Congratulations to Ruby McManaway from Yealands, who was announced as the 2025 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Marlborough Young Winemaker of the Year following the competition held on 16 July at Marlborough Research Centre and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology campus in Blenheim.

Whitehaven Wines has established a partnership with Selmes Garden Trust which will see individuals with disabilities engaged to help propagate seeds collected by Whitehaven.  

Selmes have announced the closure of its native garden centre retail operations, but have shifted to a native plant production model.

Seeds are eco-sourced from neighbouring properties, to ensure survival and retention of local characteristics, and Selmes staff propagate the seeds.

The plants are then replanted at The Springs property, near to where the seeds were originally sourced.

10,000 natives have already been planted, the next planting will start next week (w/c 14 July).

This is part of a major regeneration of a 760ha property in Marlborough’s upper Wairau Valley.

The Young Winemaker Competition provides a fantastic opportunity for future winemakers 30 years or under to upskill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry. The winner of the regional competition will compete in the National competition against other regions. We are pleased to introduce you to the contestants competing in the Marlborough competition taking place on Wednesday 16th July.

Congratulations to Anna Kelland from Constellation Brands, who became the 2025 Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year on 29 May. This is the second consecutive year she has taken out the prestigious title. She is excited to represent Marlborough in the national finals again and determined to bring the national trophy home this year.   

Congratulations also to Laura Hammond from Babich, who came second, and Harry Watson from Berakah Vineyard Management, who came third.

Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) launches its highly anticipated Interactive Wine Map of Marlborough, a cutting-edge digital platform set to transform how wine professionals and enthusiasts experience the region's diverse terroir. This innovative tool elevates the original Wine Map of Marlborough, created by the Marlborough Wine Map Collective, into an immersive digital experience that brings the region's unique characteristics to life. 

Marlborough’s 2025 vintage was “smooth and easy and didn’t miss a beat,” says Jamie Marfell, group winemaker NZ at Vinarchy (formerly Pernod Ricard Winemakers). “Because the crop levels were up everything was ripening quite evenly and slowly, it wasn’t a rush and we brought in strong fruit across the region.

“The winery kept up with everything coming through the door and we were getting absolutely clean juice going into ferment. That’s the mark of a good vintage, when your ferments kick off after a couple of days, and the winery and everyone is working together, going to plan.” He says the well-paced harvest was a great way to mark 50 years since the first Sauvignon Blanc was planted in their Brancott vineyard.

The Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition 2025 is now in its 20th year and is taking place on Thursday 29th May. This competition provides a fantastic opportunity for viticulturists 30 years or under to up-skill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry. ⁠

Ten young Marlborough contestants will undergo a mix of practical and theoretical modules from pruning to Budgeting. They go head-to-head in the BioStart Hortisports event, a quick-fire quiz as well as give a speech at the awards dinner.   ⁠

We are pleased to introduce the Marlborough viticulturists competing in the 2025 Marlborough competition.

Pioneering Marlborough photographer and winemaker Kevin Judd is the 2025 recipient of the Marlborough Living Cultural Treasure Award. The award recognises individuals who have made an extraordinary, inspiring and significant contribution to cultural endeavour in Marlborough throughout their lifetime.

As anticipation builds for Méthode Marlborough Day 2025, the region’s winemakers invite enthusiasts to raise a glass to the future—one that promises exceptional bubbles, continued innovation, and a deep respect for the time-honoured traditions that make these wines truly special. This year, we celebrate with the call to 'Let the Bubbles Fly'—a fitting tribute to the artistry and joy behind every bottle.

Whitehaven Senior Winemaker Diana Katardzhieva has been named ‘Best Woman Winemaker’ for still white wines at the prestigious 2025 Sakura Women's Wine Awards. Both the 2024 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc and 2023 Chardonnay were awarded the top accolade of Diamond Trophy.

A drive by Wairau River Wines to ‘bottle’ a taste of Marlborough has been recognised with two trophies at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

The team picked up two trophies at the 2024 event; Central Express Ltd Champion Wairau Valley Wine with their Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc 2024, and the Orora Limited Champion Riesling with their Wairau River Summer Riesling 2024.

Chief Winemaker Nick Entwistle said 2024 was a stellar vintage for each of these wines, which each showcase the soils within which they are grown, nurtured by careful handling and winemaking.

He told us a bit about what makes each of them, and the trophies they nabbed, so special…

A team effort to create a wine that epitomises Marlborough Pinot Gris has been recognised at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Dashwood Pinot Gris 2024 picked up the Label and Litho Champion Pinot Gris trophy at the show this year, confirming its status as a quintessential taste of Marlborough.

