Short answer: Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027 is a three-day international wine conference in Marlborough from 2 to 4 February 2027, for wine industry, trade and media. The Marlborough Wine & Food Festival, planned for 13 February 2027, has been put on hold. Explera DMC New Zealand plans winery days, rooms and transfers for Marlborough wine groups.
This briefing is for travel agents, tour operators and wine trade planners who sell Marlborough in February. One event is coming and one is not, and both change how a February wine programme is built.
What is Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027?
- The dates. 2 to 4 February 2027, in Marlborough.
- Who runs it. A committee of people from nine New Zealand wineries, New Zealand Winegrowers and Wine Marlborough, chaired by Yealands chief winemaker Natalie Christensen.
- Who it is for. Wine Marlborough says it will bring global industry leaders, trade influencers, sommeliers and wine content creators to the region.
- Launched. The event was launched in Blenheim in November 2025.
Is the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival on in 2027?
- No. Wine Marlborough said on 20 August 2026 that the festival will be placed on hold. It had been planned for Saturday 13 February 2027, and tickets had not been released.
- Why. Wine Marlborough said the investment needed to run the event in its current format is no longer the best fit, and that events across New Zealand face a challenging time.
- What next. Wine Marlborough is backing Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027 instead and says it will look at other ways to continue the festival's legacy. No return date has been given.
What should agents plan for?
- Conference week. Delegates arrive in the first week of February, so we hold Blenheim rooms early for any wine group travelling then.
- Former festival weekend. Groups that used to build a trip around the festival need a different anchor. We plan cellar-door visits, a winery lunch and a Marlborough Sounds day instead.
- Getting there. Marlborough is reached by flights into Blenheim or by the Cook Strait ferry to Picton, with a short drive to the wineries.
- Trade groups. The conference is a trade event. We plan the ground programme; registration is through the organisers.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We plan food and wine tours, MICE programmes and coach and private transfers for travel agents and tour operators. Our Marlborough DMC page covers the region. See also our wine regions guide, our Queen Charlotte Track briefing and our February and March 2027 events briefing.
FAQ
When is Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027? From 2 to 4 February 2027, in Marlborough.
Who is Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027 for? Wine industry leaders, trade, sommeliers and wine content creators, according to Wine Marlborough.
Is the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival on in 2027? No. Wine Marlborough put the festival on hold on 20 August 2026. It had been planned for 13 February 2027.
Will the festival come back? Wine Marlborough says it will look at other ways to continue its legacy. No return date has been given.
Can Explera DMC New Zealand register delegates? No. Registration is through the organisers. We plan rooms, transfers and winery days around the conference.
Sources
- Marlborough Wine & Food Festival to take a pause, Wine Marlborough, 20 August 2026
- Winemakers unite in Marlborough to launch Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2027, Wine Marlborough, 12 November 2025
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
