Mapping 50 years of wine history in Marlborough

Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) has announced the launch of the Wine Map of Marlborough, a reference tool that delineates the major New Zealand wine growing region for the first time.

The release of the map coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first commercial vineyards being planted in Marlborough. Vineyards now occupying around 30,000 hectares and Marlborough is a global touchpoint for sauvignon blanc. 

Marlborough is home to three-quarters of all wine grape plantings in New Zealand.

“Naturally, sub-regions with distinct microclimates and stylistic features have been identified over this time,” says John Buchanan, AMW chair. 

“The Wine Map of Marlborough represents the first genuine attempt to map these in a detailed way.”

AMW is a member-led organisation established in 2018 to protect the integrity, authenticity and brand value of wines produced within its region.

The map project was driven by the Marlborough Wine Map Collective (MWMC), a team of five AMW members comprising Simon Waghorn of Astrolabe, Matt Thomson and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW of Blank Canvas, Ivan Sutherland of Dog Point, Brian Bicknell of Mahi and Brendan Neylon of Rapaura Springs. 

“We robustly debated and defined the current sub-regional hierarchy of Marlborough,” says Matt Thomson.

Over a two-year period, the ensemble worked in consultation with Wellington-based cartographer Roger Smith of Geographx and local designer Megan Boreham of Eye Catcher Designs.

“The resulting ‘Wine Map of Marlborough’ is a vital resource in understanding the sub-regional detail and diversity of Marlborough,” says Buchanan.

“We look forward to making it available to a wider audience, including industry colleagues, wine educators, and engaged consumers.”

Simon Waghorn adds: “The Marlborough Wine Map is an important step in creating some guidelines and understanding around our variegated region. 

“The Marlborough appellation can not and should not be simplified to the provincial boundary, we must take a lead from pioneering wine regions who’ve defined their land by geology and geography.”

# The Marlborough Wine Map will be available for purchase direct from Appellation Marlborough Wine with profits returned to the Marlborough Wine Map Collective for research and development.