2024 Whitehaven Greg Sauvignon Blanc

VITICULTURE & VINIFICATION

Harvest Date: 17th – 18th March 2024

Varieties: 100% Sauvignon Blanc, MS clone.

Grape Growers: The Peter family, Alton Downs Vineyard, Awatere Valley.

Climate: Unlike the previous two years, the growing season leading into the 2024 vintage began after a dry winter, with the soil water balance in deficit. Fewer inflorescences generally and then a protracted flowering window in November and December, resulted in poor fruit set and fewer berries per bunch than the average in most areas. Dry conditions persisted for the duration of the growing season, minimising disease threats and resulting in clean fruit at harvest. A spell of warm weather through late December and January, in combination with the lighter crop, resulted in a rapid physiological advancement against the long-term average.  This trend continued until the start of harvest in early March. Fortuitously, the headwaters of the Wairau and Awatere River systems received enough rain to keep irrigation schemes open through the season and into harvest, at which point a return to cool, crisp days became the norm. Fruit was harvested at more elevated sugar levels than the previous two seasons. Peak intake for the winery was from the 13th March through to the 29th March. 

Grape Growing: We are proud to source the fruit for this wine from a single vineyard in the Awatere valley, a legacy that has continued for many years. Vines are cane pruned on a vertical shoot positioned trellis. Shoot thinning, leaf plucking, and trimming are used to achieve balanced vines, a healthy canopy and clean fruit. 

Winemaking: Fruit from Alton Downs Vineyard was machine harvested in the cool morning conditions and pressed immediately with minimal skin contact. After cold settling, the clear juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 12°C - 16°C with selected yeast strains to preserve pure sub regional characters and varietal flavours. Wine sat on light yeast lees in tank for up to 6 months. The wine has been heat and cold stabilised, and sterile filtered, prior to bottling.

• "The youthful 2024 vintage, grown in the Alton Downs Vineyard, is a vibrant, well-ripened expression of the Awatere Valley.  Bright, light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling, vigorous and dry (2.1 grams/litre of residual sugar), with mouth-watering acidity and penetrating peach, passionfruit, lime and green capsicum flavours, showing excellent delicacy, poise and length.  Best drinking mid-2026+." 5 Stars, Michael Cooper ONZM

• "Very perfumed and floral with chalk over fresh limes, citrus blossoms and a touch of white currants. Medium-bodied, fleshy and mouth-filling with juicy citrus fruit at the core. Flavorful and very balanced. Vegan. Sustainable. Drink now. Screw cap." 91 points, James Suckling NZ Tasting 2025

• Fruit is sourced from a single vineyard in the Awatere Valley. Fragrant with crushed limes, sea shell and blackcurrant leaf. A basis of tropical fruit but centred in citrus and minerality. There is subtle elderflower blossom and white pepper spice. This is everything one is looking for in memorable Marlborough sauvignon blanc, but manicured with supple acidity and with a powerful nature to the fruit. Halliday Wine Companion 2026, 93 Points