This time I will talk about the relatively new movement in New Zealand wine, the certification system called "Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW)". It's a bit of a deep topic, but I'll try to explain it as simply as possible.
Yes! I'll try my best to keep up!
This is a new system created in 2018 to protect wine from the Marlborough region, New Zealand's largest wine-producing region. Wines that receive this certification are certified as using 100% grapes grown in the Marlborough region .
The Marlborough region has all the conditions necessary for growing wine grapes, including abundant sunlight, daily temperature differences, and soil type. More than 70% of New Zealand wine is produced in the Marlborough region, and the total amount of wine grapes harvested annually is approximately 340,000 tons . (2020)
The total annual harvest of wine grapes in Japan is about 20,000 tons, so you can see just how large this region is!
Among the wines produced in the Marlborough region, the white wine grape variety Sauvignon Blanc is particularly noteworthy.
Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough is "fruity and freshness" compared to that from other regions such as France, and its unique aroma and flavor are thought to be unique to Marlborough. It is also produced in overwhelming quantities, with Sauvignon Blanc accounting for more than 70% of the total in New Zealand.
"Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc" has become synonymous with New Zealand wine, but the market is growing rapidly, but there is a lack of clear rules to protect its quality. The "Appellation Marlborough" was created to break this "variety of quality" situation.
Now let's take a closer look at the details.
-
Natchan
I'm 29 years old and work for a web company. I'm studying wine in the hopes of being able to enjoy it more.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
What is the Marlborough appellation?
Here's a quick summary of the key points of the "Appellation Marlborough"!
- A certification scheme (trademark) to protect Marlborough wines
- The standards are stricter than those currently in place for GI (geographical indication).
- It was created to distinguish "handmade wine" from mass-produced products.
▶ Appellation Marlborough Wine official website
Before we get into the main topic, can I ask you one question? I often hear the word "appellation," but what does it mean?
"Appellation" is a name used in countries such as France to indicate the place of origin .
It is used to certify that crops, cheese, wine, etc. are of high quality, genuinely produced in that region and made in accordance with strict rules.
The name "Appellation Marlborough" was derived from this.
has a system called AOP (Appellation d'Origine) , which strictly controls wines by ranking them by region, vineyard, and winery. This AOP protects high-quality local wines. Another benefit is that general consumers without specialized knowledge can purchase high-quality wines with peace of mind by referring to the AOP marking on the label.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, wine produced in the country's favorable climate and soil is becoming increasingly popular every year, but due to the rapid growth over the past 40 years or so, wine-related rules are still not properly established.
In 2017, a system called GI (Geographical Indication) was launched, but its contents are rather vague. For example, if you want to indicate the Marlborough region as the place of origin, you can use "GI".
In other words, if you follow the rules, you are allowed to blend grapes from other regions. In addition, there are virtually no rules on other cultivation methods under "GI".
Until now, most wineries in NZ were small family-run producers, so they rarely mixed grapes from other regions. However, as the wine industry has flourished, large wineries have begun to prioritize efficiency and mix grapes from other regions to make wine.
As a result, some wines do not fully express the Marlborough character. However, under the GI rules, as long as the requirements are met, they can be labeled as "Marlborough".
The somewhat loose GI system meant that high-quality Marlborough wines were mixed with other types, making it difficult to tell the difference between them.
In this situation, the "handmade, authentic" winemakers who are particular about the land of the "Marlborough region" were faced with a dilemma. They needed a system that would allow them to prove that the wine they were making was "true Marlborough wine, not a cheap wine that contains additives."
For example, in Japan, the "GI Yamanashi" certification, which certifies wine made in Yamanashi Prefecture, can only be obtained if it is made using grapes 100% from Yamanashi Prefecture. If this system allowed wineries to mix in up to 15% grapes from other prefectures, wineries that are serious about using 100% Yamanashi grapes would feel out of place.
The same can be said about the Marlborough appellation. It is perhaps natural that discerning producers have voiced their desire to differentiate themselves from the rest.
I see. So now that authentication is possible, it's easier to understand the difference!
Markers of the Marlborough Appellation
Here is the "Appellation Marlborough Wines (AMW)" mark printed on the actual wine bottle.
The mark is usually displayed on the back label rather than the front label.
