Appellation Marlborough Wine Launched
June 16, 2018
Committee: Ivan Sutherland (Chairman), Fiona Turner, John Forrest (Vice-Chairman), Clive Jones, John Buchanan (Secretary/Treasurer), James Healy, Yang Shen
A new initiative under the brand name Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) was launched today to safeguard Marlborough’s wine reputation.
The primary aim is to protect the integrity, authenticity and brand value of wines produced in Marlborough. It is about fostering the good reputation of the region’s wines and establishing standards and criteria to enhance this. The Licensor of AMW is an Incorporated Society with its members (Licensees) being companies involved in the Marlborough wine industry.
To date 36 producers have committed to the AMW brand and the subsequent Licence Agreement. This quality focused, history making initiative is about being inclusive, with a number of other wine companies having expressed interest in being foundation Licensees
The certification criteria for wines bearing the AMW brand under the licence agreement will comprise the following standards and quality parameters:
100% grapes grown in Marlborough and bottled in NZ.
Comprise 100% of grapes grown in vineyards which are part of a recognised sustainable viticultural programe.
From grapes grown at an appropriate cropping level with the prime objective of enhancing quality and the Marlborough name. Each year the Licensor will notify the Licensee of the cropping level which will be expressed as tonnes of grapes per net producing hectare and be pertinent to each separate vineyard parcel of grapes.
If grapes used to produce the certified wine do not comply with the Licensor’s desired cropping level, then the Licensee may submit the wine with any necessary supporting evidence to the Licensor’s wine tasting panel which at its absolute discretion may permit that wine to become certified. The tasting panel shall be entirely set by the licensor and the decision of that panel shall be final and binding.
There is an agreement between the Licensor and Licensees (clause in the Licence Agreement) that there will be the ability to carry out random inspections and audit of certified wine. There was unanimous agreement to protect the integrity, authenticity and brand value of wines produced in Marlborough under AMW and that it will be substantially based on the honesty and integrity of members and on the correctness of certifications which members will be required to give. It was agreed that to underpin these arrangements there needs to be a system for inspections and audit.
Licensees have received information on the description of the brand and the associated intellectual property that may be used on labels, cartons and with advertising and promotional material. The committee acknowledges the industry financial support from Wineworks Marlborough Ltd and the Cresswell Jackson NZ Wine Trust.
For further information on Appellation Marlborough Wine do not hesitate to contact one of the committee members.
For the committee………Ivan Sutherland
Appellation Marlborough Wine is excited to announce Michael Wentworth as its Chief Executive Officer. Michael’s appointment commences on 15 April, 2024 in what is a new position within the member-led organisation.
The 2023 Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) Annual Collection has been selected. This year’s highly experienced panel - Jane Skilton MW, Erin Larkin and Andrea Martinisi - were given the daunting task of assessing over 70 new release Sauvignon Blancs before determining a unanimous top 12. The resulting collection is a celebration of Marlborough’s diverse landscape.
Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) is excited to announce its Annual Collection tasting will take place on Wednesday, 27 September. Introduced last year and warmly received by wine enthusiasts around the globe, the AMW Annual Collection shines an important spotlight on world-class Sauvignon Blanc.
