Waiata Sauvignon Blanc 2026

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Sauvignon Blanc from the Waipara Valley, North Canterbury. Sold by the six-pack.

Tasting note

Pale straw green. A mouthwatering mix of grapefruit, passionfruit and lemon zest with fresh lemongrass and a hint of crisp apple. Bright and generous on the palate with lively acidity and a long, flavoursome finish, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc made for sharing.

Winemaking

The blocks were picked as their flavours reached the point we were after, then gently pressed. The juice was left until clear and bright, racked off gross lees and fermented cool, at 13 to 15°C, to hold the aromatics of the vineyard. The wine rested on its fine lees for three months before blending in August, building the mouthfeel and texture that carries the fruit.

Vintage conditions

North Canterbury gave us an interesting season in 2026. Bud burst came early and the warmth held, with above average temperatures running right through to Christmas, so an early harvest looked likely. Flowering was quick and even, and fruit set came in on target. From January the weather turned, with cooler temperatures, long spells of cloud cover and some rain bringing the season back into balance and the picking dates back to normal. Heavy rain during March did not hold things up, and harvest ran from mid-March to around 25 April, with the fruit coming in fully ripe and full of flavour.

Grown regeneratively

Tiki Wine & Vineyards is New Zealand's first Certified Regenerative vineyard and winery, independently verified by A Greener World (AGW), the world's largest regenerative certifier. The 2026 is among the first vintages to carry it.

The detail

Region: 100% Waipara Valley, North Canterbury
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Winemaker: Alastair Maling MW
Maturation: 98.5% stainless steel fermentation, 1.5% barrel fermentation
Alcohol: 13%
Acidity (TA): 7.88 g/L
Residual sugar: 3.3 g/L
pH: 3.15
When to enjoy: Drinking well now and will continue to develop for a further five years

Suggested food match

A long lunch wine. Grilled fish, a green salad with plenty of herbs, fresh goat's cheese, or oysters straight from the shell.

What the critics said

93 points, 5 stars, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, July 2026

"Bright and aromatic, the bouquet shows grapefruit, Gala apple, rockmelon, and lemon zest aromas. The palate is equally appealing, with excellent fruit intensity, backed by crisp acidity and finishing long and flavoursome."