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Proven New Zealand Quality for the US Market

Consistent, high-quality wines from Marlborough, ready for distribution.

About Us

Snapper Rock Wines sources premium grapes from Marlborough, New Zealand’s most celebrated wine region. Known globally for producing exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough delivers vibrant, aromatic wines with an established record of success in the U.S. market. Our range also includes elegant Pinot Noir and finely balanced Chardonnay that reflect the purity and character of New Zealand’s cool-climate vineyards.

As a boutique producer with the infrastructure and scale to meet growing demand, we combine targeted vineyard sourcing with the expertise of experienced local winemakers to achieve consistency, quality, and value in every vintage.

Speciality

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay crafted to deliver clean, varietally correct styles suited to both the on- and off-trade sectors. Each wine is designed for broad consumer appeal while maintaining authenticity and regional character. Competitive pricing ensures strong potential for volume sales across U.S. channels.

What Sets Us Apart

  • Direct sourcing from New Zealand’s leading vineyards.
  • Consistent and approachable flavor profile, year after year.
  • Proven consumer recognition for key varietals, especially Sauvignon Blanc.
  • Reliable production, shipping and logistics tailored to export markets.
  • Competitive pricing structured for success in the U.S. retail and restaurant sectors.

Wine of New Zealand

Snapper Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Snapper Rock Sauvignon Blanc 2024

 

This classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc represents exceptional value for money and has built up a loyal following through delivering consistent quality year after year. The palate delivers excellent vibrancy and punchy fruit flavours, well supported by juicy acidity, making it highly enjoyable - our best yet!

 
  • Wine Making Process:
    • Grapes were picked earlier than in previous years at 21.2 brix
    • Summer of 2024 was extremely dry and hot, allowing berries to ripen quickly
    • Harvest began at 7pm on 18th March 2024, with fruit picked at cool night temperatures to preserve freshness and acidity
    • Grapes were pressed at The Wine Studio and fermented in stainless steel tanks under the supervision of winemaker Corey Hall
  • Press Quotes: Wine Orbit – 93 Points | 5 Stars
    • This is instantly appealing on the nose, showing crunchy apple, kiwifruit, lime zest and jasmine aromas, followed by a splendidly flavoursome palate that’s filled with juicy fruit intensity, finishing long and highly enjoyable
    • Cam Douglas MS 92+ Points | Premium: A classic bouquet and palate with a crisp, dry and fruity core. Flavors of gooseberry and peach, citrus and pear. Mild tropical fruit flavors as well. The acid line delivers freshness and style, a salivating mouthfeel and flavors that are persistent
Snapper Rock Pinot Gris 2024

Snapper Rock Pinot Gris 2024

 

Pear and lychee notes mingle over a rich layer of grapefruit and lemon, with spice and mineral flavours adding richness through the back of the palate, balanced with delicate acidity. This wine is best matched with spicy Thai and seafood, but has the palate weight and richness to compliment creamy sauces and strong cheeses.

 
  • Wine Making Process:
    • Machine harvested
    • Crushed and pressed to stainless steel tanks for fermentation
    • Filtered and minimally fined to preserve purity and freshness
  • Press Quotes: Wine Orbit – 93 Points | 5 Stars
    • “This is instantly appealing on the nose, showing Nashi pear, rockmelon, pineapple and floral aromas, leading to a succulent palate offering excellent fruit purity and vibrancy. Refreshing and delectably appealing.”
    • Wine Chat – 92 Points | 4.5 Stars “Classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with generous aromatics, a zingy citrus core and refreshing acidity. Fresh aromas of lime, peach, melon, fresh herb and elderflower.”
Snapper Rock Sauvignon Blanc Rosé

Snapper Rock Sauvignon Blanc Rosé 2025

 

Elegant and delightfully lifted, showing sweet strawberry, creaming soda, white floral and lemon zest aromas, it's juicy and refreshing with excellent fruit purity and finesse.

