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Marlborough

New Zealand

About Marlborough

New Zealand's largest and most famous wine region, Marlborough revolutionised Sauvignon Blanc on the world stage. Its distinctive style of pungent, tropical, and herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc, first revealed in the 1980s, became a global benchmark. Located at the northern tip of the South Island, the region benefits from long sunshine hours, cool nights, and free-draining stony soils. The Wairau Valley floor produces the classic intense style, while the Awatere and Southern Valleys offer more restrained, mineral expressions. Pinot Noir is emerging as a serious second variety.

Vintage Ratings

Rating:
95+
90-94
85-89
80-84
<80
PeakReadyHold
Year20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990
Red
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
White

Outstanding Marlborough Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2024

Almost ready
96Exceptional

An exceptional vintage for Pinot Noir. The driest conditions in nearly a century produced pristine, concentrated fruit with ideal ripeness and excellent natural acidity from cool nights.

2027Peak 2029–20362040

2023

Ready
92Excellent

Naturally lower yields for Pinot Noir in Marlborough produced concentrated, well-structured wines. An excellent vintage despite broader challenges across New Zealand from La Nina.

2026Peak 2028–20332036

2020

At peak
92Excellent

Long, pleasant growing season produced excellent Pinot Noir. Clean, concentrated fruit with good structure and depth.

2023Peak 2025–20312034

2019

At peak
96Exceptional

Exceptional Pinot Noir from ideal warm, dry conditions. Ripe, fruit-forward wines with excellent concentration from reduced yields.

2022Peak 2025–20322036

2015

At peak
96Exceptional

Seriously good Pinot Noir from concentrated, textural fruit. Lower yields delivered wines of excellent depth, complexity, and structure.

2018Peak 2021–20282032

2014

Drink now
93Excellent

Warm, dry conditions produced ripe, generous Pinot Noir. The warmest vintage since 1998 delivered wines with good concentration and approachable character.

2017Peak 2020–20252028

2013

Drink now
92Excellent

Excellent quality from drought-reduced yields. Concentrated, well-structured Pinot Noir with good depth.

2016Peak 2019–20242027

2010

Past window
92Excellent

Very good vintage for Pinot Noir. Cooler conditions produced wines with good structure, balance, and elegance.

2013Peak 2016–20212024

2009

Past window
92Excellent

Praised for perfume and firm structure. Only 75% of average yields but the concentration benefited Pinot Noir.

2012Peak 2014–20192022

White

2024

At peak
96Exceptional

An exceptional vintage, potentially the finest ever for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Pristine fruit with ideal ripeness and excellent acidity despite the driest growing season on record.

2024Peak 2024–20272029

2022

Drink now
93Excellent

Excellent year for Marlborough whites, making up for the smaller 2021 vintage. Generous yields of healthy fruit produced vibrant, aromatic Sauvignon Blanc with classic regional character.

2022Peak 2022–20252026

2021

Past window
93Excellent

Small but perfectly formed vintage. Chilly spring frosts and intermittent rain reduced yields, but the resulting wines are fresh, fruit-forward, aromatic, with complex sophisticated structures.

2021Peak 2021–20242025

2020

Past window
91Excellent

A long, pleasant growing season delivered excellent fruit quality despite pandemic disruptions at harvest. Clean, concentrated fruit produced vibrant Sauvignon Blanc with strong varietal expression.

2020Peak 2020–20232024

2019

Past window
93Excellent

Widely regarded as the best vintage in Marlborough history at the time. Perfect natural balance with modest alcohols, bright acidity, and strong varietal expression.

2019Peak 2019–20222024

2018

Past window
90Excellent

A difficult vintage with rain causing widespread issues at harvest time. Careful selection was essential.

2018Peak 2018–20202022

2016

Past window
91Excellent

Moderate and dry conditions yielded classically-styled Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Textbook varietal expression with good balance between tropical and herbaceous notes.

2016Peak 2016–20182020

2015

Past window
93Excellent

Very concentrated and textural whites from lower yields. Intense aromatics with excellent depth and complexity.

2015Peak 2015–20172019

2014

Past window
92Excellent

Warm vintage, the warmest since 1998, producing ripe, generous Sauvignon Blanc with tropical fruit character. Good intensity and concentration.

2014Peak 2014–20162018

2013

Past window
92Excellent

Exceptional quality despite low yields from drought. Healthy, concentrated fruit with intense varietal expression.

