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Winery
Matahiwi
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is widely considered to be one of the finest varietals of white wine grapes. The green skinned fruit is notable for ripening relatively early in the year, due to the fact that it prefers milder temperatures and cannot maintain its distinctive flavors in hot climates. As such, it has become a favorite grape varietal for wineries in many very different countries around the world, where it can benefit from brisk, coastal breezes and mild early summers. Sauvignon Blanc is revered for its freshness and zesty character, and generally produces wines which are dry and very crisp on the palate. However, there are a wide variety of wines produced from this wonderfully versatile grape – with many wineries preferring to age the fermented juices in oak, or allowing malolactic fermentation to add a creamier, buttery finish to the grassy and tropical, citrus flavors it often carries.
Region: Marlborough
The beautiful region of Marlborough in the north east of New Zealand's South Island is home to over fifty percent of the country's vineyards, and is most commonly associated with the production of fine white wines, the majority of which are made with the Sauvignon Blanc grape varietal. Since the 1970s, New Zealand has consistently proved that the Marlborough region is one of the most suitable places on earth for the production of high quality white wines, where the hot days and cold nights allow wineries to extend the ripening period for their fine grapes and get far more expression of flavor and terroir from their fruit. The region itself is ideal in other ways, too – the mineral rich soils and oceanic breezes assist in the health of the vineyards, and Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietal grapes all manage to thrive there.
Country: New Zealand
As with nearby Australia, New Zealand has over the past century proven itself to be a superb location for producing high quality wines in vast amounts, with much of the cooler regions of both islands being used primarily for vine cultivation. New Zealand wineries are notable for their enthusiasm in regards to experimentation, and for utilizing modern technologies and methods to make the most of the imported grape varietals which flourish in the rich, fertile soils and oceanic climate. In recent years, it has been the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines which have gained the most attention, as a result of their smoky character and ability to carry the mineral rich nature of the terroir they grow in. Changing consumer interests have brought about a considerable rise in the production of organic and sustainable wines in New Zealand, of which again, the Sauvignon Blanc varietals are leading the way in regards to excellence, flavor and overall character.