The New Zealand wine region of Marlborough, renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc, has revised its origin regulations. According to the British trade magazine Harpers, members of Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) have unanimously agreed this year to tighten existing criteria by introducing minimum sugar ripeness levels. An exception is made for grapes intended for low-alcohol products.
Wines must be made from grapes with a sugar content at harvest exceeding 18 Brix, a standard comparable to those in European wine regions. Additionally, all AMW-certified wines must now come from a more narrowly defined zone, as depicted on the Marlborough wine region map.
The current AMW certification process requires that wines come exclusively from sustainably registered vineyards in the Marlborough region, be bottled locally, and undergo independent evaluation by an experienced tasting panel. "Now more than ever, consumers can be assured that every one of our AMW-certified wines is an authentic, high-quality expression of our region," said AMW Chairman John Buchanan. "The unanimous decision reflects the commitment of our members."
To meet high global demand, the organization was founded in 2018 with the mission to preserve and enhance quality. Led by CEO Michael Wentworth, AMW currently includes 51 wineries, such as prominent names like Marisco Vineyards, Clos Henri, and Dog Point. In 2023, a detailed map of Marlborough was published for the first time.
AMW is not the only representation of the New Zealand wine-growing area. The official Marlborough Winegrowers Association, established in 1980, created Wine Marlborough as a marketing body in 1992. There are numerous producers outside AMW who label their wines with the Marlborough origin but are not AMW-certified. PD
