Marlborough's Sauvignon Valleys

Over the years, the distinctive styles of the Sauvignon Blancs sourced from Marlborough's three main valleys – the Wairau, Awatere and Waihopai – have become more obvious. The valley differences are particularly apparent in the 2010 vintage.

Sauvignons from the windier, cooler Awatere have leafier flavours underpinned by minerality, while the milder Wairau climate results in tropical fruit and stonefruit notes. Waihopai wines lie somewhere in between – the valley gets more cold air than Wairau, however the wines aren't as leafy as Awatere. They have a flinty minerality, a bit like Sancerre.

Spending time in Marlborough en route along the Classic New Zealand Wine provides ample opportunity for tasting the valley variations – the region is home to 42 cellar doors.

In the meantime, here's some suggestions to try at home:-

Wairau Valley - Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc

Awatere Valley - Triplebank Sauvignon Blanc

Waihopai Valley - Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc