Marlborough for connoisseurs

Marlborough monoculture under cyclonic cloud

Fine Chardonnay, delicious Riesling, subtle and ageworthy Sauvignon Blanc – just some of the discoveries to be made in the far north of NZ's South Island, seen here in cloudy, cyclonic conditions last month.

The extraordinary state of wine production in Marlborough is one of the major reasons for the formation of New Zealand Fine Wine Producers, who organised my recent trip, outlined in NZ 2023 – not to be written off. See Marlborough Sauvignon - too successful? for more about the semi-industrialisation of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc production.

NZFWP set out to prove that there is much more to...