Marlborough Sounds Sauvignon Blanc

Legend has it that Aoraki and his three brothers, sons of Rakinui (the Sky Father), wished to meet their father's new wife, Papatuanuku (the Earth Mother). While they were travelling across her, their canoe (known as a waka) struck a reef and capsized. As the canoe turned to stone and they tried to escape certain death in the water, the entire group climbed onto the keel; but a freezing wind turned them to stone as well. Today, the canoe is the South Island of New Zealand, with Aoraki—the eldest of the brothers—becoming the highest peak on the island: Mount Cook, while the rest of his brothers formed the Southern Alps.

Traditionally, with this story, most New Zealand tribes explain the formation of Marlborough Sounds, the area located at the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand, between the Tasman Bay and Cloudy Bay. This particular place is a region of great beauty, formed by various valleys and inlets, which some consider magical. This enclave—with long days, cold nights, intense sunshine, and dry autumns (711 mm annually)—provides excellent conditions for vineyard cultivation and growth, making Marlborough Sounds responsible for nearly 80% of the country's grape harvest. In this boom—which began in 1973—wines such as Marlborough Sounds Sauvignon Blanc are produced.

Marlborough Sounds Sauvignon Blanc is a single-variety white wine made from sauvignon blanc (the most popular white grape variety in the area) produced by the Marlborough Sounds wineries in this enclave where valleys and sea blend together, resulting in a sauvignon blanc that is tremendously expressive, attractive, and profitable.

Thanks to this climate, the grapes can mature properly, ensuring that the acids develop due to the low night temperatures, achieving perfect balance. The team of winemakers, led by Josh Hammond, selects the best parcels of sauvignon blanc that grow on a wide variety of soils: from the silty loams of coastal Wairau to the alluvial soils of the Wairu Valley. Ultimately, a wine rich in nuances and unique in the world.