Magical Marlborough
A place as unique as the wine we make
Cool climate. High sunshine. Low rainfall. And soil loved by vines. It’s this combination that has allowed Marlborough to rightfully claim it’s place as one of the world’s favourite places for Sauvignon Blanc.
Marlborough Region
Facts
Situated at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, with Cook Strait to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the east, Marlborough experiences a maritime climate. This provides a cooling influence which, coupled with some of the highest sunshine hours in the country, creates the perfect environment for grape growing.
For Babich Wines, New Zealand’s Marlborough Vineyards make a heavy contribution to the company’s portfolio. Located at the top of the South Island, Marlborough is celebrated as New Zealand’s largest wine growing region.
It is enviably known for producing the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world – the region’s most planted grape variety. With its tropical, fragrant, and fresh flavour profile, it’s a drop that’s taken the world by storm, topping every good wine list in the world and raising the international standard for Sauvignon Blanc.
Grape Variety
While it has become a familiar name for this particular varietal, Marlborough is also renowned for its Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Riesling as the free-draining, alluvial loams over gravelly sub-soils in the Wairau, Waihopai and Awatere valleys provide ideal growing conditions. Producing wines that are crisp, unique, distinct, and recognized throughout the world.
Climate
As well as being one of the most beautiful locations in New Zealand, Marlborough is also loved by winemakers for it’s cool (yet sunny) climate, low rainfall, and free-draining soils. First known to the world for it’s spectacularly popular Sauvignon Blanc, it now excels in other varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
We have a Marlborough winery and 7 estate owned Marlborough vineyards.
Marlborough
Marlborough Winery – Riverlands
Built in 2013 this 6000 tonne capacity winery is the processing facility for all of our Marlborough vineyards.
Marlborough
Headwaters Vineyard – Wairau Valley
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner and Albariño – 59.8 hectares / 147.8 acres
Planted on lighter loam soil this over underlying gravel, this Marlborough vineyard has plantings of several varieties. The vineyard is certified organic (Biogro) across the entire site.
Marlborough
Wakefield Downs Vineyard – Awatere Valley
Sauvignon Blanc – 42.5 hectares / 105 acres
A spectacular terraced site with sandy loam soils above the Awatere River. This particularly free-draining Marlborough vineyard planted exclusively with Sauvignon Blanc has a frost-free microclimate that is ideal for grape growing.
Marlborough
Echelon Vineyard – Waihopai Valley
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris – 93.8 hectares / 231.8 acres
Echelon vineyard is an elevated 94Ha. property overlooking the controversial Waihopai Valley surveillance base. Deep silt loam “Jordan” soils over underlying clay rather than gravel are a feature of the site which is planted in Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.
Marlborough
Mara Babich Vineyard – Awatere Valley
Sauvignon Blanc – 50 hectares / 123.5 acres
This vineyard is located on the north bank of the Awatere River ironically directly opposite our oldest vineyard, Wakefield Downs on the south bank. The vineyard has 30ha of Sauvignon Blanc and we are currently planting another 20ha. The vineyard is situated on an elevated terrace next to the Awatere river and has a combination of Warwick, Dashwood and Ugebrooke fertile silt loams. We are excited about harvesting some rich complex Awatere flavours from this vineyard.
Marlborough
Cowslip Valley Vineyard – Waihopai Valley
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Noir – 115.9 hectares / 286.4 acres
Our Cowslip Valley, Marlborough vineyard has we have glacial outwash, forming free draining clay loams soils which are perfect for growing Pinot Noir as well as the aromatic varieties.
Marlborough
Selmes Road Vineyard – Wairau Valley
Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris – 25.6 hectares / 63.2 acres
The slightly heavier soil at our Selmes Rd, Marlborough vineyard produces grapes that are ideal for blending with fruit grown on lighter, gravelly soils.
Marlborough
Pennarth Farm Vineyard – Wairau Valley
Sauvignon Blanc – 79.1 hectares / 195.5 acres
Situated west of the Wairau Village, the Pennarth Farm Marlborough Vineyard was developed in 2017 with 60 Hectares of Sauvignon Blanc. This is the coolest and latest ripening of the Babich Family Estates vineyards.
Marlborough
Tetley Brook Vineyard – Awatere
Sauvignon Blanc – 64.2 hectares / 158.6 acres
The Tetley Brook Vineyard (49 hectares) is planted exclusively in Sauvignon Blanc in a north sloping valley sheltered from cold southerly winds by surrounding hills.
Explore the wines from Marlborough
