Think Sauvignon Blanc, think New Zealand; Marlborough region to be exact.

New Zealand is well known as a premium wine growing paradise and produces some superb wines from Pinot Noirs in Hawkes Bay to Rieslings in the Waitaki Valley region. The climate and the soil play a massive part in the production of these wines, but luckily New Zealand is a land of varying climates which allows them to produce this assortment of wines.

Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest wine region with over 20,000ha of vines. Marlborough gets about 2500 hours of sunshine a year, that’s around 7 hours per day, averaging around 17-18 degrees in the Summer and down to -2 in the winter. With its cool sea breezes and mountains to protect the vines from extreme weather; this region is relatively sunny and dry.

Oyster Bay wines are made in two regions in Marlborough, Wairau Valley and Awatere Valley. Wairau Valley has old, gravely riverbed soils whilst the Awatere Valley, which lies to the south of Wairau Valley and stretches inland from the sea has more soil made up of silty loam - a mix of sand, silt and clay and constitutes a loose, fertile, well balanced soil.

The grapes that make your Sauvignon Blanc are Sauvignon Blanc grapes which in New Zealand have characteristics that are tinged with tropical fruits but you can also pick up hints of Gooseberry, Passionfruit, Citrus, Peardrops and Fresh-cut grass which are typical for Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It is worth noting however, that the Awatere River Valley which has a really cool climate and cold air, means that the grapes here make more delicate sauvignons.

I collaborated with Oyster Bay wines to try out two of their award winning wines. Read my review on their Sparkling Cuvee here

OYSTER BAY SAUVIGNON BLANC REVIEW

On the nose : I picked up floral aromas and definite tropical fruit possibly pineapple and some banana.

On the palate : Definite tropical fruits, some citrus, there’s vegetable and mineral notes in there too. It’s fairly acidic with a long lingering zesty finish.

It is easy to see why Oyster Bay produces one of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc wines. It is a very light, smooth and crisp wine. It goes down well and is very easy drinking. There are no outstanding big bold characteristics here that challenge your palate and so for me, this means it is a go-to wine. A wine that most people will enjoy.

I choose to drink this ice cold and I could imagine easily downing a bottle or even two on a hot Summers evening. This would be perfectly paired with white fish like Hake or shellfish perhaps some Scottish Langoustines or Oysters.

My Spoon Award : Silver Spoon 8/.10

Alcohol : 12.5%

Sweetness : Extra Dry

Wine Type : White Wine

Winery : Oyster Bay

Where to purchase : Sainsburys