Marlborough
Marlborough is the engine of New Zealand wine and the world's benchmark Sauvignon Blanc, famous for its intense, zesty, passionfruit and gooseberry character, with increasingly serious Pinot Noir from its subregions.
Fast facts
At a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Climate | Cool, sunny, maritime |
| Geography | Broad Wairau Valley plain at the top of South Island |
| Key appellations | Marlborough GI · Wairau Valley · Awatere Valley · Southern Valleys |
| Main grapes | Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris |
| Famous for | Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay, Wairau & Awatere Valleys |
Grapes
Signature grapes of Marlborough
The varieties that define this region's wines.
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is celebrated for its electric, zesty character and unmistakable aromatics — gooseberry, grass…
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is Burgundy's great gift to the wine world — light in colour yet profound in flavour, haunting in i…
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the world's most planted white grape and a remarkable blank canvas for terroir and winemaking. F…
Pinot Grigio / Pinot Gris
Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris in French) produces two very different styles. Italian Pinot Grigio is light-bodied, …
Nearby
Related regions
Explore neighbouring wine areas.
Wine travel
Visiting Marlborough
By far the largest wine-tourism scene in New Zealand, with flat easy riding, cellar doors and the Marlborough region's endless sunshine.
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Country-wide wine guide with regions, grapes, classification and food culture.