Marlborough is known for making the best Sauvignon Blanc outside France. Rightly too, as its crisp but sunny alluvial valleys somehow capture and boost the grape’s distinctive characters: varietal features on steroids, some would say. But this is also true of the other wines produced here - mostly Chardonnay, aromatic whites and Pinot Noir - which enjoy real flavour definition and varietal typicity when grown in this special place. Since these cooler climate grapes are what New Zealand wine is all about, there’s logic to the global image of Marlborough as not only New Zealand's biggest but perhaps its quintessential region.