the opposite is also true”, he says. “When the season is fractionally later, you can develop maximum flavour in your grapes.”. The conditions enabled a longer ripening period, resulting in good fruit from blocks that had struggled in recent years. The Richmond Ranges and Wither Hills protect the Wairau Valley from incoming rain. Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris volumes were back up to average and Sauvignon Blanc was at average yields, or above average on some blocks. Nick says the fruit had “really nice balance” this year. The summer daytime air temperatures range from 20°C to 26°C, with winter daytime air temperatures ranging from 10°C to 15°C. Classifications. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (Hunters) awarded the top three trophies at London International Wine Show. Dramatic river terraces have been carved out, creating free draining sites with alluvial gravels along the banks of the river and clay and sandstone subsoils on the wider river plains. Blenheim sits on a latitude of 41.5 degrees South. The soils here are naturally free draining and range from old stony riverbeds to fine, deep, alluvial soils. Marlborough put New Zealand on the international wine stage with its exquisite Sauvignon Blanc in the 1980s. Marlborough is New Zealand's largest grape growing and wine making region. Marlborough can lay claim to starting the modern New Zealand wine industry. In less than two decades, Marlborough transformed itself into New Zealand's premier wine region, thanks to the distinctive flavors and high quality of its sauvignon blanc wines. Looking forward to next vintage, Plant & Food’s Sauvignon Blanc yield prediction model - based on temperatures from November 10 to December 10, 2019 - shows 2021 bunch numbers should be well up on 2020. Plus, it’s made with biodynamic viticulture! Average monthly precipitation over the year (rainfall, snow) 3. Introducing New Zealand. [6] It can also be very dry, and younger vines often require some degree of irrigation. 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