Coastal Notes
Notes from our wild coast at the edge of the earth
Coastal Notes is an update from our estate, sharing the story of wine from the wild coast of Awatere Marlborough, New Zealand - through the changing seasons and the challenges of making wine at the edge of the Southern Ocean.
Everything we do in the vineyard and winery is certified sustainable, a commitment we have upheld since first planting the estate almost 20 years ago.
Our wine speaks to the wildly distinctive, bracing, and challenging Awatere coast of Marlborough – minerality from the coastal soils, salinity from the strong coastal winds, and tropical lime flavours from the long sunshine hours and cool nights of Marlborough. Our wine truly speaks of its coastal place at the edge of the earth.
November; Whale Trail
At OTU Wines, the coast is more than our backdrop. It’s part of who we and our wines are.
Set in Marlborough’s wild Awatere Valley, our coastal estate sits alongside a remarkable stretch of coastline where whales pass through on their seasonal migrations.
The Whale Trail celebrates everything that makes this place special, connecting people with its extraordinary landscapes, marine life and stories, from Māori history to conservation and regeneration.
Born from the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, the Whale Trail is a powerful example of turning adversity into opportunity — creating a lasting legacy for our Marlborough community while showcasing one of New Zealand’s most spectacular coastal environments.
We’re excited that the trail winds past our estate and some of our closest-to-the-sea vineyard blocks.
We’re also excited to share our coastal story, celebrate the place we call home, and champion a future where tourism, nature and our local wine community thrive together.
October; A Small Sign of Something Big
There’s a special kind of excitement in the vineyard at this time of year. After months of winter dormancy, the vines are beginning to wake, with tiny green shoots emerging to signal the start of a new growing season.
This is bud burst — one of the first, and most important, milestones in the journey towards a new vintage.
It might look like a small change, but it marks the beginning of months of growth, careful vineyard management and decisions that will help shape the wines to come.
From here, every day counts. Sunshine, rainfall, wind and temperature all play their part as the vines respond to the conditions around them.
And here on our coastal Marlborough estate, that connection to the elements is part of what makes this time of year so fascinating. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the vines as the season unfolds, watching nature set the pace and preparing for the months ahead.
For now, those first green shoots are a reminder that great wine begins long before harvest.
A new season is underway, and the story of our next vintage has begun.
Until next time, from our coast to your glass.
September; A Quality Mark That Matters
Marlborough is more than one place.
At OTU Estate, our vines sit just 2km inland from the wild, windswept coastline of the Awatere Valley — a distinctive corner of Marlborough shaped by cool nights, long sunshine hours, strong coastal winds and dry, challenging conditions.
These natural forces give Awatere Sauvignon Blanc its own character. Bright, intensely flavoured and mineral-driven, with a freshness and energy that speaks clearly of its coastal home.
But there’s another way to recognise that sense of place — Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW).
AMW is a mark of provenance, quality and integrity for wines from Marlborough. To carry the AMW certification, wines must meet strict standards designed to protect what makes Marlborough wine distinctive.
That means 100% of the grapes must come from Marlborough vineyards, the wine must be bottled in New Zealand, and the vineyards must be sustainably certified. There are also strict integrity standards around cropping levels, helping ensure the quality and authenticity of the wine in the bottle.
For OTU Estate, it’s more than another mark on the label. It’s recognition of the place we call home — and our commitment to making wines that genuinely express it.
From the wild Awatere Coast, with a mark that matters.
Read more here;Appellation Marlborough Wine | 100% Marlborough NZ Wine
August; Otu Estate Sauvignon Blanc Vintage 2026 Is Here
Our new 2026 Sauvignon Blanc vintage has arrived. Bold and intensely vibrant Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc distinctively Awatere coast, this wine is sourced solely from our finest steeply terraced, north facing blocks on the OTU Estate.
Our coastal Awatere Marlborough estate enjoyed an excellent growing season for 2025/26. Favourable weather conditions for flowering led to an exceptional fruit set, followed by hot and sunny summer months ideal for healthy vineyard canopies and fruit development.
The 2026 Otu Estate Sauvignon Blanc was predominantly harvested from our most elevated coastal Blocks M3, and our lower yielding, high performing Dysart Blocks 2, D3 and D5. To ensure added texture and depth, after fermentation, the wine was kept on light lees for three months until bottling.
Fresh, edgy and intensely aromatic coastal Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Mouthwatering passionfruit, kaffir lime, and notes of salinity and minerality are offset with a crisp lime finish.
As of August, our OTU Estate 2026 Sauvignon Blanc is already in market in New Zealand – one of the first to roll vintage - and is making an impact with positive reviews;
94 Points Wine Orbit NZ; “Upfront and instantly appealing, showcasing green rockmelon, kiwifruit, kaffir lime, and jasmine aromas, followed by an impressively flavoursome palate filled with juicy fruit intensity and vibrant acidity, making it delicious and highly enjoyable.”
Photo Credit; Taken from OTU Estate M4 Block looking out towards the Kaikoura Coast by Tiffany True, OTU Territory Manager July 2026
July; The Awatere Coast: Windier, Sunnier, Wilder
At OTU Estate, our vines grow at the edge of the Southern Ocean, where the Awatere coast delivers a unique combination of soils, sun, wind and cool maritime conditions.
Long sunshine hours help our grapes reach optimum ripeness, building intensity and purity of fruit, while the cool coastal climate and long growing season allow flavours to develop slowly and beautifully.
Constant winds sweeping in from Cook Strait and the Southern Ocean add another layer of character, depositing microscopic sea salt across the vines and topsoil and creating the distinctive maritime influence that defines our estate.
Our vineyards sit on elevated, wave-cut marine terraces formed from hard-packed silt, with tighter, clay-flecked soils that hold more moisture than the stony gravels further inland.
Combined with the relentless coastal exposure, these conditions encourage the vines to push their roots deep into the terraces in search of water and nutrients, producing smaller, more concentrated berries.
The result is a truly coastal wine style: vibrant fruit, elegant intensity, punchy herbaceous character and a distinctive marine salinity – a subtle briny, seashell-like finish that works beautifully alongside the naturally high acidity of Awatere wines. Wild by nature, unmistakably coastal and uniquely OTU.
