Marlborough is always moving forward
From new vintages and industry milestones to stories from the people and places that make this region what it is - stay connected with everything happening in Marlborough wine.
Press Releases
From vintage updates and industry milestones to regional achievements and new announcements, our press releases keep you connected with everything happening in Marlborough wine - straight from the source.
Congratulations to Nick Lamain, 30, from Isabel Estate in Marlborough, who is the 2026 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year. Congratulations also to Kris Godsall, 24, from Cloudy Bay, Marlborough, who is the 2026 Young Viticulturist of the Year.
From planting the first vines in Marlborough to setting international benchmarks, Brent Marris remains enamoured with Sauvignon Blanc.
The Wine Marlborough Board and management have today announced that the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival will be placed on hold following “a number of difficult but necessary discussions”, says Wine Marlborough General Manager Marcus Pickens.
“It was a hard decision, particularly given the festival’s long history and the special place it holds for our industry and the many people who look forward to it each year. We are proud of the successful event we have built and grateful to the people, businesses and community groups who have helped make it possible.
The accolades keep rolling in for Whitehaven’s Sauvignon Blanc 2025. Following its Diamond Trophy at the Sakura Japan Women's Wine Awards and Gold Medal at Mundus Vini, the company’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc has now earned an impressive 93-point rating from Robert Parker Wine Advocate, one of the world's most respected and influential wine publications.
Congratulations to Nick Lamain from Isabel Estate, who was crowned the 2026 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Marlborough Young Winemaker of the Year following the competition held on 15 July at the Marlborough Research Centre (MRC) and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) in Blenheim.
The ‘First Lady of New Zealand Wine’ reflects on Hunter’s Wines rich history, from a legacy of quality and award-winning wines to a sense of optimism for the future of Marlborough wine.
Respecting the unique characteristics of each vineyard site – and taking care of the vines for the long run – is the approach Mike Eaton brings to his winemaking. And now, so does his son.
Four wines in a showcase display at Wine + Food Experience Marlborough are top examples of what careful site selection can achieve.
A mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they each picked up at least one trophy at the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
The Young Winemaker Competition provides a fantastic opportunity for future winemakers 30 years or under to upskill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry. The winner of the regional competition will compete in the National competition against other regions. We are pleased to introduce you to the contestants competing in the Marlborough competition taking place on Wednesday 15th July.
Returning to Marlborough from 23–25 June 2026, WinePro NZ will deliver a powerful combination of exhibition, conference sessions and exhibitor-led Floor Talks focused on the issues shaping vineyard performance, winemaking efficiency, profitability, and long-term resilience. Far more than a traditional trade event, WinePro NZ has been designed around one question many businesses are asking today: “What practical things can we do right now?”
Congratulations to Kris Godsall from Cloudy Bay, who became the 2026 Ormond Nurseries Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year on 28 May. The 24-year-old was thrilled to raise the trophy and delighted that his hard work had paid off.
Congratulations also to Harry Watson from Berakah Vineyard Management, who came second, and Isaac Langley from Pecchenino Viticulture Services, who came third. The competition was tight at the top, and all the contestants gave it their all, whilst competing with great respect and support for each other.
Marlborough’s 2026 vintage conditions were “simply magic,” says Clos Henri winemaker Damien Yvon, reflecting on four perfect weeks in the lead up to harvest. Warm days and cold nights resulted in wines with “power”, along with “freshness and finesse”, he says from the small Wairau Valley vineyard and winery. “And that combination is just amazing.”
Sauvignon Blanc is in the spotlight at Wine + Food Experience Marlborough as the region’s best examples of the variety take centre stage.
Five Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs of different styles are the current focus of a wine display celebrating Marlborough’s most successful wines at the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
As the leaves in the vineyards turn to gold, Young Viticulturists around New Zealand are turning their focus to silver with the goal of raising their coveted regional trophy and ultimately the national trophy as the 2026 Ormond Nurseries New Zealand Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Spy Valley Wines has gone seven for seven, winning golds for all their wines at the 2026 London Wine Competition and earning “Winery of the Year New Zealand”.
Among the seven golds were 2023 Envoy by Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 2024 Spy Valley Chardonnay, and 2025 Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc.
On May 1st, Sauvignon Blanc Day 2026, Astrolabe Wines will be launching two new Southern Valleys wines, a Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah, to add to their subregional offering.
The Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition 2026 is now in its 21st year and is taking place on Thursday 28th May. This competition provides a fantastic opportunity for viticulturists 30 years or under to up-skill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry.
A special display offering a taste of the best of Marlborough’s subregions has been set up at the Wine + Food Experience in the heart of Blenheim.
