Tohu Marewa Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Tohu (pronounced tor-who) were the world’s first Maori owned and operated wine company, formed back in 1998. They recently launched their new flagship, single vineyard range to their already impressive line up of wines. The single vineyard range celebrates “He Whenua, He Kura” or “The power of place.”

And that place is their stunning Whenua Awa vineyard in Marlborough’s rugged Awatere Valley. As winemaker Bruce puts it “Whenua Awa has shaped us as much as we’ve shaped it. This collection reflects our relationship with the land – the experience we’ve gained over time and our commitment to producing premium, site specific wines that speak clearly of the Upper Awatere.”

This is their Tohu Marewa Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – Marewa is pronounced “mar-reh-wah” and it means to rise or lift up in Te Reo Maori. It represents the Whenua Awa vineyard’s place in the land above the Awatere River and this SauvyB is very much like the conditions it’s grown in – fresh, bright, alive with energy of place. The Marewa logo was carefully designed to represent life cycles and Tohu’s intent to nurture the land as it’s nurtured them.

There’s no corners cut here, this is Tohu’s ultimate expression of Sauvignon Blanc. Produced using carefully selected fruit from a single block (Arapoto) on their Whenua Awa vineyard, the wine was aged for 10 months in a combination of French oak and tank with the careful and subtle use of French oak adding complexity and structure.

And how does Bruce and the Tohu team describe the exciting new release of their flagship Chardonnay? “A poised and expressive Sauvignon Blanc from the Upper Awatere, Marewa captures both intensity and finesse. Wild fermentation and partial maturation in French oak enrich its natural concentration, resulting in a wine that is fresh, complex and beautifully structured.”

If you’re pairing it with kai think roast chicken with lemon and thyme or if it’s kai moana try pan-seared scallops or grilled crayfish with warm garlic butter.