Separated by the Tasman Sea but united by a passion for crafting nothing but the finest wines, the De Bortoli and Marris families have come together to write an exciting new chapter in the wonderful story of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. 3 Tales recounts the three stories that make up the background of the wine.

$1299each $153DOZEN EACH DOZEN The 3 Tales are about the De Bortoli family story, the Marris family story, and the narrative of two families coming together to produce a unique wine from fruit grown to estate vineyards on the slopes of the Wairau Valley and the river flats of the Waihopai. Whilst being a joint venture, the wine is distinctively New Zealand in its look and feel. The idyllic microclimes around the choice vineyard sites have provided a near perfect environment to encourage the development of the intense and traditional regional characters. It is this vibrancy of fruit that is the hallmark of 3 Tales, fully tank tank femented at 12°C to15°C with choice strains of yeast to retain the most vibrant expressions of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Mid straw colour with a lovely green hue. Freshly cut grass and nettle mingle with classic tropical aromas of passionfruit and gooseberry. Lovely bright citrus green flavours follow through to a fresh herbaces palate. Vivid minerality coupled with gooseberry/ lime adds structure and poise to create an exciting Sauvignon Blanc. Layers of flavour, balanced with beautiful bright fruit texture ensure the taste lingers forever. Crisp acidity makes the ripe herbaceousness come alive.

The McWilliams winemaking team are blessed with access to some of the most splendid Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in Marlborough. Parcels of fruit from the Awatere Valley provide a steely and racy acidity, while grapes from the Wairau Valley display powerful and intense varietal expressions with lovely lifted passionfruit characters. A further component from the delta in upper Wairau contributes ripe and refined melon citrus flavours. Crafted to the post modern, early drinking, lighter in alcohol style, a smart choice alongside grilled fishes and chicken caesar.

$1699each $201DOZEN EACH DOZEN In few other places are the chapters of each season written as eloquently as they are in New Zealand, as snow heralds winter and stitch birds announce spring. Made to a lighter style, the wines of All Hallow's Eve have been specially created to welcome your new season. Sauvignon Blanc is harvested at various levels of ripeness to ensure a mixture of blending options from sites throughout the Wairau and Awatere Valleys. Crushed and pressed, the juices are naturally cold settled for several days before being racked clean to a slow, cool fermentation. The vinification is aimed at retaining aromatics and freshness before determining the best parcels for inclusion to create the lower alcohol style. Alcohol 8.0%

Bright and vibrant pale green. Fresh honeydew and rockmelon bouquet with varietal passionfruit and grassy undertones. A zesty palate bursting with a wide array of flavours. Excellent intensity and balance, with a lovely sweet fruit mid palate, and a crisp acidity giving a lovely slatey length of flavour.

Amisfield is situated in the southern most wine growing region of New Zealand at Lowburn in Central Otago, just north of the 45th Parallel. High altitudes and a cool climate, long summers and clean glacial soils mean that Amisfield can produce the finest aromatic, single vineyard Rieslings.

$2999each $357DOZEN EACH DOZEN Riesling is grown on two blocks, older vines on Rocky Knoll and younger plantings on a beautiful elevated terrace. Clones GM110, GM 94 and GM 198, low vigour yields of small berries with excellent concentration and uniformity, are picked over the course of several weeks. Fruit is gently whole bunch pressed being careful not to over extract, preserving the quality and finesse. Additions of SO2 are kept to a minimum, which in turn reduces the amount of tannin fix in the wine. Juices are racked to tank and slowly vinified with a specially cultured yeast developed to accentuate the delicate floral aromatics. Upon completion the wine is gently racked and bottled early to retain freshness and vitality. Alcohol 12.2%

Vibrant pale straw/ green colour. Intense nose of citrus and honeysuckle, florals, spice and mineral notes over earthy characters. The palate is refreshing and exhibits great finesse, elegant and focused with juicy, clear cut acidity and profound length of flavour. Mineral, floral and citrus profiles are upfront and personal, making Amisfield a great match with Asian cuisine especially Thai.

There are two blocks of Sauvignon Blanc at Amisfield, near the shores of Lake Dunstan in Central Otago. Older vines at the edge of Rocky Knoll yield fruit with delicious ripe stone fruit characters and pronounced minerality. Younger plantings on a beautiful elevated terrace above the winery provide grapes which are brim full of vim and vigour.

