Kimura's refreshing and dry SB

The long-awaited 2025 new vintage has arrived! This popular wine sells out every year. Be sure to get yours soon!

Let us introduce you to Home Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2025, the flagship wine of Kimura Cellars, created by Japanese winemaker Shigehisa Kimura.

Marlborough, where Kimura is based, is a well-known major producer of Sauvignon Blanc. This wine, produced in the Grovetown area at their own vineyard, "HOME BLOCK VINEYARD," is a masterpiece that has been painstakingly cultivated by the Kimuras. The HOME BLOCK VINEYARD logo is also included on the label.

I visited the field in February 2025.

"You might not be able to tell from the taste whether the wine is organic or not. But I believe that labor-intensive organic farming methods are necessary to ensure healthy grapes and the continued production of delicious wine ."

That's what Kimura said.

In the field, we planted several types of plants as cover crops. The one in the photo is radish.

The diversity of plants enriches the underground microbial environment, which in turn leads to a healthy environment for grapes. When we actually dug up the soil with a shovel, we found that it was fluffy and filled with air. We also found insects and earthworms.

"Winemaking requires borrowing a portion of the earth, so we want to minimize the burden on the environment and protect its health."

This feeling was palpable throughout the entire field. During our visit, we felt Kimura's strong determination to "love this land and continue farming for the long term."

Cultivation and brewing

The vineyard is located in the Grovetown area of Marlborough, at an elevation of 10 metres on silt loam soil. The clones are mass-selected and the vineyard is BioGro certified, a New Zealand organic standard.

The harvested grapes are fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks after skin contact , resulting in a rich, fruity aroma.

Tasting Comments

Without fear of misunderstanding, this year's Home Block SB has a refreshing taste similar to lemonade or ramune . The elegant citrus scent reminiscent of pomelo rises from the glass. When you put it in your mouth, the umami flavor of pear spreads firmly, and as the temperature rises a little, the flavor becomes even more intense.

The finish is bittersweet and dry, with a long aftertaste. One sip and you'll know it's a great vintage .

Rather than the typical strong flavor of Marlborough, it has a refreshing aroma, but on the palate it is delicate and full of flavor, making it a very elegant and high-quality Sauvignon Blanc.

Pairing example

Take advantage of the dry citrus flavor and pair it with salads, carpaccio, aquapazza, and other dishes that are made delicious with the squeeze of citrus fruit.

• Greek salad
• Red sea bream aquapazza
• Chicken cutlet + salt
• Spring vegetable tempura
• Salad-style chirashi sushi

The refreshing acidity and ripe fruit flavor complement the delicious flavor of the ingredients perfectly.

This wine won a silver medal in 2024 at the National Wine Awards of Aotearoa New Zealand , New Zealand's newest and only domestic wine competition.

About the Kimura Cellars Winery

KIMURA CELLARS is a family-run winery run by Japanese owner Shigehisa Kimura.

Kimura studied winemaking and viticulture in New Zealand and gained experience working in cultivation and brewing at several local wineries before founding Kimura Cellars in Marlborough in 2009.

Based on the concept of "wine where you can see the face of the maker" and "producers who are close to consumers," we carefully craft wine using organic farming methods.

In 2018, they finally began cultivating grapes in their own fields, which was a long-cherished dream of theirs, and are now focusing even more on organic farming methods.

The Kimura Cellars logo is a cherry blossom motif that represents the new shoots of a fern (koru), a symbolic plant of New Zealand. The fern is a symbol of New Zealand and represents new beginnings, growth, and harmony.

About Marlborough

Marlborough is the heart of New Zealand's wine region.

Marlborough has ideal natural conditions for grape growing, such as abundant sunshine and large temperature differences throughout the day, and produces over 80% of New Zealand's wine.

Among them, Sauvignon Blanc, characterized by its crisp acidity and overflowing fruitiness, boasts an overwhelming production volume and is loved worldwide for its unique character. In red wine, Pinot Noir, with its rich berry fruit flavor, is also popular.

Kimura Cellars Marlborogh Sauvignon Blanc 2025