06/06/2026
The winner of the Vit Management Ltd Champion Organic Wine trophy, Rimapere Plot 101 Sauvignon Blanc 2024, is crafted with a vision to encapsulate Marlborough’s terroir, says Rimapere Estates Director Anne Escalle.
“Producing organic Sauvignon Blanc begins in the vineyard, with a fundamentally different approach to how vines and soils are managed. Organic growing means eliminating synthetic herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers, and instead working with soil life, products from nature and encouraging the best vines balance,” she says.
“This approach has a direct impact on grape quality. Healthier soils encourage deeper root systems and better natural regulation of the vine, leading to grapes that ripen more evenly and retain fresh acidity and reveal a mineral expression in the wine. In the winery, this balance allows for a more restrained and precise winemaking style, with fewer corrective interventions, as the fruit is already biologically stable and carries clarity and purity.”
Marlborough offers a diverse range of Sauvignon Blanc styles, Anne says, and organic farming is just one factor that can lead to different expressions in the bottle.
“While the region is known for a recognisable aromatic style, subtle differences along the Wairau Valley lead to very distinct expressions … This diversity is further shaped by viticultural and winemaking choices, such as parcel selection, harvest timing, organic practices, lees aging, or partial oak fermentation, proving that Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is far from a single uniform style,” Anne says.
Five trophy winning Sauvignon Blancs from the Marlborough Wine Show 2025 will be on display at the Wine + Food Experience until the end of June, before another fleet of award-winning wines takes its place.
Call in and visit for your taste and even take some home - 42 Alfred Street, Blenheim.