$2999each $357DOZEN EACH DOZEN Harvest begins with a golden pick of the ripest fruit from silts at the edge of Rocky Knoll, progressing toward the top terraces. A percentage is destemmed directly into the press to provide a modicum of skin contact. These juices are fermented cool with thiol cracking yeast to retain vip and vibrancy. A smaller pick is pressed directly to French oak barriques where natural indigenous yeasts do their work. The ferments are wild and vigorous achieving a wine with great texture and exotic stone fruit characters. The wines remain in oak for three months whilst treated to regular lees stirring, further developing texture. In July components are assembled into the essential Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc. Alcohol 13.4%

Light straw colour. Aromas of limes and passionfruit complimented by a mixture of tropical stone fruit. The palate is full bodied and dry with considerable fruit weight and layering. Rife with tropical meets vegetal complexity, the palate is full bodied and dry with great intensity of fruit balanced by refreshing acidity.

A collation of fruit from several splendid Marlborough vineyards is assembled into a rich, full bodied Pinot Gris offering vitality and style. Partially barrel fermented for richness and complexity, Babich exhibits ripe stonefruit and spice flavours before a soft, medium dry finish. The Marlborough white of choice to accompany snap fried fishes.

$1699each $201DOZEN EACH DOZEN Marlborough is renowned for Pinot Gris, as the free draining, alluvial loams over gravelly sub soils in the Wairau, Waihopai and Awatere valleys provide ideal growing conditions. Parcels of Pinot Gris are harvested as grapes achieve full physiological ripeness. Vineyards with heavier soils add weight to the wine, lighter soils contribute bright varietal aromatics. Most components are vinified in fermenters at various temperatures through a selection of yeasts to enhance character and build interest. The balance is vinified in a selection of seasoned French oak barrels while being treated to a course of lees stirring which builds body and complexity in the finished wine. Alcohol 14.0%

A light, peach straw hue. The sweet, lifted aroma of proving bread on the nose, along with pleasant notes of white stone fruit, spices and citrus adding to the sensory delight. Sweet danish pastry and spicy pear tart emerge out of the succulent, sweetly fruited palate. Generous mineral flavours compliment the rich and full weight. Ginger and lemon zest add a pleasing zing to the finish. Works well with shallow fried snapper fillets rolled in fresh breadcrumbs.

Babich can lay singular claim to coaxing some of the most articulate varietal wines from both of New Zealand's majestic Islands. This eminent estate pioneered the classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc styling, it endures to this day in a fuller, riper, softer style that drunks beautifully on release. Clean, fresh and tropical, an assemblage of fruit grown to finer Marlborough vineyards.

$1499each $177DOZEN EACH DOZEN Established amongst the kauri gum fields of New Zealand's northlands early last century, Babich have become one of the most eminent labels. Their reputation for making great wine extends far beyond the land of the long white cloud. Babich operate over a hundred hectares of choice Marlborough vineyards and source grapes from the best local growers. Abundant sunshine and dry autumns encourage grapes to develop under a long, slow, ripening period that intensifies flavours. Following the harvest, grapes are quickly crushed and pressed into fermenters, where juices are vinified at controlled cool temperatures to capture and retain the intense varietal characters. Alcohol 13.0%

Pale straw colour. Gooseberry, herbal and tropical notes. A delicious palate entry that's full of fruit, gooseberries layered with rock melon before a zesty, long mineral / herbal finish, quite literally mouthwatering! A well balanced wine, with a texture that matches well with food.

Marlborough's natural endowments are breathtaking to behold, the vastness and bounty of this beautiful land stirs the imagination and yields no finer example of Sauvignon Blanc than Braided River. The principal vineyard for Braided River sits on the confluence of the mighty Wairau and Waihopai Rivers in Marlborough. Riper characters here are achieved at lower sugar levels, offering great intensity and style at moderate alcohol levels.

