MARLBOROUGH
During the past 20 years, the nuances of the Marlborough region’s sub-districts have come to the fore as terroir is allowed full expression in wine production. Babich Wines has contributed significantly to this evolution of a multi-faceted wine country.
Many of New Zealand’s most fragrant and flavoursome wines originate in Marlborough’s pebbly, flat plains. Abundant sunshine and a dry autumn climate allow the region’s Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir to benefit from a long, slow ripening period that intensifies flavours.
The free-draining, alluvial loams over gravelly sub-soils in the Wairau and Awatere River valleys provide ideal growing conditions.
A leading cool-climate wine region, Marlborough is also the largest of New Zealand’s wine production areas in terms of volume.
While it has become a familiar name worldwide for Sauvignon Blanc, the region’s most planted grape variety; Marlborough is also renown for its Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Riesling.
For Babich Wines, Marlborough makes a heavy contribution to the company’s portfolio. Babich has invested in substantial vineyard land and in the production facilities, the latter as a one-third shareholder in the Rapaura Vintners enterprise where so many wonderful wines have been made since the mid-1990s.
Viticulturalist, John Sowman and his team manage all of Babich’s Marlborough vineyards totaling 154 hectares (380 acres).
The 42 hectare (104 acres) Wakefield Down Vineyard in the Awatere Valley is located on a spectacular terraced site above the Awatere River. This particularly free-draining vineyard planted exclusively with Sauvignon Blanc has a frost-free microclimate that is ideal for grape growing.
In the Waihopai Valley, the colourfully named 66 hectare (163 acres) Cowslip Valley Vineyard lies on a gentle rise. Its deep gravelly soils are ideal for Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Noir.
The 20 hectare (49 acres) Headwaters Vineyard which was established in 2005 in the Wairau Valley has a lighter loam type soil and is planted exclusively in Sauvignon Blanc.
Grapes sourced from the heavier soils of the 26 hectare (64 acres) Selmes Road Vineyard area are ideal for blending with fruit grown on lighter, gravelly soils.
These Wairau Valley soils are particularly suited to Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.
In addition to its own vineyards, Babich Wines also buys quality fruits from contract partners.
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