When Fiona Turner and her husband Hamish began developing their Blind River vineyard in 2003, they chose one of Marlborough's most challenging sites. Originally part of a sheep station (hence the name “Tinpot Hut”—after a historic shepherds’ shelter), this wasn't prime grape-growing land by conventional standards. But Fiona, armed with a Master's degree and stints in California, Central Otago, and Hawkes Bay, could immediately see its potential.

The Home Block sits in an emerging sub-region called Blind River, just south of the Awatere Valley, where afternoon easterly winds blast in from the Pacific. It's a place locals describe as producing “minerality and crushed herbs on steroids.” The vineyard's rich loamy topsoil—just 500-750mm deep—sits over wind-blown clay loess. The vines have to fight for every berry, producing concentrated fruit with laser-sharp focus.

But location is only half the story. The 2023 vintage showcases fruit from two distinct terroirs: the mineral-driven Home Block and the more tropical Lower Wairau vineyards 30 minutes north. Fiona blends these complementary sites to create complexity you simply can't achieve from a single vineyard. Blackcurrant bud and fresh thyme from Blind River meet grapefruit and melon from Wairau Valley in perfect harmony.

Working with organic and regenerative farming practices, every bottle carries Sustainable Winegrowing certification, but more importantly, it carries the signature of two people who live and breathe their land.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT

• Real people, real vineyard, real wine: This husband-and-wife operation shows what dedication to site can achieve. No corporate ownership or big-box case stacks—just Fiona and Hamish making wine they're proud to put their name on.
  

• Maximum complexity and concentration at this price point: With fruit from both coastal Blind River and Lower Wairau, this delivers layers of flavor you won’t find in mass-produced Marlborough. At 13% alcohol with perfectly balanced acidity (7.3 g/L), it's refreshing without being lean.
  

• US Exclusive VALUE: Thirst-quenching to the core, this brims with intense aromas of grapefruit, crushed lemongrass, and thyme, mingling with passionfruit and melon highlights. The palate delivers classic blackcurrant fruit and fresh herbs underpinned by that distinctive Blind River minerality. It’s a 94-point stunner that, for now, is not available anywhere else in America. 

HOW TO SERVE IT

• Drink now through 2027. While most Marlborough Sauvignon is made to drink yesterday, this has the structure and complexity to evolve beautifully over the next 1-2 years.
  

• Serve chilled at 42-45°F in white wine glasses.
  

• Pair with raw oysters, ceviche, grilled prawns, or tarragon roast chicken.