$1599each $189DOZEN EACH DOZEN Braided River's winemaking team are passionate about allowing Sauvignon Blanc's unique character to flourish in the vineyard, they work gently with minimal handling throughout vinification to ensure every glass is filled with the vivid signature. Gently crushed and pressed to minimise skin contact, the juices are settled at cool temperatures. Components are individually fermented, long and cool, with select strains of yeast to showcase their unique personalities. Once assembled, after a month resting on fine lees, each batch plays a role in the style of the finished wine as it was bottled fresh and early.

Light straw in colour. Lifted aromas of crushed lime and grapefruit dart from the glass and over the palate to excite the senses. Every sip of this superb Sauvignon Blanc expresses pure Marlborough magic, the palate is instantly rich and mouth filling before the juicy acidity refreshes the mouth and provides the vehicle for a long, fine, flavour packed finish. Enjoy with shellfish or goat's cheese soufflé.

Montana burst onto the international stage in 1990 when it won the Marquis De Goulaine Trophy for best Sauvignon Blanc anywhere in the world. Now considered the benchmark of New Zealand, Brancott by Montana is an assemblage of fruit grown to choice sites across the generous soils of Marlborough. Three main terroirs predominate, on the northern side of the Wairau valley are young soils based on river silts and stone. At the southern side and along the side valleys leading away are much older soils with higher clay contents based on glacial outwash.

$1299each $153DOZEN EACH DOZEN Marlborough is one of the most exciting places to grow Sauvignon Blanc. Soils in the Awatere Valley further to the south are of an intermediate age based originally on river silts but uplifted with time allowing soil development without further river deposits. A mix of five main rootstocks, SO4, 3309, 101/14, RG and Schwarzman. Most of the grapes are crushed and left in contact with skins for a few hours to increase the extraction process, achieving strength and fullness of flavour. The remainder is gently bag pressed to achieve fresh, clear juices which are fermented slowly at cool temperatures to retain the very distinctive regional and varietal characters. Bottled completely unwooded and unoaked.

Pale straw in colour with green highlights. Aromas of ripe, red capsicum and gooseberry dominate with tropical pineapple and grapefruit notes apparent. Displays full intensity of fruit, the ripe capsicum and gooseberry flavours with hints of pungency sit well alongside the supporting tropical fruit flavours. A well balanced wine showing the lively, crisp acidity associated with this style. Made to drink while young and vivacious, ideally with grilled oysters, barbecued prawns and salmon.

Pinot Gris is sourced from the Ants Nest Vineyard, high up on a ridge overlooking Marlborough's Waihopai Valley, where Catalina Sounds have taken a very hands on role to husbanding the vines. The team are devoted to fashioning highly expressive wines that stand the test of being fully approachable when young, whilst carrying the palate weight and quality of fruit to mate with fine faire and develop in the short term. Catalina Sounds exudes bright varietal characters of peaches and nut with the distinctive luscious lychee expression of Marlborough.

$2499each $297DOZEN EACH DOZEN At Catalina Sounds, the fruit is the focus, sourcing the best possible from good growers is fundamental. Winemaking tis non interventional, the fruit must be allowed to express itself. The wines are meant to be food friendly and unpretentious. Pinot Gris vines are grown to clay soils rooted on the ridge line, they impart minerality, fruit density and finesse to the structure. Grapes are predominantly hand harvested and whole bunch pressed. A variety of fermentation techniques were employed, some parcels are quickly vinified at warm temperatures in oak puncheons in order to build a savoury profile. Others sento to chilled fermenters to preserve aromatics while building richness. Alcohol 13.0%

A goldish lemon colour. Lifted honey and pear, apricot and orange blossom aromas. Rich, full and luscious palate with honey, lemon and poached pear syrup characters that coat the mouth. The tang of citrus sorbet accompanies the fruit, it's a wonderfully complex wine, yet easy to appreciate. The palate is rich yet supple, combining tastes of pear and apricot with a clean and dry finish. A hint of spice on the middle palate and the fine acidity combine to produce a satisfying finale to this smart wine. A stylish Pinot Gris that's thick with flavours, yet reined in by a judicious minerality. Fully approachable and very ready to drink now, a beautiful match to seafoods in a classic herb and whitewine sauce.