 
  • Wine Making Process:
    • Pristine fruit condition
    • Cool-fermented in stainless steel
    • Vibrant aromatics, crisp, zesty flavours
  • Press Quotes: Wine Orbit | 93 Points | 5 Stars
    • Aromas: Kiwifruit, crunchy apple, watermelon, floral notes
    • Palate: Vibrant, juicy fruit intensity, fine texture, crisp acidity
    • Finish: Long and refreshing
    • Best Enjoyed: Now to 2027
Snapper Rock Pinot Noir 2022

Snapper Rock Pinot Noir 2023

 

A silky smooth and elegantly composed Pinot Noir showing dark plum, cherry, anise and toasted nut characters on the nose with a hint of dark mushroom. It's succulent and plump on the palate, offering youthful fruit intensity combined with silky texture and well-integrated tannins, finishing long and supple. An easy-drinking Pinot Noir offering exceptional value.

 
  • Wine Making Process:
    • Hand-plunged in open-top fermenters ? vibrant fruit & fine tannins
    • Matured in small tanks + seasoned French oak barrels
    • Focus on purity, elegance, and layered complexity
  • Press Quotes: Wine Orbit | 90 Points | 4.5 Stars
    • Aromas: Ripe cherry, strawberry, thyme, nutmeg, floral notes
    • Palate: Succulent fruit flavours, fine texture, polished tannins
    • Finish: Lingering and silky
    • Best Enjoyed: Now to 2027
Ward Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Ward Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2025

 

Ward Valley, at Marlborough’s southern tip, is a rugged, windswept land known for its stony beaches and unique geology. Named after the famous Ward Beach, home to crayfish boats and the site of the Kaikoura Earthquake’s seafloor rise, this wine reflects the harsh yet fruitful conditions. Founders James Leary and Freddy Davison, alongside their winemaker, craft wines that embody the land’s spirit and their hands-on approach.

 
  • Wine Making Process:
    • Smooth season from fruit set to harvest
    • Clean flowering, good fruit set ? balanced to generous crops
    • Cooler January slowed ripening and stretched flavour development
    • Late-summer/early-autumn settled weather allowed optimal picking for flavour
  • Press Quotes:
    • Aromas: White florals, fresh nettle
    • Palate: Vibrant citrus, delicate herbal tones, subtle saline edge
    • Finish: Lively, crisp, persistent
    • Character: New World brightness with Old World elegance and mineral precision
Ward Valley Chardonnay 2023

Ward Valley Chardonnay 2023

 

Ward Valley is situated at the southern frontier of Marlborough, making it a special place within a special place. Our Chardonnay wines grow on a sheltered terrace at the coastal end, with a unique microclimate and soil structure. Influenced by a fault line, a river, and the power of the nearby Pacific Ocean, our land is stony, dry, windy and cool, elements that create wines of elegance, minerality with a lively and lingering finish. Guided by the raw terroir of Awatere Valley, founders James Leary and Freddy Davison craft wines that reflect both the land and the hands behind them.

 
  • Wine Making Process:
    • Grapes bunch pressed to tank at Spring Creek
    • Lightly racked to French barriques for fermentation
    • Partial malolactic fermentation allowed after primary fermentation
    • Matured 10 months on lees in barrels
    • Prepared for bottling after maturation
  • Press Quotes:
    • Cam Douglas MS – 93+ Points | Excellent “Aromas and flavours of peach and red apple, vanilla and smoky barrel spice, a sea air quality and grounded earthy qualities. Crisp and dry on the palate with tannins and acidity leading to flavours that reflect the bouquet, medium+ acid line and weighty mouthfeel. Well made with a custard cream quality, freshness and varietal power. Best from 2024 through 2029.”
    • Candice Wine Chat – 93 Points | 5 Stars “A single block expression, with distinctive minerality, beautifully ripe fruit dances on a lightly creamy mouthfeel melded with barrel-aged complexity and lends a long finish. Elegantly expressed aromas of peach, grapefruit, apple, custard, vanilla, flint and pebbles.”

Why Partner With Snapper Rock

  • Category Growth: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc remains one of the fastest-growing import categories in the U.S. We offer a focused portfolio that aligns with current market demand.
  • Strong Margins: Competitive ex-cellar pricing supports healthy distributor and retailer margins.
  • Reliable Supply: Vineyard contracts and stable production capacity ensure consistent volume availability.
  • Proven Quality: Wines are made in collaboration with award-winning winemakers using fruit from proven vineyard sites.
  • Market Support: We provide product information, technical sheets, and sales support to help you introduce and grow the brand in your market.

With Snapper Rock Wines, buyers gain a New Zealand wine partner offering consistent quality, dependable logistics, and a portfolio positioned to sell in the U.S. market.