Winemaker Notes
With grape varieties partnered to vineyards and sensitive winemaking, 3 Stones emerges with all the elements of a modern, enjoyable wine.
This Sauvignon Blanc is a zesty and delicious wine from Marlborough, the famed growing region located on New Zealand's South Island. Flavors of passion fruit and gooseberry combine with mouth-watering acidity, creating a truly refreshing wine.
Richly fruited and tropical, this is a medium-bodied, slightly creamy-textured Marlborough Savvy. Flavors hint at pineapple, honey and stone fruit, yet remain zesty and clean, with a refreshing citrus zing to the finish. Stock up for the summer.- Wine Enthusiast 3-09
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The conversation turned to the time when the world was torn apart by war. Though we were far from the front lines, our young men went to fight for freedom. Upon their return, the world had changed, and some were unable to find permanent work. They travelled from farm to farm, seeking what work they could. As a signal to those who might follow, when they left a farm where the food was good and the pay fair, they would make a small stack of stones on a fencepost at the farm gate.
We celebrate that tradition with our name, 3 stones and we salute all of those who have gone before, who made it possible for us to work the soil under clear skies.
An icon and leading region of New Zealand's distinctive style of Sauvignon blanc, Marlborough has a unique terroir, making it ideal for high quality grape production (of many varieties). Despite some common generalizations, which could be fairly justified given that Marlborough is responsible for 90% of New Zealand's Sauvignon blanc production, the wines from this region are actually anything but homogenous. At the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, the vineyards of Marlborough benefit from well-draining, stony soils, a dry, sunny climate and wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, a phenomenon that supports a perfect balance between berry ripeness and acidity.
The region’s king variety, Sauvignon blanc, is beloved for its pungent, aromatic character with notes of exotic tropical fruit, freshly cut grass and green bell pepper along with a refreshing streak of stony minerality. These wines are made in a wide range of styles, and winemakers take advantage of various clones, vineyard sites, fermentation styles, lees-stirring and aging regimens to differentiate their bottlings, one from one another.
Also produced successfully here are fruit-forward Pinot noirs (especially where soils are clay-rich), elegant Riesling, Pinot gris and Gewürztraminer.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.