In pictures: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Celebration 2016
Some pictorial highlights from Marlborough’s first International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration, where visitors indulged in beach cricket, craft beer, and bucket-loads of Savy B.
For those in any doubt that Marlborough is almost fully planted, this view from the air shows just how intensively the area is now farmed, with these vineyards reaching the cliff edge at the region’s Awatere Valley.
New Zealand marked the closing of day one of the inaugural “celebration” of Sauvignon Blanc with a garden party at Timara Lodge in Marlborough. The the three-day event ran from 1-3 February and was designed to explore the stylistic diversity of wines made from Sauvignon, using examples from across New Zealand and the rest of the world.
Among the guests at the Sauvignon Blanc Celebration in Marlborough were the UK’s Peter Richards MW and Julia Harding MW…
…as well as Oz Clarke.
The second day of the Sauvignon Celebration saw us lunch at Cloudy Bay, where Ian Morden, MD of the famous Marlborough winery, introduced a discussion on Marlborough’s identity, which was then led by Australian wine commentator, Nick Stock (in the basket seat).
The visit included an extensive tasting of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in Cloudy Bay’s barrel hall.
That evening saw delegates take a train trip to Kekerengu beach for a beach party at Kiwiana, where there were oysters, sparkling wines, and skinny dipping (sadly not captured here).
Thankfully there was also cold beer to chill the guests.
Partner Content
The croquet wasn’t so popular but the cricket was, and had one unusual rule: you had to play with a glass in hand.
Guests included Telegraph columnist Victoria Moore, Chris Stroud from New Zealand Winegrowers UK, and Tom and Tim from Constellation Brands.
The final day of the celebration included a ‘Wild Bunch’ Sauvignon tasting including older vintages, oak-aged examples, as well as the growing lower alcohol category. This was followed by a lunchtime discussion about Sauvignon styles.
‘Serial start-up guy’ Mike Hutcheson gave the closing words of Sauvignon 2016. Delegates were then bussed to Pernod Ricard’s Brancott Estate for a ‘Gala dinner’.
Dramatically dressed models mingled among the guests at the gala dinner before Patrick Materman, chair of the Sauvignon Celebration (and chief winemaker for Brancott Estate) addressed the audience.
Among the attendees was UK-born, but NZ-based, Jane Skilton MW.
Dinner drinks included plenty of low-alcohol beer.
The evening concluded with a catwalk display of ‘wearable art’, which is designed and produced in Nelson for an annual competition, sponsored by Brancott Estate. After the show, some of the models moved among the tables to show off the elaborate outfits.
Very well organised event to attend with a huge amount of information on the Sauvignon Blanc grape from around the world–not just NZ.
From the photographs there was also a bit of leisure time but that was after some serious lectures from international wine leaders.
Well done New Zealand in hosting this event.