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Welcome to the Whitehaven e-cellar door

Quality Marlborough wines

Focused on the philosophy of pursuing quality without compromise, our winemaking team has a singular vision of consistently creating premium wines from 100% Marlborough fruit, in the classic Marlborough style. This principle underpins our entire winemaking cycle from the vineyard to the bottle.

With vineyards in all three of Marlborough’s sub-regions our winemakers take advantage of sub-regional diversity and Marlborough’s exceptional terroir, combined with contemporary winemaking and traditional craftsmanship, to create a diverse range of award winning wines headed by our flagship Sauvignon Blanc.

Whitehaven is a member of Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW), an incorporated society with the goal of protecting the integrity and authenticity of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. To carry the AMW brand marque on our labels, our wines must be: produced from 100% Marlborough fruit; bottled in New Zealand; made from grapes cropped at or below set parameters and in carefully managed vineyards; and produced sustainably from vineyards that are SWNZ certified.

Whitehaven's history

Established in Marlborough in 1994 by Greg and Sue White, the name 'Whitehaven' was chosen for the importance of family, and memorialising the calm port ‘haven’ they had found in the Marlborough Sounds while on their sailing journey around the Pacific. Shedding their corporate business suits in the early 1990's, the pair had set sail from Auckland on a 48-foot yacht named Chanticleer and embarked on a two year adventure at sea. Their daughter Samantha would spend the first six months of her life on board the yacht.

Sheltering from the Pacific hurricane season, Greg, Sue and Samantha ended up back in New Zealand, in the beautiful waters of the Marlborough Sounds. They fell in love with the beauty of the region and decided that a Marlborough winery was the sort of project to see them return to dry land.

The distinctive anchor insignia seen on the Whitehaven label connects Whitehaven to its nautical beginnings and is a marque of the wine label’s quality, consistency and integrity.

Today Whitehaven remains proudly family owned and is headed by Sue who continues the dream she and her late husband Greg shared. In 2020 their daughter Samantha joined the family business, along with her husband Josh Barclay, to follow in Sue and Greg's footsteps and continue the family vision.

Reviews

2023 Whitehaven Single Vineyard Series 'Block 11' Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc

This wine was selected for the 2024 Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) Annual Collection, a representation of the highest calibre of Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough’s 2024 harvest, and the only alternative style of Sauvignon Blanc to be selected.

"An enticing bouquet of lees and a light barrel-ferment quality, complex and youthful, a bouquet with shape and form. Crisp and dry, textured and delicious on the palate. Flavours of lemon and baked apple, grapefruit peel and baking spices from barrel and lees contact. Very good weight and palate appeal, impact of flavours and textures. Lengthy and well made to with or without food. best from 2025 through 2029." Cameron Douglas, MS, NZ 94 Points

2023 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc

Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2024, Number 41 with 90 points: "White pepper, lemon blossom and fresh ginger notes are vibrant and expressive, with a mouthwatering core of lime, pomelo, lemon balm and lemongrass lingering on the finish. Drink now." - MW

While we have sold out of our 2023 vintage, the 2024 vintage is a very similar style. It is available on the WCD now and we expect it will be just as popular.

2023 Whitehaven Chardonnay

"Sliced green apples, flint and stone follow through to a medium body with hints of steel and minerals. Lime undertones. Energetic acidity. Drink now." James Suckling, 2024, 91/100pts.

"Ripe, pure, varietal, lifted and new. Aromas and flavours of grapefruit, apple and peach. There’s a fine layer of lees adding to the texture and complexity. A moderate level of oak layers in some nut and wood flavours, fine tannins and structure alongside the acidity and alcohol, all in balance. Well made in a near full-bodied style. Flavours of fruit and wood, acidity and spice are all persistent through to a moderate+ finish. Well made with best drinking from late 2024 through 2028+." Cameron Douglas MS, 91 Points, Premium.