Taking inspiration from the varied terroir within the Marlborough region, Brancott Estate, pioneers of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, have launched a new super-premium wine range, the Brancott Estate Terroir Series which showcases the sub-regional diversity of Marlborough. Each wine in the Brancott Estate Terroir Series range is made using hand-selected parcels of grapes sourced from a single sub-region in Marlborough, and then crafted using winemaking techniques that celebrate the distinctive terroir characteristics.
“Ever since we first planted in Marlborough in 1973, we’ve been fascinated with the different flavour profiles that come from different vineyards across Marlborough,” says Brancott Estate Chief Winemaker, Patrick Materman.
“There are distinctive sub-regions within Marlborough, each with their own micro-climate and soil profiles. It didn’t take us long to realise that a small difference in temperature, rainfall or sunshine hours can make a significant difference to the flavour, texture and concentration of the wine from these sub-regions.”
There are five Marlborough wines in the Brancott Estate Terroir Series range. Three of these – Brancott Estate Terroir Series Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Brancott Estate Terroir Series Pinot Noir 2013 and Brancott Estate Terroir Series Pinot Gris 2014 – are sourced from the Awatere Valley, the most southern of the Marlborough sub-regions. The Awatere Valley region has a longer, cooler growing season, which allows grapes to develop deeply concentrated flavours, resulting in highly aromatic wines.
The other two wines in the range – Brancott Estate Terroir Series Fumé Blanc 2014 and Brancott Estate Terroir Series Chardonnay 2014 – are crafted using grapes from Brancott Vineyard located in the Southern Valleys region in Marlborough. This region has soils with high nutrient content and results in wines that are textural and complex.
“We continue to be impressed by the particular terroir characteristics that come from the different sub-regions in Marlborough,” says Patrick. “We are very excited to be able to share these distinctive, nuanced wines with New Zealand wine drinkers.”
Brancott Estate Terroir Series wines will be available from leading liquor retailers throughout New Zealand from late January 2015, RRP $19.95.
