Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc slightly shaken and a bit stirred

by Sue van Velzen on 11 Sep 2014 Registrations now open for the 2014 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race.

The WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht race trophy will be up for grabs on Thursday November the sixth when yachties race across the Cook Straight in a battle to land our new release Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc on our capital’s shores. In conjunction with the handicap trophy mentioned above, Wine Marlborough will for the first time, sponsor a trophy for the yacht that takes out line honours.

The race is loosely based on the traditional Beaujolais Nouveau, where the first Beaujolais wines were transported from France to the UK. Each yacht will carry a different bottle of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with the dedicated wineries cheering on their crew to ensure their wine is the first to cross the finish line.

Since the race began in 2001, it has not only grown in size but vigour. In 2013, 26 yachts and 29 wines were raced across our most famous piece of water to Wellington and organisers are hoping to have even more entries for the 2014 race. The race has been organised by the Waikawa Boating Club with the support of Yachting New Zealand. Yachts require a Category 3 safety certificate to be eligible to enter. Yachts and crews wanting to register to take part in the race can email race.wine@gmail.com for a Notice of Race and more information.

This year following the mighty race, Wine Marlborough will host a consumer event at the Atrium overlooking Chaffers Marina for locals to sample the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc wines that take part in the race along with delicious Marlborough produce from the sea, land and larder.

Not only will Wellingtonians enjoy a ‘Pop-Up’ Marlborough in the heart of Wellington City, but they will also have the opportunity to meet the winemakers behind the wines. The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc vintage has been described as bountiful with bright, ripe, fruit flavours.

Tickets for the consumer event will go on sale on Friday the 12th of September at www.iticket.co.nz. Marlborough wineries with a 2014 Sauvignon Blanc ready by mid-October can register to take part in the yacht race and consumer event by emailing admin@wine-marlborough.co.nz.

The Waikawa Boating Club are hosting a pre-race fun day prior to the big event for sponsors and participating wineries who want to test their sailing skills out on the water. Prior to heading out on the water, the participating 2014 Sauvignon Blanc wines will be available to taste and savour. The pre-race event will take place on Saturday the 18th October at the Waikawa Boating Club.

For further information:
Juliet Abbott Emily Hope
Waikawa Boating Club Wine Marlborough
Mob: 0272 448 604 Phone: 03 5772392
Email: race.wine@gmail.com Email: emily@wine-marlborough.co.nz
Website: www.winerace.co.nz