Four wines featured in the display are the first of many champion wines set to be showcased at the recently opened venue, having received trophies at the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
They include the Fruitfed Supplies Champion Southern Valleys, Central Express Ltd Champion Wairau Valley & Interpack Champion Riesling, Circuit Logistics Champion Awatere & South Marlborough, and Winequip Champion Sparkling trophy winning wines of the show.
Nearly 100 wines have been awarded gold medals at the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
Ninety-one golds were awarded - the highest number since records began in 2012, following a stellar 2024 vintage and stunning weather conditions leading into the 2025 harvest.
Chief Judge Stu Marfell said the 2024 season had been a hard act to follow, and that this year’s entries included Pinot Noir and Chardonnay entries of that vintage.
Fifteen judges will taste 622 wines entered into the 2025 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, this week.
Chief Judge Stu Marfell will be joined by a further 12 local judges, as well as out of region guest judges Sam Kim and Toni Paterson MW, in assessing the wines over three days starting Wednesday.
“We’re extremely pleased to have both of these talented and knowledgeable wine experts on the panel this year, Sam as a returning guest judge, and Toni for the first time,” he says.
Tickets for the next Marlborough Wine & Food Festival on Saturday 14 February 2026 are now available, as New Zealand’s original wine and food festival gears up for its 39th year.
Festival event manager Loren Coffey is delighted to announce Troy Kingi and Kaylee Bell will be headlining the day’s live music offerings.
Congratulations to Ruby McManaway from Yealands, Marlborough, who is the 2025 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year. Congratulations also to Anna Kelland from Constellation Brands, who is the 2025 Young Viticulturist of the Year.
The winners were announced at the New Zealand Wine 2025 Celebration Dinner held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on Thursday, 28 August.
Congratulations to Ruby McManaway from Yealands, who was announced as the 2025 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Marlborough Young Winemaker of the Year following the competition held on 16 July at Marlborough Research Centre and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology campus in Blenheim.
Whitehaven Wines has established a partnership with Selmes Garden Trust which will see individuals with disabilities engaged to help propagate seeds collected by Whitehaven.
Selmes have announced the closure of its native garden centre retail operations, but have shifted to a native plant production model.
The Young Winemaker Competition provides a fantastic opportunity for future winemakers 30 years or under to upskill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry. The winner of the regional competition will compete in the National competition against other regions. We are pleased to introduce you to the contestants competing in the Marlborough competition taking place on Wednesday 16th July.
Congratulations to Anna Kelland from Constellation Brands, who became the 2025 Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year on 29 May. This is the second consecutive year she has taken out the prestigious title. She is excited to represent Marlborough in the national finals again and determined to bring the national trophy home this year.
Congratulations also to Laura Hammond from Babich, who came second, and Harry Watson from Berakah Vineyard Management, who came third.
Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) launches its highly anticipated Interactive Wine Map of Marlborough, a cutting-edge digital platform set to transform how wine professionals and enthusiasts experience the region's diverse terroir. This innovative tool elevates the original Wine Map of Marlborough, created by the Marlborough Wine Map Collective, into an immersive digital experience that brings the region's unique characteristics to life.
Marlborough’s 2025 vintage was “smooth and easy and didn’t miss a beat,” says Jamie Marfell, group winemaker NZ at Vinarchy (formerly Pernod Ricard Winemakers). “Because the crop levels were up everything was ripening quite evenly and slowly, it wasn’t a rush and we brought in strong fruit across the region.
“The winery kept up with everything coming through the door and we were getting absolutely clean juice going into ferment. That’s the mark of a good vintage, when your ferments kick off after a couple of days, and the winery and everyone is working together, going to plan.” He says the well-paced harvest was a great way to mark 50 years since the first Sauvignon Blanc was planted in their Brancott vineyard.
The Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year Competition 2025 is now in its 20th year and is taking place on Thursday 29th May. This competition provides a fantastic opportunity for viticulturists 30 years or under to up-skill, grow in confidence, widen their network and start making a name for themselves within the industry.
Ten young Marlborough contestants will undergo a mix of practical and theoretical modules from pruning to Budgeting. They go head-to-head in the BioStart Hortisports event, a quick-fire quiz as well as give a speech at the awards dinner.
Pioneering Marlborough photographer and winemaker Kevin Judd is the 2025 recipient of the Marlborough Living Cultural Treasure Award. The award recognises individuals who have made an extraordinary, inspiring and significant contribution to cultural endeavour in Marlborough throughout their lifetime.
Winepress Magazine
Established in 1991, Winepress is New Zealand's longest running wine publication - reporting the latest news, research and insights from the Marlborough wine industry for over three decades.
