Marlborough, located at the North-Eastern tip of South Island, is New Zealand’s largest wine region in production and area. It is also the most well known thanks to names like Cloudy Bay, St Claire, Mud House and Grove Mill.

With the growth of the export market the Marlborough is now responsible for the production of 77% of New Zealand’s wine , the most planted varietal is Sauvignon blanc, followed by Pinot noir and Chardonnay.

Marlborough’s first vines, a small block of Brown Muscat, were planted in 1873 but grubbed up in 1931 with nothing else planted in the region until the 1970s. Montana Wines (now Brancott Estate) returned wine making to Marlborough with the purchase of 1173ha in 1973.

The area is widely considered by many to produce the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc, though not the producers of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume. The strong contrast between hot sunny days and cool nights help vintners extend the ripening period of their vines like nowhere else, resulting in unique expressions of their grapes.