Takapoto Estate's Sauvignon Blanc 2025 is the label's first ever, made from just 1,000 litres sourced from Dillons Point Road in coastal Marlborough. This wine has passionfruit, guava and citrus over a textured, wet-stone minerality rather than the grassy, green style. Good for someone who wants a Marlborough sauvignon with more weight and texture than the usual.
Just 1,000 litres of this wine were made - roughly 1,300 bottles - which makes it one of the smaller releases in Takapoto's range, and the label's first Sauvignon Blanc.
This is one to drink young and fresh rather than put away: at just over a year old it's right in its window, with the tropical fruit and zesty acidity that make Marlborough sauvignon so easy to reach for.
Winemaker Alex Coldicutt sourced it from Dillons Point Road in the lower Wairau Valley, close enough to Cook Strait that the site picks up a coastal, saline edge. Takapoto doesn't grow Sauvignon Blanc itself - Coldicutt has said plainly that customers kept asking for one, so this is a small, bought-in batch rather than an estate wine like the pinot noirs.
What it tastes like
Pineapple, passionfruit, guava and blackcurrant lead on the nose, with citrus blossom and a lift of lime zest. The palate is lively and zesty, with grapefruit, feijoa and crisp apple, and a quartzy, wet-stone minerality underneath that gives it more texture than a typical lean, grassy sauvignon.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Crisp, zesty
- Oak: 25% fermented in aged oak with lees stirring, for texture rather than oak flavour
- Style words: Tropical, zesty, textured, mineral, lively
Food to enjoy this with
- Fresh oysters or other raw shellfish
- Fish and chips
- Grilled snapper or other white fish
- Goat's cheese salad
- Thai green curry
- Asparagus and pea risotto
- Fresh mozzarella with basil and tomato - the wine's acidity matches the tomato well
Who makes it
Takapoto Estate is based in Cambridge, in the Waikato, and doesn't grow Sauvignon Blanc itself. Winemaker Alex Coldicutt has said the decision to make one was simple: customers kept asking for a Sav, so Takapoto sourced a small parcel from Dillons Point Road in the lower Wairau Valley, Marlborough, close enough to Cook Strait to pick up a coastal character.
Only 1,000 litres were made, a quarter of it fermented in aged oak with lees stirring for texture. It's a departure from Takapoto's usual focus on Central Otago pinot noir and Hawke's Bay chardonnay, and the label's first Sauvignon Blanc.
About the vintage
Marlborough's 2025 growing season started warm and sunny through late November and early December, giving good flowering and fruit set. A cooler, duller January raised some concern, but a fine February and March resolved it and stretched out the harvest window.
Winemakers across the region reported a smooth, clean harvest with good flavour concentration in the Sauvignon Blanc, and many growers deliberately trimmed back higher yields to keep quality up - conditions that suit a wine built for freshness and immediate drinking, like this one.
When to drink it
Drink now while it's fresh. Sauvignon Blanc is made for drinking young, and at just over a year from vintage this is right in its window - there's no benefit to cellaring it further.
Technical details
| Winery |
Takapoto Estate |
| Wine |
Sauvignon Blanc |
| Vintage |
2025 |
| Variety |
Sauvignon Blanc |
| Region |
Dillons Point Road, Wairau Valley, Marlborough |
| Country |
New Zealand |
| Alcohol |
13.0% |
| Oak |
25% fermented in aged oak, with lees stirring |
| Serving temperature |
8-10°C |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Takapoto Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2025 is available via our winenz.com website. For delivery in New Zealand you can purchase from thewineryonline.co.nz. If you are visiting New Zealand, you can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Only 1,000 litres of this wine were made, so once it's gone, it's gone.
Questions we are often asked
What does the Takapoto Sauvignon Blanc 2025 taste like?
It shows pineapple, passionfruit, guava and blackcurrant, with a zesty, textured palate of grapefruit, feijoa and crisp apple over a wet-stone minerality.
Where are the grapes grown for this wine?
The fruit comes from Dillons Point Road in the lower Wairau Valley, Marlborough, close enough to Cook Strait to pick up a coastal character.
Why did Takapoto make a Sauvignon Blanc?
Takapoto doesn't grow Sauvignon Blanc itself, but winemaker Alex Coldicutt sourced a small parcel from Marlborough after customers kept asking for one. It's the label's first Sauvignon Blanc release.
How much of this wine was made?
Only 1,000 litres, around 1,300 bottles, making it one of Takapoto's smaller releases.
Should I drink this now or cellar it?
Drink it now. Sauvignon Blanc is made for young, fresh drinking, and at just over a year from vintage this is in its ideal window.
What food pairs well with this wine?
Oysters, fish and chips, grilled white fish and goat's cheese salad all work well, and it also suits a Thai green curry.
Where can I buy Takapoto Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2025?
The Winery ships Takapoto Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2025 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. It is also available in our Queenstown and Arrowtown stores.