The September 2026 edition of Winepress looks at:
Fire Watch
The Fire risk inherent in vineyard and winery operations is one that Philip Steel knows from both sides, as senior winemaker at Marlborough Vintners and a volunteer firefighter. “Just because the grass may be green on top doesn’t mean it’s not dry underneath,” he says. Photo by Jim Tannock. Go to page 10
Wine & Food Festival
Pressing pause on the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival provides a “great opportunity to promote Marlborough’s flagship Sauvignon Blanc where it really counts”.
Double Win
Isabel Estate winemaker Nick Lamain is 2026 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year, and Cloudy Bay assistant vineyard manager Kris Godsall is Ormond Nurseries Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Expert View
The developing El Niño is a reminder that drought is a recurring feature of Marlborough’s climate and that preparedness remains important.
Behind the Scenes - Anne Escalle
Market Forces - Celebrating Sauvignon Blanc
The August 2026 issue of Winepress looks at:
Cutting Edge
There was plenty of pruning prowess on display in early August, with the return of the Marlborough Silver Secateurs competition. Lily May, from Vanuata’s Tongoa Island, won Champion Female Pruner on a day that showcased talent and community. Photo by Jim Tannock.
Viticulture Property
Vineyards are a business not a retirement plan, Mike Poff told attendees at a WinePro presentation. “It’s time to put the hands back on the steering wheel and drive value.”
NZW Fellow
More than 40 years after the start of Cloudy Bay, Kevin Judd has been named a 2026 New Zealand Winegrowers Fellow, recognising the impact of his photography and winemaking.
Marketing matters
“The last metre matters more than ever.” That was the take-home message at the ‘Getting to market is not the same as getting bought’ session at Winepro.
Behind the Scenes - Nick Lamain
Market Forces - Morven McAuley
Staying Connected
In tough times it is vital to communicate with family members and “share the load”, say Awatere grape growers Rachel and Bryn Cotching. “Just speaking to someone, even if they don’t have the answers, can help,” says Bryn, a Wine Marlborough board member and Marlborough Grape Growers Cooperative director. Photo by Jim Tannock. Go to page 14.
WinePro
Winery and vineyard technology were showcased at WinePro in Blenheim in June, while the conference segment offered insights from vines to sales.
Beyond Mothballing
Recent workshops offered grape growers considerations for spraying and pruning during mothballing, as well as options for removing vines instead.
Growing Wellbeing
Industry gatherings can help fuel wellbeing in tough times, says Sarah White, coordinator for the Top of the South Rural Support Trust.
Green Shoots – Tiraki
Boutique brands leveraging connections
Behind the Scenes - Damien Yvon
Being Named The Real Review runner-up Vigneron of the Year 2026 is less about personal satisfaction and more a “collegial success” shared with the entire business, says the face of Clos Henri, Damien Yvon.
Market Forces - Belinda Jackson
Sustainability runs deep at Lawson’s Dry Hills
The June issue of Winepress looks at:
Ōhine-anau-mate
Hundreds of years before winemaking developments stretched between the Wither Hills and Waikārapi, the people of Rangitāne were digging extensive networks of canals and fish traps. Robbie McKinney of Rangitāne o Wairau, and Jason Cook of Indevin Group, are on a mission to restore Ōhine-anau-mate. Photo by Jim Tannock. Go to page 12.
Young Vit
Congratulations to Kris Godsall, the Ormond Nurseries Young Viticulturist of the Year Marlborough, following a tough but collegial competition on May 28.
Farewell Philip Gregan
Over more than four decades in the wine industry, Philip Gregan has had a front row seat to one of New Zealand’s most remarkable export success stories.
WinePro
Events like WinePro are where “real conversations happen, partnerships form and we see firsthand what wineries actually need”, says Ineke Mast from Commerce7.
Market Forces
Meet Emily Hope at Blank Canvas
The May 2026 issue of Winepress looks at:
Solar Success
Native plantings, solar panels and electric utes are part of The Coterie sustainability journey, says Elizabeth Finlay. Photo by Jim Tannock.
Vintage 2026
Marlborough winemakers are reporting excellent fruit from all subregions and varieties, with beautiful late summer and autumn conditions redeeming early season concerns.
WinePro
Merging a tradeshow and conference is one of the strengths of WinePro, says Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens, looking forward to a “practical, industry-boosting programme with real impact”.
Trees for Marlborough
Selmes Garden Charitable Trust is growing native seedlings for reforestation projects while supporting learning, work and belonging for people with disabilities.
