The 2022 growing season was cool and long, offering optimal conditions for ripening while preserving excellent acidity. A wet winter gave soils ample water resources for the season ahead. Spring arrived with ideal conditions, giving us wonderful fruit set and healthy yields. Summer was dry and lengthy, allowing fruit to hang on the vines while ripening slowly. Grapes were harvested later than usual, delivering fruit with flavor maturity and concentration while retaining pure fruit expression. 

We source the fruit for this wine exclusively from Marlborough. Composed from up to 100 small lots from select sites across the region gives Whitehaven a backbone of bright fruit character, well balanced texture and a food-friendly finish. Our Sauvignon Blanc grapes were harvested in cool conditions between late March and early April, then pressed immediately with minimal skin contact. After cold settling, the clear juice was fermented entirely in stainless steel tanks at very low temperatures with select yeast strains to preserve the inherent varietal characteristics and classic Marlborough flavors. Wines sat on light yeast lees in tank for up to six weeks before blending