Marlborough

Marlborough lies at the northern-most tip of New Zealand's South Island, and is the largest of the country's wine-producing regions. The local geography consists of a large, flat river valley with deep deposits of silt and gravel, however, significant variations in soil type in specific sites gives the terroir great diversity. The best sites feature shallow, stony soils with good drainage and a top layer of surface boulders which reflect the sun's rays and retain warmth during Marlborough's cool, clear summer nights.Marlborough produces wines from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling but is famed the world over these days for its Sauvignon Blanc, which is probably the closest thing the country has to a national wine style, with its tropical and gooseberry flavours, combined with a certain unmistakeable herbaceous pungency.