Sauvignon Blanc Tuatara Bay 2022 – Saint Clair

Saint Clair is owned by viticulture pioneers Neal and Judy Ibbotson who planted their first vines in 1978. They originally supplied their grapes to local wineries, but established the Saint Clair Family Wine Estate in 1994 to produce their own wines.
The Saint Clair name originated from the vineyard property – first settled by the Sinclair family. Sinclair is a derivation of the original French Saint-Clair.
They own 160 hectares of vineyards in 10 different Marlborough locations specifically chosen for their individual terroir. In 2001 they introduced a grading system for each of their vineyards and mark them out of 10 for quality each year. This allows them to assess which sites provide the best fruit, and which varieties produce the best quality within each of the vineyards, which are all sustainably managed. This family owned Marlborough winery is now one of New Zealand’s leading wine companies with an exceptional quality record. Last year they were awarded the trophy for the Best New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by the AWC Vienna Wine Challenge – this is considered to be the largest officially recognised wine competition in the world, receiving over 12,000 entries from 39 countries, and it is the fifth time Saint Clair have been awarded this trophy by them.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc, one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world, offers endless interpretations. It is believed to have originated in the Loire region, although some theories suggest its Bordeaux origins.
The name “Sauvignon” derives from “sauvage” (wild) due to its native plant status in the French southwest. It thrives in cooler regions of Europe, including parts of Italy, Austria and Hungary.
In New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc showcases a stunning array of pungent and assertive characters, ranging from green grass and asparagus to tropical flavours like grapefruit, passion fruit, and mango.
Argentina, Chile and South Africa have also embraced Sauvignon Blanc with great success, capitalising on their cooler areas that are ideal for this zesty and fresh grape variety. Italy, specifically the marl and sandstone hills of Collio Goriziano and Colli Orientali del Friuli, has provided fertile ground for Sauvignon Blanc.