Wine | Marlborough

Marlborough, at the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island, is one of the few wine regions that defined a grape for the rest of the world. Its first commercial vines went in during the 1970s. By the time Cloudy Bay released its first vintage in 1985, the region had created a new style of Sauvignon Blanc: loud, green, citrusy and aromatic. It was very different from the flinty, restrained Sancerre that had defined the grape before.

The reason is climate. Marlborough gets long hours of sunshine but cool nights. Its grapes ripen fully yet keep sharp acidity, so the wine tastes of passion fruit, lime and fresh-cut grass all at once.

The bottles in this collection

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($17.99) is the easy, reliable entry point: bright, clean, and one of the best-value whites on the shelf. Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc ($18.99) is a family-owned Marlborough producer and a little more textured. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ($19.99) is the one most people know by name, with bold tropical fruit and a lot of energy. Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($32.99) is the benchmark, and the bottle that put Marlborough on the map.

How to drink it

Cold, young, and with food that has acid or herbs in it: goat cheese, ceviche, green salads, Thai curry, anything with lime or cilantro. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is at its best in its first year or two, so buy the current vintage and drink it soon. Our guide to the best white wines for summer compares it with Chardonnay and other crisp whites, and our Thanksgiving wine guide shows where it fits on a holiday table.

More from New Zealand

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Cellar Selection 750Ml ($17.99), Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Collection ($17.99) and Matua Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99) are more bottles in the same style. For a red from New Zealand, try Craggy Range Pinot Noir ($26.99).

Browse all New Zealand wine, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, the wider Sauvignon Blanc range, or all white wine.