2015 WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race

by Heather Lacey on 12 Jul 2015 November 6th 2015 has just been announced as the date of this year’s WineWorks Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Yacht Race. In its thirteenth year, this epic race across the Cook Strait combines the excitement of offshore yacht racing with the exhilaration of releasing the new vintage of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wine in our capital city.

Starting at the entrance to the Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds the hardy skippers must push the limits of their yacht and crew to be the first to deliver their wine across the finish line in Wellington Harbour. In 2014 twenty eight yachts battled forty five km/h winds and four meter seas to safely transport a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from one of thirty Marlborough wineries. This unique event has become a highlight on the New Zealand offshore yacht race calendar and the organizers expect an even larger fleet and more dedicated wineries for this year’s race.

We are extremely pleased to have our Gold sponsor, WineWorks back for the seventh year running. Peter Crowe, National Operations Manager for WineWorks, said they were proud to support an event which “embodies all that is great about living in Marlborough; our proximity to the Marlborough Sounds, yachting and of course great wine.”

Back on shore in Wellington post-race, Wine Marlborough will be hosting their annual Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc tasting event which celebrates the arrival of the race yachts and their carefully stowed bottle of wine. This year’s event will be held from 5:30 – 7:30pm on Friday Nov. 6th at the Makaro Room in the beautiful Wharewaka Function Centre on Taranaki Street Wharf. Marlborough wineries will be pouring their newly released 2015 Sauvignon Blancs accompanied by complementary nibbles.

The Waikawa Boating Club will be hosting a pre- race fun day on October 17th for sponsors and participating wineries to test their sea legs as well as get a sneak preview of the 2015 Sauvignon Blanc wines which will be released in Wellington.

For further information and yacht registration:

Heather Barnes
Waikawa Boating Club
03 573 6798
events@waikawaboatingclub.co.nz
www.winerace.co.nz

For further information, tasting event tickets and winery registration:

Samantha Young
Wine Marlborough
03 577 2391
samantha@wine-marlborough.co.nz
www.wine-marlborough.co.nz