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The Next Chapter for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Is Anything but Traditional

Vinepair featured Dog Point Vineyard in a story about the next frontier in New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Writer Courtney Schiessl featured several quotes from Dog Point co-owner James Healy and highlighted the winery’s barrel aged Sauvignon Blanc, Section 94.

The piece explains that New Zealand vintners are actively pushing boundaries, to which Healy adds, “Now that producers are confident of their understanding of Sauvignon Blanc, they are naturally wanting to explore alternative expressions of the variety.” Continuing, “Almost all serious producers of Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand have at least two styles on sale.”

Healy and the team at Dog Point have also introduced wild, barrel-fermented and aged Sauvignon Blancs to New Zealand with Section 94. Shiessl says that Healy “recognized the potential to craft a Sauvignon Blanc in this style from a specific parcel within the Dog Point Vineyard.” Healy said, “That particular vineyard … produced wine with a distinct and concentrated citrus influence, which, combined with these vinification techniques, made it an obvious choice to make in this way.” Taking inspiration from other cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc regions, Dog Point ages Section 94 in older seasoned barrels.

Read the full story and several more quotes from Healy HERE

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Related Producers

    Dog Point Vineyard

    Marlborough, New Zealand

    Almost since its inception, Dog Point  has been recognized as among the very top (arguably the very top) wine producers in New Zealand.  Their two very different Sauvignon Blancs, their Pinot Noir, and their Chardonnay are all wines of astounding quality and complexity not just in the context of New Zealand wines, but globally.