Major awards cast wide spotlight on wineries

A rising tide lifts all boats. In a tight-knit region like Marlborough, even in a competitive business like winemaking, an individual triumph can create ripple effects that buoy others.

Rapaura Springs recently won Best in Show at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards for its ROHE Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2025. That obviously proved a cause for celebration amongst the team behind it.

Yet, the winery also acknowledged impacts on the industry locally and nationally from this international prize.

“This is a great recognition, not only for us, but also a great advertisement for Marlborough as a region,” Rapaura Springs winemaker Michael Bann stated.

“In a struggling period for the industry, to be recognised for the quality of the wines we can produce is fantastic.”

This award is not an outlier.

The International Wine Challenge recently lauded Delta Sauvignon Blanc 2025 with the International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy – and short-listed Brent Marris from Marisco Vineyards for IWC White Winemaker of the Year, to be awarded in September.

Meanwhile, in April, Spy Valley Wines won Winery of the Year New Zealand at the London Wine Competition. These are just recent examples.

Julie Ibbotson, managing director of Delta Wine Company, explained that this level of recognition “supports what we are saying to our customers: that we make wine of exceptional quality. Independent, third-party endorsement from respected international judges gives real weight to that claim.

“There’s also a wider benefit for the region,” Julie continued. “Winning the trophy for the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world with a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc further promotes Marlborough as a leading producer of the variety.

“A win like this lifts the whole region, not just one winery.”

Seal of approval
The reputational boost can transcend the commercial value. “For the wine itself,” Julie noted, “a major international trophy opens doors; it can lead to new listings and new distribution opportunities in markets we might otherwise find harder to access, and it certainly supports sales.

“That said, it’s difficult to measure the sales impact precisely, as we can never attribute all of an increase to a single award.”

Turns out, Rapaura Springs will not move more ROHE Blind River Sauvignon Blanc because of the award – the release already sold out. Apart from bottles already en route overseas or heading around NZ, there’s nothing left to buy.

Nonetheless, observed Global Sales Director Warren Adamson, topping a field of 150 Sauvignon Blancs in a competition with 17,000 entrants across all varietals represents “a massive stamp that we’re doing the right things”.

Warren, in his 32nd year in the industry, said the 20-year-old winery has been “very fortunate to win a number of awards. But then there are awards that are on a global scale that has recognition that goes beyond any shores.”