Walnut Block Sauvignon Blanc 2025
We have 1 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
Summer Shipping Advisory: Orders may be temporarily held during periods of extreme heat to ensure wine arrives in optimal condition.
View current shipping weather map →
The Land
The Wairau Valley is Marlborough's original Sauvignon Blanc ground, an ancient dry riverbed whose alluvial sand and clay soils drain fast and force vines to work for water. Walnut Block farms 17 hectares here on the valley plains, land chosen specifically for the intensity it gives Sauvignon Blanc's aromatics. The 2024-25 growing season followed the driest nine-month stretch Marlborough had seen in 94 years, then cooled off in autumn, stretching the harvest and rewarding growers who could wait for full ripeness.
The Wine
100% Sauvignon Blanc from vines averaging 23 years old, trained on cane VSP trellises with light leaf removal for sun exposure and airflow. Grapes were picked at night to preserve freshness, then destemmed, pressed, and fermented slowly in stainless steel at cool temperatures with no skin contact. Extended contact with the lees after fermentation adds weight to the texture before three months of tank aging. The result is vibrant and aromatic, tropical fruit layered over passionfruit and citrus, with clean, integrated acidity carrying through a long finish. 13% alcohol.
The People
Brothers Clyde and Nigel Sowman founded Walnut Block in 2005, combining backgrounds in viticulture and the wine trade to build a small, family-run estate on the Wairau Valley plains. Their name comes from the region's oldest walnut tree, which still stands among the vines and dates to the same era as the 1898 New Zealand postage stamp their Collectables label is designed after. The estate is farmed sustainably with labor-intensive, hands-on vineyard methods, on the belief that consistent, high-quality fruit is built in the vineyard long before it reaches the winery.
Food Pairing
This Sauvignon Blanc's brightness and tropical fruit make it a natural with grilled shrimp tacos, a goat cheese salad with citrus vinaigrette, seared scallops, or fresh oysters with mignonette.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
Sauvignon Blanc, a white grape of significant character, is believed to have originated in the Loire Valley of France, where it continues to produce some of the world’s most iconic and expressive examples. This variety has also found success in Bordeaux, where it is often blended with Sémillon, as well as in New Zealand, where it has become a signature grape, and many other regions across the globe. Known for its vibrant acidity and distinctive aromatic profile, Sauvignon Blanc often displays a pronounced greenness, with notes of fresh-cut grass, herbaceousness, and sometimes even a touch of jalapeño, depending on ripeness and region. These traits are often supported by citrus fruits like grapefruit and lime, leading to wines that are both refreshing and complex, ranging from steely and mineral-driven to more tropical and fruit-forward styles.
