New Zealand

Marlborough

New Zealand wine regions

About Marlborough

Marlborough changed what the world expects a white wine to smell like. When Montana planted the first Sauvignon Blanc here in 1973, the sunny Wairau Valley was sheep country; by the time Cloudy Bay's 1985 release reached London, the valley's explosive passionfruit-and-cut-grass style had become the most imitated white on earth. The region is really two personalities: the warm, stony Wairau floor gives tropical generosity, while the cooler, windswept Awatere Valley to the south adds salt, herbs, and nerve. Clay-rich Southern Valleys Pinot Noir, fine traditional-method bubbles, and a wave of single-vineyard bottlings show there is far more here than one famous grape.

New Zealand wine regions

Vintages

63 · 1990–2025

Rating:

95+

90-94

85-89

80-84

<80

PeakReadyHold

Year	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990
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 up

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 up

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

White

2025

At peak

94Excellent

A classic Marlborough year: intense, precise Sauvignon Blanc with full aromatics and firm acid lines, and excellent Chardonnay.

2026Peak 2026–20292031

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 up

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

Valleys & Localities

Classification System

New Zealand's GI (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act passed in 2006 and came into force in 2017. A registered GI on the label means at least 85 percent of the grapes grew in the named area. Famous district names like Gimblett Gravels are not GIs at all but privately held trademarks with their own, stricter rules.

Registered GI

Marlborough to Central Otago, 85 percent of the fruit from the named area

Nested GI

A registered area inside a larger one, like Bannockburn within Central Otago

Trademark district

Privately enforced names like Gimblett Gravels, which demands 95 percent from its gravel soils

What Marlborough produces

White

The world-famous Sauvignon Blanc, pungent and electric, plus taut Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Gris.

Red

Silky, cherry-bright Pinot Noir from the clay soils of the Southern Valleys.

Sparkling

Serious traditional-method fizz, a quiet local tradition since the 1980s.

Grapes of Marlborough

Pinot Noir

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

Body

Sweetness

Acidity

green applelemonpearnectarine

Crisp, citrus-driven Chardonnay from cool maritime conditions

Sauvignon Blanc

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

Body

Sweetness

Acidity

green applelimelemonwhite peach

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

Pinot Gris

Body

Sweetness

Acidity

lemonpeachmangobanana

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

Climate

Cool maritimeSunnyDry autumnsCold nightsWindy in the south

Cool maritime and famously sunny, with some of New Zealand's highest sunshine hours and low autumn rainfall. Long days, cold nights, and a dry, settled ripening season let Sauvignon Blanc build aroma while keeping its signature acidity. The Awatere Valley runs cooler and windier than the Wairau, with spring frost the main worry on the valley floors.

Terroir

Greywacke gravelsBraided river plainClay loam valleysLoess terracesFree-draining soils

The Wairau is a braided-river plain of deep, free-draining greywacke gravels, stonier and leaner toward the old riverbed. The Southern Valleys that finger into the hills carry heavier clay loams that hold water and suit Pinot Noir. Across the Wither Hills, the Awatere Valley is a different world: higher terraces of windblown loess over gravels, drier and leaner still.

Typical Aromas

passionfruitgooseberrycut grassgrapefruitblackcurrant leafwhite peach

Explore the aroma wheel

More in New Zealand

Central Otago

Gisborne

Hawke's Bay

Martinborough

Nelson

North Canterbury

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.

Map data: GI boundaries from the IPONZ Geographical Indications Register (Crown copyright, CC BY 4.0) · LINZ NZ Suburbs and Localities (CC BY 4.0) · District outlines © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)