Welcome to the Sauvignon Blanc capital of the world
It all started in the 1970s - when a New Zealander dreamed of creating a new style of wine we now call Sauvignon Blanc. New Zealand’s ideal climate and innovative viticulture created a unique taste that the world (and wine critics) love. By the early 1990s, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc was established as the global benchmark.
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A Short but Sweet History
The history of wine in Aotearoa New Zealand might seem short, but it has made its mark internationally. While European grape varieties have only been widely available since the 1980s - and our famous Sauvignon Blancs since the mid-1980s - the story goes back much further.
Early settlers, including Anglican missionary Samuel Marsden, planted grapevines as early as 1819 in the Bay of Islands. By the time Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840, New Zealand already had its first recorded bottled wine.
Over the years, the wine industry has grown and improved dramatically. Today, New Zealand wines - especially Sauvignon Blanc - are considered world-class.
Sauvage Beginnings
In the 1970s, Sauvignon Blanc cuttings were brought to New Zealand from the United States, even though the vine wasn’t seen as commercially valuable at the time. The vines thrived here, producing grapes that were flavourful, aromatic - and full of potential. By 1974, Matua Valley in Auckland produced the first marketable New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
The real breakthrough came when Montana (now Brancott Estate) planted vines in Marlborough - helping to establish a region that would become synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc. Marlborough’s modern wine story began with early plantings in 1973, with Sauvignon Blanc becoming pivotal soon after, including the first commercial Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc release in 1979.
By the mid-1980s, Marlborough’s distinctive style had gained international attention - a fresh, vibrant expression that was unmistakably New Zealand.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is known for its zingy acidity and irresistible aromas of grapefruit, pineapple, lime zest, freshly mowed grass, and bell pepper.
Today, this style accounts for over 85% of New Zealand's wine exports and continues to impress critics worldwide, setting the benchmark for quality. It's a classic story of New Zealand's ingenuity.
So, if you're ready to raise a glass, we know a place.
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