The estate
Pure Island comes from VINULTRA, an independent, family-owned Marlborough producer founded in 2002 that released its first vintage in 2008. It works only in Marlborough and specialises in the Southern Valleys sub-region. Winemaking is led by Eveline Fraser, who has made eighteen vintages here, following six vintages as head winemaker at Cloudy Bay.
The region
The Southern Valleys sit south of the Wairau plains. Where the valley floor is deep stony gravel, these sites are heavier clay that holds water considerably better, and cold air draining off the Wither Hills pushes night temperatures down and widens the diurnal range. Ripening runs later here than on the Wairau — useful for aromatic retention in Sauvignon Blanc.
The wine
The estate’s own tasting note describes stone fruit in the white peach register and tropical fruit like juicy mango; fresh herbs in the snow pea direction; a cleansing citrus note it compares to pink grapefruit; and a minerality it likens to river stone. Dry and crisp, with mouth-watering acidity.
What to expect
This is a certified, estate-grown Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc built around freshness and drinkability. It is not a single-vineyard, barrel-fermented or lees-aged prestige bottling, and it does not set out to be one. What it offers is classic Marlborough aromatics made by a team with a long track record in the sub-region.
Drinking
Serve well chilled, 8–10°C. Sauvignon Blanc in this style is generally at its best young, within a couple of years of the vintage. The estate suggests sushi, garlic prawn pasta, baked fish and fish tacos.
Sustainability
Accredited under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, and holder of Toitū Enviromark Gold and ISO certification. The winery runs on 100% renewable electricity, vineyard yields are held around 30% below the Marlborough regional average, and the estate participates in Predator Free NZ with a published roadmap to net zero by 2050.
The label
The palm on the label is the Nīkau, native to New Zealand. Each label in the range places it differently, so bottles lined up side by side form one continuous image.