Being the largest wine region in New Zealand, Marlborough has come to be associated with the country’s wine. The Mori people first settled in this area of the South Island in the 14th century after sailing from Polynesia. Today, one in seven people in New Zealand self-identify as Mori. It’s a sizeable portion of the population that had no voice in the developing winemaking industry before Tohu started in the late 1990s. This important village first settled on a large portion of the land that is today celebrated for its Sauvignon Blanc potential.
Since 2000, New Zealand has averaged a 17 percent year-over-year growth rate. And by 2020, New Zealand Wine exports overtook wool and garnered $1.92 billion NZ (~1.26 billion US) in sales. That’s equivalent to 3 percent of the global wine market.