Marlborough
Overview
Pick a spot in the Wairu Plains and look toward the horizon, and you’ll see nothing but vines in every direction. You’re standing in the heartland of Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest and its best-known wine district. It’s young, it’s hot, and its reputation is only getting better.
Marlborough’s fame is built upon its Sauvignon Blanc, which is known for its intense flavor, its aromas of grass, herbs and gooseberries, and its grapefruit edge. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough grows large amounts of early-ripening Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In recent years, it has added to its variety and begun production of méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
History
Unlike Hawkes Bay, Marlborough has no long tradition of winemaking. The first vineyard here wasn’t established until 1973, when the large Montana Winery established planted vines. Since then, however, growth has been incredible. Today, Marlborough accounts for more than half of New Zealand’s production, and more than 80 vineyards now call the region home.
Geography
Located on the northeast coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Marlborough sits where the Wairau River empties into Cloudy Bay. The terrain is, in a word, sublime. The landscape ranges from rugged coastline to open plains, and wherever you look are vines and vines.
Termperature
Marlborough is cooler than the growing areas on the North Island, but it is also dryer with more sunlight during the growing season. Summer temperatures are warm during the day but rarely hot, and at night the temperatures are downright cold, dropping to 10-12 degrees Celcius. In fact, the biggest challenge the region faces is frost. When it looks like there might be a frost, vineyard owners go so far as to hire helicopter pilots to fly low around the fields and keep the air moving so nothing freezes. When helicopters are unavailable, growers get creative with wind machines and small fires throughout the vineyard.
Topography
Marlborough owes much of its success to its topography, as its vineyards are blessed with protection from all sides. To the north, the Marlborough Sounds shield vineyards from winds blowing off the ocean. To the south, the Kaikoura mountains block chilly winds blowing north from the Antarctic. And to the west, the Richmond Range absorbs rainfall from clouds coming in from the east, protecting Marlborough from excess precipitation.
Terroir
The sharp drop in nighttime temperature makes Marlborough ideal for growing acidic grapes like Sauvignon Blanc. During the daytime sunlight hours, grapes ripen normally. But when the temperature drops at night, ripening activity shuts down and the grapes are able to maintain their acidity. This process is crucial to the production of Marlborough’s excellent Sauvignon Blanc, with trademark tropical fruit tastes, grapefruit tang, and hints of herbs and strong grass. Relatively cool temperatures in Marlborough favor late-ripening varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot noir, and Chardonnay, and the well-draining soil is composed of a layer of stony loam lying on top of deep free-draining shingle.
