2021, A Vintage to Celebrate and Protect

There’s no place in the world like Marlborough, and no wine in the world that tastes like ours. Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) believes that it is worth protecting.

“The wines from our 2021 vintage are by far the most concentrated and powerful examples of Sauvignon Blanc that I’ve tried to date,” says Matt Fox, Rapaura Springs Viticulturist. “The quality across the board is outstanding! Wines from fellow AMW producers are looking just as impressive, it’s an exceptional year to be a consumer buying Sauvignon.”

Marlborough’s record low crops coupled with an impressive global consumer demand has created a significant shortage in wine from 2021. Some producers will be tempted to increase their production by blending fruit from outside the region into their Marlborough labelled releases. By law this is permitted but it is prohibited under AMW’s member criteria. Now is the time to #AskforAMW and to check labels for the AMW icon which guarantees a wine is 100% grown in the world-renowned Marlborough region. Ivan Sutherland, AMW Chairman and owner of Dog Point Vineyards says, “By purchasing AMW certified wines, consumers will have the reassurance that their wines were crafted with the prime objective under the AMW logo; to protect the integrity, authenticity and reputation of NZ’s largest wine region.”

A warm September saw Marlborough’s 2021 growing season commence early with bud burst in Sauvignon Blanc all but complete by month’s end. But mother nature had a few surprises up her sleeve and awoke the region on September 30th with an extended period of frosty temperatures which resulted in spots of frost damage across the region. “It was the first of the climatic events that severely reduced the number of grapes harvested in our region,” says Jules Taylor of Jules Taylor Wines. “But from Christmas onwards we experienced a traditional Marlborough summer with long periods of dry, sunny weather.” Some of the lowest bunch weights since 2007, Jules says they harvested very clean small berries. “Fruit had great concentration, we just wish there was more to go round!”

The importance of Appellation Marlborough Wine certification has never been so evident. Marlborough’s exceptional 2021 vintage deserves to be protected. “With a quality mark and accreditation like AMW, the commitment to the consumer is clear and together gives rise to maintaining provincial integrity and authenticity from vine to bottle and beyond,” says Catalina Sounds’ Winemaker Matthew Ward.

Marlborough’s 2021 Sauvignon Blanc’s are sure to enhance the region’s international reputation. “As a winemaker and a member of AMW I’m proud to highlight 100% Marlborough grown and bottled in NZ,” says Matthew Ward. “The quality of fruit from 2021 has created wines with great weight, concentration and balance. Vintages of this quality don’t come about regularly and tasting an AMW wine will give the consumer a snapshot of what a truly great and challenging vintage can taste like.”