What I Learned About Sauvignon Blanc During My Marlborough Harvest
Michelle LawlorIn March 2008, I flew to New Zealand’s Marlborough wine region for three months of vintage. This time is exciting and chaotic for any winery. Vintage means harvest. It brings long days, sticky overalls, and the excitement of grapes turning into wine.
Back in 2008, I worked at a busy contract winery on Rapaura Road. Many smaller producers brought their fruit here and stored their wines. One wine I helped make was Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc. I'm thrilled it's now on our website. Selling a wine I helped create is a moment I'll always cherish.
From Grape Juice to Wine: My Job at the Winery
Vintage jobs fall into two main types:
- Vineyard jobs (picking grapes)
- Winery jobs (making wine).
I was on the winery crew, focused on inoculating the must. This means adding yeast to fresh grape juice to start fermentation. I loved it. Within weeks, I mastered the rhythm and embraced the process.
Other tasks included racking, pump-overs, and cleaning tanks. To my surprise, I got pretty handy with a forklift. It was pre-iPhone, so there’s no proof of how covered in grape juice I got!
That experience changed my view of Sauvignon Blanc. I learned how expressive one grape can be, depending on where it’s grown and how it’s made.
View our Sauvignon Blanc range.
Sauvignon Blanc: New Zealand vs. France
Working in Marlborough deepened my appreciation for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Later, I discovered how different it is from its French cousin in the Loire Valley.
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
New Zealand’s famous white wine is zesty, bold, and bursting with fruit. Expect flavours of:
- Passionfruit
- Lime
- Gooseberry
- Fresh-cut grass
- It’s vibrant, aromatic, and full of energy
Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé)
In contrast, French Sauvignon Blanc is all about precision and restraint. It’s clean, mineral, and elegant, with flavours of:
- Lemon zest
- Flint
- Chalky, mouth-watering freshness
- Where New Zealand shouts, France whispers, and both do it beautifully.
