River Farm Sauvignon Blanc 2022

So many wines from the Marlborough region are simply brands with no solid connection to people or a vineyard. That is why I was so impressed when I tasted the wines from River Farm, an estate owned by the Johnson family who began making wine in 1992. As the name implies the property borders the Awatare River, one of the sub-zones of Marlborough. The vineyard lies in the alluvial plain of the river which provides the perfect balance of nutrients and moisture. They also farm using organic practices because of the potential for runoff into the river. This week we bring you two wines which show why connecting with the land pays off in the bottle.

The Awatare Valley is cooler, drier and windier than the rest of Marlborough so the wines made exclusively from these grapes are less tropical and more focused. I resist calling this Sancerre-like because the region lacks limestone soils but there is a tautness that in some ways is similar. Of course there is also the passionfruit, kiwi and lime parfait that screams Sauvignon Blanc regardless of origin. Perfect by the pool, with goat cheese canapés for peel and eat shrimp.