Dog Point took the wine world by storm, purely on the basis of its exceptional Sauvignon Blanc. One of the oldest vineyards in Marlborough, Dog Point sold grapes to other companies until they began bottling wine under their own label. Topography, the lie of land and quality of soils are crucial to the character of Marlborough's remarkable world class vintages. Dog Point's vines are mostly planted to free draining silty clay loams on the flatter aspects of Marlborough, salubrious soils which infuse grapes with luscious citrus and grapefruit flavours.

The third release of this pure, single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. Dancing Water is driven by the vision of Ross Trowsdale and Clare Bisso. Trowsdale studied viticulture and oenology, after which he travelled and worked vintages in the new and old world for a number of great producers, Pegasus Bay and Felton Road, Wyndham Estate and Cristom Vineyards, Weingut Stefanshof and Alois Kracher. These experiences have nurtured a love and respect for fine wine and the making of it.

In the crowded world of wine, New Zealand is paradise for Sauvignon Blanc and Marlborough sits at the heart of it all. The abundant sunshine, low rainfall, cool nights and long growing seasons, all contribute to the vibrant, zesty fruit flavours which make wines from this corner of the world so distinctive. The fruit is the focus of Crowded House, sourcing the finest possible from dedicated growers is fundamental. Marlborough's best vineyards form the foundations for Crowded House, a Sauvignon Blanc that's generous and in perfect balance.

From the lower terrace of Te Muna Road Vineyard in Martinborough, grapes are picked off several parcels of vine grown to stony, limestone influenced soils adjacent Huangarua River. Intervention in the cellar is minimal out of respect for the true character of a special vineyard, whilst exposing the textural elements for a more evocative style of Sauvignon Blanc, achieving a wine with distinctive fine, soft, chalky texture and great elegance.

The Cloudy Bay winemaking team suggested doing the unthinkable in vintage 1991. Why not ferment some juice with indegenous yeast, completely wild microflora, untrained and uncultured? This was uncharted territory in New Zealand and only nature could decide the outcome. A few barrels were set aside for trial, the juices quickly fermented into a pungent brew. Unperturbed, the winemakers let nature take it's course until spring, when the ugly duckling had morphed into a savoury complex wine of great intensity and voluptuous mouthfeel.

There are good reasons why the vista of Cloudy Bay dresses Marlborough's most internationally feted Sauvignon Blanc. Originally named and charted by Captain Cook in 1770, Cloudy Bay lies at the very northeast of New Zealand's South Island, where the auspicious vines of Wairau Valley can catch a glimpse of the sea. The quality of fruit is without peer and the winemaking itself is second to none. A Sauvignon Blanc of intensity, cohesion and complexity, match with newly made gazpacho, shucked oysters and brewed moules Marinere.

Clifford Bay is situated on the northern coast of South Island, at the southernmost reaches of Cook Strait, adjacent to the North Island's Wellington coast. To the north are the stunning White Cliffs and beyond that lies Cloudy Bay. Clifford Bay's wines are all about clear expression of varietal flavour and defined Marlborough regionality. Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from the Awatere and Wairau Valleys. All vineyards are managed to environmentally friendly systems and the Clifford Bay Winery is Sustainable Winegrowing of New Zealand certified.

Unlabelled Sauvignon Blanc by one of Marlborough's most reputable estates. In a unique and distinctively recognizable growing region such as Marlborough, the most critical work to produce beautiful wine must be done in the vineyard. There is no substitute for well balanced fruit and the maker here has clearly spent time amongst the vines applying the most exacting standards of viticulture right up until harvest. Portions were treated to a luxurious fermentation in oak barriques and puncheons, which contributes a supple undertone of smoky savouriness.

A single vineyard effort by one of Marlborough's most devout winemakers, Clayfork offers a splendid array of ripe tropical fruit characters with a remarkable capacity to rejuvenate and refresh. This generous Sauvignon Blanc, fruit driven and vital, mates beautifully with all good cuisine and is the coup de grâce alongside shellfish mornay.

The goal here is to construct a wine of intensity, complexity and great interest on the palate. Ultimately a wine that will evolve in the glass, revealing a variety of flavours, structures and classic Marlborough textures. The focus is on elegance rather than having any one element dominating the subtler characters and undertones. The fastidiously maintained vines produce clean, ripe fruit which translate into a deeply satisfying Sauvignon Blanc. Catalina Sounds is built to contemporary tastes, immensely flavoursome and ready to enjoy upon release.

Montana was launched to international renown in 1990 when it won the Marquis De Goulaine Trophy for best Sauvignon Blanc anywhere in the world. Now considered the benchmark in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Brancott by Montana is an assemblage of fruit grown to choice Marlborough sites. Three main terroirs predominate, on the northern side of Wairau Valley are young soils based on river silts and stone. At the southern end are older clay deposits, a divergence of terrains which yield Sauvignon Blanc harvests of unique and individual charm.

Marlborough's natural endowments are breathtaking to behold, the vastness and bounty of this beautiful land stirs the imagination and yields no finer example of Sauvignon Blanc than Braided River. The principal vineyard for Braided River sits on the confluence of the mighty Wairau and Waihopai Rivers in Marlborough. Riper characters here are achieved at lower sugar levels, offering great intensity and style at moderate alcohol levels.

Babich can lay singular claim to coaxing some of the most articulate varietal wines from both of New Zealand's majestic Isles. This eminent winemaking estate pioneered the dearly loved Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc genre, it endures to this day in a fuller, riper, softer style that drinks beautifully on release. An assemblage of fruit grown to finer Marlborough vineyards has been seamlessly fashioned into a tropical, refreshing and clean wine that calls for chicken caesar and the freshest fish.

Ata Rangi are the product of love for the land and passion for the vine. The dry windy climate consistently delivers low yields with high concentrations of flavour in the grapes. Obsessive attention to detail throughout the growing season ensures the fruit comes in at optimum flavour and balance. The care taken extends to harvesting the warmer side of individual rows and going back a few days later for the cooler side. A term of age on yeast less enhances palate weight and complexity, lovely tropical notes of guava and papaya contend for attention.

There are three blocks of Sauvignon Blanc at Amisfield, near the shores of Lake Dunstan in Central Otago. Older vines at the edge of Rocky Knoll yield fruit with delicious ripe stone fruit characters and pronounced minerality. Younger plantings on a beautiful elevated terrace above the winery provide grapes which are brim full of vim and vigor. A combination of wild indigenous yeast vinifications, oak barrel ferments and sedimentery lees stirring, achieves a singularly vigorous and compelling case for Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc.

The McWilliams winemaking team are blessed with access to some of the most splendid Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in Marlborough. Parcels of fruit from the Awatere Valley provide a steely and racy acidity, while grapes from the Wairau Valley display powerful and intense varietal expressions with lovely lifted passionfruit characters. A further component from the delta in upper Wairau contributes ripe and refined melon citrus flavours. Crafted to the post modern, early drinking, lighter in alcohol style, a smart choice alongside grilled fishes and chicken caesar.

Separated by the Tasman Sea but united by a passion for crafting nothing but the finest wines, the De Bortoli and Marris families have come together to write an exciting new chapter in the wonderful story of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. 3 Tales recounts the three stories that make up the background of a wine which binds two great southern lands. The perfect match to white meats, chicken recipes and the freshest fried fish, crisp acidity makes its ripe, herbaceous fruit flavours come alive.