Méthode Marlborough Day is taking place this Friday, March 28.
With a call to “Let the Bubbles Fly” – Méthode Marlborough Day is a tribute to the artistry and joy behind every bottle.
And this year, the region’s winemakers have plenty to celebrate.
For the 2025 vintage, Marlborough was blessed with excellent flowering and fruit set, leading to strong yields in the vineyards.
This, combined with a relatively cool ripening period, provided the ideal conditions for crafting world-class sparkling wines.
“Our grapes had the luxury of time to develop beautifully complex flavours while maintaining the fresh, vibrant acidity that is the hallmark of Méthode Marlborough,” says Andrew Parley, Chair of Méthode Marlborough.
“It’s a vintage that promises elegance, purity, and incredible ageing potential.”
By early March, most Méthode Marlborough producers had wrapped up their harvest, with the 2025 base wines now completing their first fermentation – a milestone in a process that will take at least two years, if not longer, before these wines reach the hands of eager enthusiasts.
Farewells and welcomes
As the Méthode Marlborough family continues to evolve, this year marks both a farewell and a welcome.
Johanneshof, a founding member of Méthode Marlborough, has made the decision to step away from the group. And, at the same time, Méthode Marlborough welcomes Isabel Estate to the fold.
With their Isabel Estate Brut NV and Hawkesbridge Vintage Méthode Traditionnelle, crafted by winemaker Jeremy McKenzie, they bring fresh energy and passion to the group.
Méthode Marlborough has also announced Booster Wine Group winemaker, Andrew Parley, as its new Chair, following the leadership of Melinda Skinner from Esses Estate, who stepped down in October 2024.
Parley brings extensive winemaking experience, with a career spanning both New Zealand and international wine regions.
As the new Chair, Parley is focused on strengthening the value of the Méthode Marlborough brand.
His vision includes elevating the stories behind the region’s sparkling wines – highlighting the unique places they come from, the dedicated people crafting them, and the traditional winemaking process that upholds quality and authenticity.
“Our wines are crafted with patience, skill, and tradition, and I look forward to sharing the stories behind them while continuing to uphold the quality and authenticity that define our region’s sparkling wines,” he says.
Méthode Marlborough Members:
- Esses Estate
- Hunter’s Wines
- Isabel Estate
- LV Wines
- Nautilus Estate
- No1 Family Estate
- Pernod Ricard (Deutz)
- Saint Clair Family Estate
- Spy Valley Wines
- Tohu Wines
- Whitehaven Wines
- Wither Hills (Daniel Le Brun)
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