Wines Marlborough Tohu Awatara Valley - 2024

Viniou Reviews

Tohu Awatara Valley Marlborough 2024 is a fine example of New Zealand’s celebrated Sauvignon Blanc. Hailing from Marlborough, the country’s flagship wine region, this white wine expresses all the typical vivacity and brightness aficionados expect. The 2024 vintage benefits from a relatively cool growing season, allowing the grapes to develop concentrated aromas with lingering freshness. The Sauvignon Blanc grape, vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, captures its famous aromatic intensity: notes of passionfruit, gooseberry, citrus zest, and subtle herbal undertones dance on the nose and palate. The terroir, characterised by alluvial soils with excellent drainage, enhances the wine’s zesty acidity and purity of flavour, ensuring an expressive, lively finish.

Marlborough, located at the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, is renowned worldwide for shaping the modern style of Sauvignon Blanc. Its climate is defined by high sunshine hours, marked diurnal temperature shifts, and cool nights retained by Pacific breezes, fostering slow ripening and excellent acidity in the grapes. The region’s soils—stony and free-draining in the Awatara Valley subzone—play a key role in producing wines with clarity, aromatic complexity, and a signature crispness. Since the 1970s, Marlborough has transformed into a global benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc, blending cutting-edge viticulture with unspoilt natural conditions.

This style of Sauvignon Blanc is especially versatile at the table. Pair it with fresh seafood—oysters, green-lipped mussels, or ceviche—as the wine’s lively acidity and citrus notes beautifully complement briny, delicate flavours. Soft goat’s cheese, perhaps in a salad with herbs and vinaigrette, brings out its grassy nuances. For a regional match, try it with New Zealand green-lipped mussels steamed with lemongrass and herbs, or a classic fish and chips—its crisp profile refreshes the palate between bites.

For optimal enjoyment, serve Tohu Awatara Valley Marlborough 2024 at a temperature of 8-10°C. This range preserves the wine’s vibrant aromatics and sharp definition, offering a refreshing and elegant tasting experience. Decanting is not necessary; simply enjoy its youthful exuberance over the next 2–3 years.