The Marlborough Wine Show aims to champion excellence and provenance, and promote diversity of wines grown in New Zealand’s largest wine region.

Winemaker Susan van der Pol said the wine had been the result of a shared effort between growers and winemakers to create a Marlborough Pinot Gris to be proud of. She shares a little bit more about it below…

A ‘goldilocks’ vintage has resulted in gold for te Pā Wines, who picked up the De Sangosse NZ Champion Pinot Noir, Current Vintage trophy at the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Made using a blend of fruit from two carefully selected sites, te Pā Pinot Noir 2023 was the winning wine. te Pā has a long history in Marlborough which extends back 800 years; long before the first grapes were planted in the region.

Below, owner Haysley MacDonald shares a little about that history, while Chief Winemaker Sam Bennett shares some insight into the wine and what made this vintage so special…

Perfect grapes and ideal growing conditions led the Tūpari Late Harvest Riesling 2024 to be crowned Champion Sweet Wine of the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

Tūpari founder and winemaker Glenn Thomas said the Awatere Valley produces intensely flavoured Riesling, and was pleased to see the 2024 vintage recognised with the trophy, sponsored by Barrel Finance & Logistics, at a show which is important for the region.

He told us a bit about the wine, and the conditions that led to such a stand out vintage…

Saint Clair Whites were a stand out at the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, where they picked up trophies for both Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Their Omaka Reserve Chardonnay 2023 was crowned Bragato Research Institute Champion Chardonnay, Current Vintage, while their Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2023 picked up the WineWorks Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2023 & Older trophy.

Following the celebration long-lunch, Senior Winemaker Stewart Maclennan shared a little about the wines and how they strive to achieve excellence in every bottle…

Whitehaven’s Kōparepare Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2024 has joined its 2022 predecessor in being named Champion Rosé at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

The trophy, sponsored by Scenic Hotel, joins a long collection of many the company has received at the Show over the years.

Senior Winemaker Diana Katardzhieva said a collective effort in the vineyard and winery brought the latest standout vintage to fruition. She shared a little more about the wine…

Brancott Estate was the winner of this year’s esteemed NZ Wine Centre Legacy Award at the 2024 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.

NZ Group Winemaker Jamie Marfell said it was the first time they’d entered the winning wines into any competition, deciding the time, and the category, was right.

They entered the 2010, 2013 and 2016 vintages of their Chosen Rows Sauvignon Blanc into the running, saying it provided the perfect opportunity to showcase the ageability of the variety.

The trophy, sponsored by Marlborough Research Centre, is designed to celebrate wines with the highest scores from three vintages within a 10-year period and a minimum gap of two years between each wine; the ultimate recognition of excellence and consistency.

Jamie shared some insight into what makes this wine a standout, and why it was the perfect one to enter for this award…

The Marlborough Wine & Food Festival has announced its much-anticipated line-up of New Zealand musicians playing in 2025.

Mitch James, Ladyhawke, Hello Sailor, Sweet Mix Kids and Jaydin Shingleton will grace the main stage. Local Marlborough musicians will entertain from the acoustic area, and the DJ collective Vinyl in the Vines will be back in the Groove Garden.

Loren Coffey, festival event manager, says that all entertainment has been carefully selected to fit the festival’s summery, celebratory vibe.

It was a double win for Nautilus Estate at the 2024 Marlborough Show, sponsored by Quay Connect, with the team making an impression in both the Sparkling and ‘Other White’ Categories.

The Nautilus Cuvée Brut NV picked up the Winequip Champion Sparkling trophy, while the Nautilus Albariño 2024 picked up the title of Marlborough Wine & Food Experience Champion Other White Wine.

The company has been working hard at both varieties for many years, taking care to showcase the quality of grapes grown in Marlborough.

Winemaker and General Manager Clive Jones told us what makes these wines, and awards, special for Nautilus Estate…

Clayvin Pinot Noir 2021 made big waves at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, picking up three separate category trophies.

Giesen Chief Winemaker Jeremy Tod said a great vintage had made an already special wine even more exciting, and the fruits of the harvest were really just starting to shine through now. This was confirmed when it picked up Vit Management Ltd Champion Organic Wine, Fruitfed Supplies Champion Southern Valleys Wine and De Sangosse NZ Champion Pinot Noir 2021 & Older at the 2024 Show.

He shared a little insight into the wine and what makes it so special…