The Marlborough phenomenon has taken the wine-drinking world by storm with its pungent, unmistakable  Sauvignon. On a ridge between the Omaka and Waihopai Valleys, overlooking the now iconic Spy Valley station,  Churton’s Sam and Mandy Weaver have staked out a quietly beautiful, remote part of Marlborough. Their nearest neighbors are families of sheep – as far as the eye can see. Like a few quality focused Pinot pioneers in the region, they have taken to the hills, establishing their vineyard on a North East facing hillside at 200 meters. Their first vintage was 1997 and as the vines were planted and established, during the formative years the wines were made from gradually decreasing proportions of purchased fruit. From 2010 all the wines are being produced from estate grown fruit. As if they weren’t isolated enough, unlike most other New Zealand producers the Weavers have made a staunch stance to bottle their wines only under cork, believing that their wines develop better with this closure.