2025 Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

VITICULTURE & VINIFICATION

Harvest Dates: 14th of March to 10th of April 2025

Grape Growing: We are proud to source the fruit for this wine exclusively from Marlborough and to be certified with Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW). A mix of company owned or managed vineyards, and contract grower vineyards, are pruned to between two and four canes on a vertical shoot positioned trellis. Shoot thinning, leaf plucking and trimming are used to achieve balanced vines, a healthy canopy and clean fruit.

Climate: The Winter season prior to commencement of growth in Spring 2024 provided the perfect amount of rain to ensure strong, healthy early season growth. Higher than average inflorescence numbers and then one of the most perfect and quick flowering periods in memory ensured a very high crop potential and full bunches. By mid-season, grapevine phenology was tracking well in advance of the long-term average. This changed in the second half of the season with milder growing conditions and the larger crop slowing ripening down. Substantial fruit thinning was often required to ensure timely ripeness at harvest. Dry conditions in the lead up to harvest, along with the clean flowering, ensured disease pressure remained low. Vintage commenced in early March, with the majority of fruit harvested in the last 2 weeks of March and early April. Conditions remained dry and fruit remained in excellent condition.

Winemaking: Fruit was machine harvested and pressed immediately with minimal skin contact.  After settling, the clear juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 16°C – 12°C with selected yeast strains to preserve pure sub regional characters and varietal flavours.  Wines sat on light yeast lees in tank for approximately 2 months prior to blending in July 25. The wine has been heat and cold stabilised, and sterile filtered at bottling.

ACCOLADES

• AMW Collection 2025 - Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025 was named among this collection of 12 wines representing the pinnacle of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Each year, Appellation Marlborough Wine selects a standout group of Sauvignon Blancs that reflect the best of Marlborough. These wines demonstrate excellence in origin, authenticity, and craft. The Collection represents different subregions, winemaking styles, and the diversity of Marlborough’s terroir - all underpinned by AMW’s strict certification. 
• The fresh, vigorous 2025 vintage is one of the best yet.  Light lemon/green, it is full-bodied, with very good concentration of vibrant passionfruit and green capsicum flavours, crisp, dry and lingering.  A strongly varietal, tightly structured wine, it should be at its best mid-2026+. 2025 Michael Cooper, 4.5 Stars
• A powerful, pungent and distinctive bouquet then packed with flavours passionfruit and lime, nettles and cape gooseberry, apple and hay. The acid line is equally bold and expressive wrapping itself around the core fruit and dumping flavours throughout the palate including jalapeno. Fresh, salivating, fruity and ready for drinking from day of purchase through 2027. Drink today, not too chilled and perhaps with some freshly shucked oysters. Cameron Douglas MS, 93 Points, Excellent
• A classically structured sauvignon with plenty of passionfruit, guava and white peach. Succulent and immediately engaging, the ripe citrus fruit balanced by punchy acidity. A brisk, dry finish. The Real Review, 90 Points