In pictures: Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Celebration 2016

Some pictorial highlights from Marlborough’s first International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration, where visitors indulged in beach cricket, craft beer, and bucket-loads of Savy B.

Awatere valley from the air

For those in any doubt that Marlborough is almost fully planted, this view from the air shows just how intensively the area is now farmed, with these vineyards reaching the cliff edge at the region’s Awatere Valley. 

Garden party at Timara Lodge

New Zealand marked the closing of day one of the inaugural “celebration” of Sauvignon Blanc with a garden party at Timara Lodge in Marlborough. The the three-day event ran from 1-3 February and was designed to explore the stylistic diversity of wines made from Sauvignon, using examples from across New Zealand and the rest of the world.

Among the guests at the Sauvignon Blanc Celebration in Marlborough were the UK’s Peter Richards MW and Julia Harding MW…

Peter Richards MW and Julia Harding MW at Timara Lodge

…as well as Oz Clarke.

Oz Clarke Timara Lodge

Cloudy Bay hosted the Sauvignon tasting on day two

The second day of the Sauvignon Celebration saw us lunch at Cloudy Bay, where Ian Morden, MD of the famous Marlborough winery, introduced a discussion on Marlborough’s identity, which was then led by Australian wine commentator, Nick Stock (in the basket seat).

Cloudy Bay’s Ian Morden addresses delegates while Australia’s Nick Stock looks on

The visit included an extensive tasting of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in Cloudy Bay’s barrel hall.

Tasting at Cloudy Bay

Disembarking the historic train at Kiwiana Beach

That evening saw delegates take a train trip to Kekerengu beach for a beach party at Kiwiana, where there were oysters, sparkling wines, and skinny dipping (sadly not captured here).

The Kiwiana beach party

Thankfully there was also cold beer to chill the guests.

Beer bar at Kiwiana

The croquet wasn’t so popular but the cricket was, and had one unusual rule: you had to play with a glass in hand.

Kiwiana beach
Kiwiana wine and with underused croquet equipment in the background
Cricket on Kiwiana beach with Nick Stock preparing to bowl

Guests included Telegraph columnist Victoria Moore, Chris Stroud from New Zealand Winegrowers UK, and Tom and Tim from Constellation Brands.

Telegraph wine writer Victoria Moore
Chris Stroud of NZ Winegrowers UK at Kiwiana
Tom Maling and Tim Fogarty from Constellation Brands at Kiwiana

The final day of the celebration included a ‘Wild Bunch’ Sauvignon tasting including older vintages, oak-aged examples, as well as the growing lower alcohol category. This was followed by a lunchtime discussion about Sauvignon styles.

The Wild Bunch tasting, including older vintages of Wither Hills
Low-alcohol Sauvignon Blancs
Lunch at Constellation’s Drylands winery

‘Serial start-up guy’ Mike Hutcheson gave the closing words of Sauvignon 2016. Delegates were then bussed to Pernod Ricard’s Brancott Estate for a ‘Gala dinner’.

Celebration closing speaker Mike Hutcheson
Brancott Estate
The gala dinner marquee

Dramatically dressed models mingled among the guests at the gala dinner before Patrick Materman, chair of the Sauvignon Celebration (and chief winemaker for Brancott Estate) addressed the audience.

A model at the gala dinner
Patrick Materman, chair of Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Among the attendees was UK-born, but NZ-based, Jane Skilton MW.

Jane Skilton MW at Gala dinner

Dinner drinks included plenty of low-alcohol beer.

A selection of drinks at the dinner

The evening concluded with a catwalk display of ‘wearable art’, which is designed and produced in Nelson for an annual competition, sponsored by Brancott Estate. After the show, some of the models moved among the tables to show off the elaborate outfits.

Wearable art display at the Gala dinner