Pinot Pioneer - Hätsch is still making magic
Market Forces - Katy Prescott chats to Rachael Everitt at Invivo
Grape to Glass - Reducing fuel use with BRI’s Carbon Calculator
Biosecurity Watch - International experts at Grapevine Virus Conference
The April 2026 issue of Winepress looks at:
People Pillar
As part of a package on valuing and protecting our wine industry workforce, we talk to Bangon Sonnasaeng, seen on the cover with her colleague John Afitu, about the 12 seasons she has spent working with Alapa Viticulture in Marlborough. Photo Jim Tannock
Vintage 2026
There are myriad traditions around the first day of harvest, and we check in on a few of them, while gathering insights into the highs and lows of vintage 2026.
Behind the Scenes - Alan Wilkinson
Work as a shearer aught Alan Wilkinson a lot about looking after hard-working people. Forty years on, the founder of Alapa Viticultural Services says the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme is a partnership built on hard work and loyalty.
Research Passion
From micro ferments to waste-converting larvae, Claire Grose has spent the past 17 years listening to questions posed by the wine industry and using science to seek solutions.
Market Forces – Novum
Annual Reports
Each year tells a story - of growth, of challenge, of innovation and of a region that continues to raise the bar. Our annual reports capture the progress of Marlborough wine, the people driving it forward and the place that makes it all possible.
The past year has been one of recalibration for our industry. While the global and domestic challenges have been significant, they have also provided clarity about what matters most to our members and our region. It has been a year to reflect and realign to ensure that the Marlborough wine community remains resilient, collaborative, and well-prepared for the future.
Your organisation plays a vital role in the New Zealand wine industry. No other group is as closely connected to its membership, and this places Marlborough Winegrowers and Wine Marlborough in a unique position to hear directly from growers and wineries.
Last year was a year of celebration and reflection on the Marlborough wine industry’s success story with the significant milestone of turning 50 years as a wine growing region.
It has been a stellar ride to global recognition and success, and it would be so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that this wave will continue forever.
How quickly we have had to readjust and reset our expectations over the past twelve months. The situation has changed for many who may be experiencing a slowing rate of sales, too much stock, changing consumption preferences, vineyards reaching replacement age or maybe having a varietal mix that isn’t optimal.
Your board are committed to making a difference and sharing information is key. However, to uptake information and make use of it, people have to be on the lookout for it and connected and engaged with the industry. Our job is to package information up and deliver the right info to the right person.
2023 MARKS 50 years of grape growing in Marlborough, offering opportunity to reflect on how our industry has developed and changed. The past year has reminded us of the cyclical nature of farming, with another record harvest for our region followed by a slowing rate of sales, with global economic uncertainty. There will be cautiousness as we head towards 2024 and we may well see more change afoot in our dynamic industry.
Many of the challenges we have faced resulted from factors beyond our control, including a global pandemic and the wild cards dealt by Mother Nature, including the small vintage of 2021, followed by our largest ever vintage in 2022. More recently we have seen 100-year floods and subsequent damage.
Throughout this turbulent time the Marlborough wine industry has continued to prove itself as mature, resilient, connected and
organised. It is these traits that have helped us move forwards, rather than succumb to the pressures around us.
Our people deserve celebration and thanks. It goes without saying that the workforce - in the field, in our wineries and in the operational side of the industry - have dug deep to create success for the businesses they are part of, and for New Zealand Inc, which benefits from a strong wine sector. Without this drive and determination, we wouldn’t have managed through this chaotic period.
AN EXTRAORDINARY year has passed in our global community, and there are many aspects we’d rather forget. But there have been stories of success, resilience and, yes, pivoting, that are certainly worth remembering.
Marlborough’s wine industry has faced challenge after challenge, from shipping headaches and alert level changes to labour shortages and spiralling costs of production. In so many cases we have worked as a team to analyse situations and devise solutions that allowed us to leap, or sidestep, those hurdles.
OUR YEAR, like that of most organisations and industries, was shaped significantly by Covid-19.
Throughout 2020, and especially in these challenging and unprecedented times, it was a relief to turn back to our strategic goals as a guide. Our purpose is to ‘proudly stand up for, and build, the reputation of Marlborough’s wine region’.
LAST YEAR we reported on the Marlborough Winegrowers Strategic Plan through to 2021, which was an important milestone for the organisation and gave us renewed assessment of our priorities and goals for the board and Wine Marlborough team to work towards.
Our main goal is to make Marlborough the world’s greatest wine region. We have set the bar as high as we can and, as a board, we are pleased with the progress towards our aims. The Wine Marlborough team are held to account through their 90 day planning cycles and a new reporting format at board meetings, which focuses on progress against our strategic goals.