Trade Resources

Vintage Report 2026

The 2026 Marlborough harvest was characterised by generally favourable conditions, delivering a smooth and well-paced vintage. The first fruit was around 6 – 10 days earlier than previous years. A settled period through late summer allowed for steady ripening, with good flavour development across most varieties. Picking decisions were made without major weather pressure, enabling fruit to be harvested at optimal balance between sugar, acid, and flavour.

One of the key challenges this season was managing variability across blocks. Early season conditions created uneven flowering in some areas, which translated into differences in ripeness at harvest. Careful vineyard monitoring and selective picking were required to ensure fruit quality remained high. Additionally, intermittent rainfall events required close attention to disease pressure later in the season, though these were largely well managed.

Overall fruit quality was very strong. Sauvignon Blanc showed excellent aromatic intensity, with lifted tropical and citrus notes supported by fresh natural acidity. Pinot Gris and Chardonnay also performed well, displaying good concentration and balance. Clean fruit and moderate yields contributed to wines with purity and precision.

Compared to the previous vintage, 2026 offered slightly more consistency in ripening conditions, with less compressed picking windows. While last year produced some high-intensity parcels, this season stands out for its overall balance and uniformity across varieties.

Sauvignon Blanc was the standout varietal this vintage, delivering exceptional expression and typicity. The combination of ripe fruit characters and vibrant acidity suggests strong potential for both early-drinking and premium styles.

In summary, the 2026 Marlborough vintage can be regarded as a high-quality year, with wines expected to show clarity, freshness, and strong regional character. Continued attention in the winery will ensure these attributes are carried through to the final product.

Phil Steel - Marlborough Vintners Senior Winemaker

Upper Wairau

Stretching from the Waihopai River west, running along the Wairau River, up the valley to the township and beyond the Upper Wairau sub region predominantly features stony, free-draining alluvial soils. With a warmer and slightly drier microclimate, this area sees significant temperature variation between day and night. Sauvignon Blanc produced is elegant and focused. Lime, apricot and stone fruit are well balanced with characteristics of chamomile and grass.

Marlborough isn’t just one place, one climate, or one style. It’s a mosaic of distinct subregions, each with its own soils, microclimates, and character.

Appellation Marlborough Wine was created to celebrate and protect the authenticity, quality and provenance of Marlborough wines, and to show the world that there’s so much more to explore beyond the label. And in 2023, in partnership with The Marlborough Wine Map Collective, they developed the Wine Map of Marlborough. With intuitive filters and layers, you can explore the region’s topography, soils, temperature, rainfall, and more—seeing firsthand how these natural elements shape the vibrant, expressive wines that have made Marlborough world-famous.

Copyright – Appellation Marlborough Wine and The Marlborough Wine Map Collective.