Marlborough Appellation Grape Varieties and Certified Wines
Next, we will look at the grape varieties permitted in the Marlborough appellation and the certified wines.
- Only Sauvignon Blanc varieties
- Over 100 wines have already been recognized (as of August 2020)
Currently, the only grape variety allowed in the Marlborough appellation is Sauvignon Blanc . In other words, other varieties that are popular in the Marlborough region, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, are not included. There is consideration of adding more varieties, but since the system only started in 2018, the first goal seems to be to brand and establish Sauvignon Blanc, which represents New Zealand wine.
Currently, there are over 100 wines recognized under the Marlborough appellation. Since wines from 2018 onwards are certified for each vintage (the year the grapes were harvested), there are cases where wines with the same name are not certified depending on the vintage.
For more information, please check out the wine list at the link below.
By the way, there are not many wines on the wine list that have been certified for the 2020 vintage. I suspect that the certification process is taking time due to the impact of COVID-19.
Marlborough Appellation Certification Criteria
Let's take another look at the certification criteria for the Marlborough appellation.
- Use 100% Marlborough-grown grapes
- Bottled in New Zealand
- Use grapes grown in certified sustainable vineyards
- Grape planting conditions are respected (low yields)
Isn't it normal for it to be bottled domestically?
Surprisingly, this is not the case. In order to keep transportation costs down, mass-producers often use large tanks called "bulk" to transport wine, and the wine is then bottled at the export factory.
"Bulk wine" does not necessarily mean poor quality, but since bottling is an important part of the process, the Marlborough appellation requires wineries to take full responsibility for bottling the wine.
Another condition is that the wine must be made using grapes grown in a field that has been "sustainably certified ." This is a certification unique to New Zealand called "Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) ." This certification is given when strict environmental protection guidelines are met.
It's very NZ-like to have conditions regarding environmental conservation like this. This certification proves not only the quality of the grapes and wine, but also that the product is friendly to people and the environment.
This shows just how environmentally conscious NZ is!
Introducing the Marlborough Appellation wineries
Finally, here is a list of wineries affiliated with the Marlborough Appellation. When the appellation was established in 2018, there were 36 companies, but now there are 51 members. (A to Z order)- Allan Scott
- Ant Moore
- Astrolabe Wines
- Auntsfield Estate
- Awatere River
- Babich Wines
- Barker's Marque Wines
- Bladen Wines
- Blank Canvas
- Catalina Sounds
- Caythorpe Family Estate
- Churton
- Clos Henri
- Clos Marguerite
- Cloudy Bay
- Dog Point
- Eva Pemper Wines
- Forrest Wines
- Framingham Wines
- Georges Michel Wine Estate (currently a broken link)
- Greywacke
- Huia Vineyards
- Hunter's Wines
- Indevin
- Isabel Estate Vineyard
- Jacksone Estate
- Jules Taylor Wines
- Lawson's Dry Hills
- Loveblock
- Mahi
- Marisco Vineyards
- Mount Riley Wines
- Nautilus Estate
- Otu Wine
- Picton Bay *No official website
- Rapaura Springs Wines
- Riverby Estate
- Spy Valley Wines
- Starborough Wines
- Staete Landt
- Sugar Loaf Wines
- Tinpot Hut Wines
- Toi Toi
- Tupari Wines
- Two Rivers
- Villa Maria
- Wairau River Wines
- Walnut Block Wines
- Whitehaven Wines
- Yealands Estate
- Zephyr
summary
This time we brought you information about Appellation Marlborough, a new wine certification system created in New Zealand.
Marlborough is a major wine producing region representing New Zealand. With its favorable climate and soil conditions, as well as the highly skilled and passionate winemakers, the wines produced there are undoubtedly a specialty of New Zealand.
The "Appellation Marlborough" system, which was established to protect Marlborough wines, can be said to be an effort to support the further improvement of New Zealand wines. The certification requirements include a strong emphasis on environmental protection, which is to be expected of New Zealand, an environmentally advanced country. I think there are some points that other countries' wine industries should learn from.
In the future, I feel that events and campaigns will be held to establish the AMW mark of "Appellation Marlborough Wine" in the wine market.
This initiative may become the key to branding New Zealand wine as a whole, so we will continue to keep an eye on it.
