Blenheim, New Zealand — Get ready to experience the latest and greatest in the wine industry with the highly anticipated New Zealand WinePRO trade event! This new trade event will be held in Marlborough, the biggest wine production region in New Zealand, from 25 to 27 June, 2024.

Congratulations to Spy Valley Wines, who have taken out the first “Marlborough Wine Industry Workplace Wellbeing Impact Award”! The entire Spy Valley team, from vineyard to winery, connected over Taco Tuesday and an exclusive preview of the 2023 vintage straight from the tanks & barrels.

Marlborough’s 2023 vintage “could have gone so wrong and came out so well”, says Astrolabe Winemaker Simon Waghorn. “Every winemaker I’ve spoken to is pretty excited and also a bit bemused.”

Despite the perils of a wet and cool spring and summer, harvest was “magic” across the board, thanks largely to a lingering harvest under optimal autumnal conditions, he adds. “I think all the varieties have benefitted from more time on the vines and ripening a bit later.”

Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps people manage the ups and downs of farming and growing. To find out what works for you and lock it in, visit www.farmstrong.co.nz

Here are some resources about dealing and managing stress.

International research found that people who thrive had five things in common. The key is to lock them in as small, but regular improvements, so they become a habit.

Rugby great Sam Whitelock talks about his role as Farmstrong ambassador and what he does to manage stress and pressure and build his resilience.

The first Wine Industry Wellness Week runs from May 8 to 12, to support a culture of wellness and wellbeing in the industry, while highlighting effective and innovative initiatives from across the sector. That includes everyone from growers and vineyard workers to wineries and the services sector.

A range of different activities are taking place alongside Wellness Week. Find out more here.

Celebrated on the first Friday in May #SauvBlancDay is a global, social media wine tasting and opportunity to digitally connect wine lovers around the world with Marlborough. To find out how to get involved or find our toolkit please visit https://sauvignonblancday.co.nz/

The 36th Marlborough Wine & Food Festival is shaping up as a feast of opportunities for both seasoned foodies and those looking to learn.

Festival Committee Chair and Marlborough grape grower Tracy Johnston describes Marlborough food as one oof the region’s best-kept secrets.

ALLAN SCOTT took a punt on a new job in August 1973, joining 90 bewildered workers in the dry and dusty Brancott Valley. A few months later only a dozen of the team remained, toiling to plant Montana’s first Marlborough vineyard, with little idea of what they were doing or why.

“Having to carve out a whole new life I didn’t know about was probably one of the best decisions I made,” says the recipient of the 2022 Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises his enormous contribution over the past 50 years.

“WHAT WILL your vineyard look like in 10 years with no intervention?” That’s the question Mark Allen likes to ask vineyard owners, given the risks of trunk disease and virus, and the opportunities of replanting. “Marlborough is in a huge transitional phase at the moment,” says Mark, who was awarded a Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award in late October, recognising his relentless commitment to viticulture over the past 35 years. “Now is the time to think about the future.”

Mark began his career in kiwifruit in Tauranga but was lured over to grape vines when his good friend and neighbour Morton Brown established Morton Estate Vineyards. His kiwifruit skillsets served him well in his new field, with soils and vines and canopy management key to the success of both crops, he says.

Ten-time NZ music award-winning duo Broods will grace the main stage with an hour-long DJ set, drawing from their popular albums.

Wine Marlborough General Manager Marcus Pickens anticipates that the Nelson-born artists will be one of the festival’s musical highlights, alongside Coterie – a five piece band with a reputation for excellent live shows.

The locals-only and early-bird tickets sold out in a flash, a balmy La Niña summer is forecast and wineries are getting ready for the 2023 Marlborough Wine & Food Festival.

Wine Marlborough is delighted to see the return of New Zealand’s longest-running food and wine festival after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. This will be the 36th Wine & Food Festival, bringing exciting newcomers such as Rimapere Vineyard and The Uncommon Wine of New Zealand to the fore alongside family-owned wineries that have exhibited at the festival for many years to become part of the festival’s heritage – such as Hunter’s Wines, Forrest Wines and Wairau River Wines.

Congratulations to Alun Kilby from Marisco in Marlborough for becoming the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey NZ Young Winemaker of the Year.

Alun, 28, is Production Winemaker at Marisco. He has worked in the New Zealand wine industry for 13 years from Auckland to Central Otago before settling in Marlborough and is thrilled to take out this prestigious title.

With judging complete for the 2022 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, 45 gold medals have been awarded to Marlborough wines today.

Seventeen judges are about to immerse themselves in Marlborough wine as the Marlborough Wine Show sponsored by QuayConnect kicks off this week.

Those judges will be kept busy with entries in most categories well above previous years. Chief Judge Ben Glover says wineries are well aware of the importance of shows, particularly regional ones such as Marlborough.

Congratulations to Alun Kilby from Marisco, who came became the 2022 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Marlborough Young Winemaker of the Year. The competition was held on 21st September at MRC and the winners were announced at the Awards Dinner the same evening.

Wine Enthusiast’s 23rd Annual Wine Star Award nominees have been announced, honouring individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world. We are pleased to let you know Marlborough has once again been nominated for Wine Region of the Year.

In the lead up to the local government elections, Winepress reports a Q&A with Marlborough’s 2022 Mayoral Candidates and checks in with candidates in the Wairau Awatere ward.

Congratulations to Tahryn Mason from Villa Maria in Marlborough, who became the 2022 Corteva Young Viticulturist of the Year. The National Final was held on 30 August at Indevin’s Bankhouse in Marlborough with the announcement made at the Awards Dinner the following evening.