2026 Vavasour Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough

Highly perfumed and bright, with citrusy and floral aromas accented by elderflower. Medium-bodied and juicy, with sharp acidity bringing freshness and energy to the flavorful fruit. Crisp and lively through the finish. Drink now.

90 points Andrii Stetsiuk for James Suckling

Vavasour is a 1986 established winery and the pioneering estate in Marlborough’s southern Awatere Valley. A cool and windy sub-region with wide diurnal temperature variations, it is characterised by its deep, alluvial gravel soils and despite its open exposure to the Pacific Ocean, low rainfalls that compare to those of Rutherglen or the dessert-like Walla Walla of Washington State in the USA. The fruit here tends to ripen significantly later than in Wairau Valley or in the hillside vineyards, with thick skins and good depths of colour.

The estate has been in the folds of the California-based Foley Family Wines-group since 2009. Mat Duncan calls the shots these days in the vineyard, while chief winemaker Stu Marfell holds the keys to the winery where he works with winemakers Susan van der Pol and Ellie Hobbs. Fruit from the 80-hectare vineyards is regularly complimented by fruit from other growers within the Awatere Valley.

The 2026 is the 40th anniversary release for the Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc. As always, its best enjoyed young and fresh.