2024 Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

The Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough is a vibrant and finely tuned expression of New Zealand’s most celebrated white variety, crafted with precision from select parcels in the sun-soaked Wairau Valley. This wine captures all the energy and aromatic intensity that Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is known for, but layers it with textural polish and site-driven clarity.

Villa Maria is one of New Zealand’s most awarded and consistent wineries, and the Reserve range showcases fruit from their best vineyards. The Wairau Valley, with its warm days, cool nights, and stony alluvial soils, delivers Sauvignon Blanc with powerful aromatics, zesty acidity, and a mineral edge. Fermentation is carried out at cool temperatures in stainless steel to retain freshness and aromatic lift, with a small portion aged on fine lees to add subtle weight and texture. The result is a Sauvignon Blanc that balances tropical exuberance with structure and drive.

In the glass, it bursts with aromas of passionfruit, kaffir lime, elderflower, and freshly cut herbs. The palate is crisp, layered, and mouthwatering, with juicy citrus, ripe guava, and a stony mineral finish that lingers. It’s energetic, expressive, and impeccably balanced.

Perfect with oysters, green Thai curry, or goat cheese salad, the Villa Maria Reserve Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc is a benchmark for Marlborough and a go-to for lovers of fresh, vibrant white wine.