2013Peak 2013–20152017

2010

Past window
90Excellent

Very good vintage across New Zealand. Cooler conditions produced Sauvignon Blanc with excellent acidity and classic herbaceous-tropical balance.

2010Peak 2010–20122014
Curious about Marlborough? Save it to your Discoveries and tick it off when you taste your first wine.

Subregions

Awatere ValleySouthern ValleysWairau Valley

Terroir & Character

Climate

sunnydrycool nightsmaritime

Cool maritime climate with long, dry summers and significant diurnal temperature variation. Cool nights help preserve the bright acidity that makes Marlborough wines so food-friendly, while sunny days develop intense fruit flavors.

Terroir

diverse soilsalluvialclay

Young alluvial soils deposited by ancient rivers, ranging from free-draining gravels in the Wairau Valley to clay-rich soils in the Awatere. The diverse soil types, combined with varying elevations and microclimates, allow for multiple harvest times and diverse wine styles within the region.

Typical Aromas

passionfruitgooseberryfresh cut grassgrapefruit zestjalapeño peppertropical guava
Explore the aroma wheel

Classification System

New Zealand uses a simple GI system that defines wine regions geographically. No mandatory quality hierarchy, though sub-regions are gaining recognition.

Sub-region

Specific areas like Wairau Valley or Southern Valleys

Region

Defined wine-growing area (e.g. Marlborough)

Island

North Island or South Island designation

Grapes of Marlborough

Pinot Noir

Red
Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
strawberryraspberryred cherryviolet

Marlborough's quieter red. Bright cherry, raspberry, and rose petal, with cooler Awatere sites adding herbal lift. Lighter and leaner than Central Otago.

Chardonnay

White
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
green applelemonpearnectarine

Crisp, citrus-driven Chardonnay from cool maritime conditions

Sauvignon Blanc

White
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
grassasparaguspassion fruitgrapefruit

The benchmark New World Sauvignon. Passionfruit, gooseberry, cut grass, and grapefruit on razor acidity, with cooler Awatere sites pushing into jalapeño.

Riesling

White
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
green applelimelemonwhite peach

Aromatic, off-dry to dry Riesling with lime and tropical notes

Pinot Gris

White
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
lemonpeachmangobanana

Aromatic, off-dry to dry styles with stone fruit and spice

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Marlborough wine special?▼
Marlborough revolutionized Sauvignon Blanc in the 1980s with its distinctive pungent, tropical, and herbaceous style that became a global benchmark. The region's unique terroir at the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island creates incredibly expressive wines. It's now New Zealand's largest and most famous wine region, putting the country on the world wine map.
What are the best Marlborough vintages?▼
2024 is absolutely stellar - it's rated 5/5 for both reds and whites, with potentially the finest Sauvignon Blanc ever from Marlborough. 2023 was excellent too at 4/5, with concentrated Pinot Noir from naturally lower yields. 2022 was another standout year for whites, making up for the smaller 2021 harvest.
What grapes are grown in Marlborough?▼
Sauvignon Blanc is the star here, but Marlborough grows excellent Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Gris too. While Sauvignon Blanc put the region on the map, the Pinot Noir has really come into its own in recent years. The cool climate suits these varieties perfectly.
Is 2024 a good year for Marlborough?▼
2024 is exceptional - rated a perfect 5/5 for both reds and whites. It was the driest vintage in nearly a century, which concentrated flavors beautifully in the Pinot Noir. For Sauvignon Blanc, it's being called potentially the finest vintage ever from Marlborough.
When should I drink Marlborough 2024?▼
The 2024 Sauvignon Blancs are drinking beautifully now and over the next 2-3 years while they're fresh and vibrant. The 2024 Pinot Noirs, being so concentrated from those dry conditions, can be enjoyed now but will reward cellaring for 5-8 years. The quality is so high that these wines have great aging potential.
What food pairs well with Marlborough wines?▼
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is fantastic with goat cheese, fresh seafood, and anything with herbs - think fish tacos or pesto dishes. The Pinot Noirs pair beautifully with salmon, duck, or mushroom dishes. Those tropical notes in the Sauvignon Blanc also work surprisingly well with spicy Asian cuisine.
How does Marlborough compare to Loire Valley?▼
While Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc tends to be more mineral-driven and restrained, Marlborough's style is much more exuberant with intense tropical fruit and herbaceous character. Loire has that classic Old World elegance, but Marlborough created an entirely new expression of Sauvignon Blanc that's more immediately appealing. Both are world-class, just completely different personalities.