The goal here is to construct a wine of intensity, complexity and great interest on the palate. Ultimately a wine that will evolve in the glass, revealing a variety of flavours, structures and classic Marlborough textures. The focus is on elegance rather than having any one element dominating the subtler characters and undertones. The fastidiously maintained vines produce clean, ripe fruit which translate into a deeply satisfying Sauvignon Blanc. Catalina Sounds is built to contemporary tastes, immensely flavoursome and ready to enjoy upon release.

$1999each $237DOZEN EACH DOZEN Each individual vineyard block was harvested at optimal ripeness. Some fruit is picked early to retain higher acid and fresh citrus characters, whilst others are left to ripen more fully and develop lusciousness. Fruit was gently pressed, cold settled, then racked and inoculated. A variety of yeasts are used, some were selected to accentuate the aromatics of the fruit, while some add mouthfeel and texture to the final blend. Some components remain on yeast lees and are stirred post-fermentation which adds a further textural element to the wine. A portion is fermented in French oak barriques, puncheons and foudres, which brings a subtle undertone of savouriness and complexity.

Pale lemon colour. Subtle floral notes mingle elegantly with citrus zest, creamy lemon curd and fresh asian herbs. A textural long palate, bright tropical and citrus notes with a fine minerality and long balanced acidity which carries the flavours right to the end of the palate. A soft mouthfeel, good length and a clean finish. Creamy and harmonious, an awesome Marlborough wine to enjoy with good food or nibbles.

The Chard Farm barrel cellar uses the old world technique of sitting the barrels on bare earth pits that have been filled with gravel. This lets the cellar breath, but more importantly keeps the humidity high, thereby preventing a lot of wine evaporation aka the angels share” and therefore loss of wine. This is particularly important in the low natural humidity climate of Central Otago.

$2799each $333DOZEN EACH DOZEN Chard Farm was established in 1987 by Motueka brothers Rob & Greg Hay. They were the first to come into the area with the intention of setting up a commercial vineyard and selected the Chard Farm site after searching for the “terroir” that best emulated the cool continental climate and soils of some of the greatest wine producing areas of the world — most notably the Burgundy and Alsace regions of France. That search lead to Central Otago. The long term goal being to craft the finest classic cool climate varietal Chardonnay. Alcohol 12.5% Winemaker Rob Hay.

Colour: Yellow with green hues. Bouquet: Fresh sauvignon style fruit, gooseberry and tropiclal fruit characters. Palate: The wine is fresh and lively, with good fruit acid balance. Summer in a bottle! Food: Fresh Snapper with lemon and corriander dressing on a bed of steamed seasonal vegetables.

Unlabelled Sauvignon Blanc by one of Marlborough's most reputable estates. In a unique and distinctively recognizable growing region such as Marlborough, the most critical work to produce beautiful wine must be done in the vineyard. There is no substitute for well balanced fruit and the maker here has clearly spent time amongst the vines applying the most exacting standards of viticulture right up until harvest. Portions were treated to a luxurious fermentation in oak barriques and puncheons, which contributes a supple undertone of smoky savouriness.

$899each $105DOZEN EACH DOZEN Summer in Marlborough started early and finished just before harvest, providing ideal growing conditions from flowering right through to the ripening of fruit. This achieved a wide variety of flavour profiles in the individual parcels, affording the winemaker a fortuitous opportunity to construct an engaging and complex Sauvignon Blanc. Numerous batches were fermented cold to preserve freshness and assembled to realize a well balanced, intense and textural wine. A number of portions were aged on lees and stirred to add richness and weight, others were racked early and filtered to accentuate the clean citrus. Treated to a small portion of barrel fermentation in a selection of new French oak barriques. Alcohol 12.5%

Pale straw colour. Rich tropical fruit aromas with a hint of white peach and pink grapefruit. Luscious palate with summer flavours of tropical fruits, white peach and grapefruit filling the palate with a lovely intensity. Exhibits layers of flavour ranging from the distinctive grass characters of Marlborough, right through to citrus, lemons and lime to tropical and grass at the other end of the spectrum. A wine of good acid balance, and great length, the palate is textural and complex, with a pleasant, finely textured mouthfeel, finishing long, revitalising and clean. A vivacious Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to accompany summer seafood salad, the freshest grilled fishes, newly shucked oysters and scallops.