When Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was named both Sauvignon Blanc of the Year and Best Wine by Value at the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards, it was a nod to its vibrant profile of grapefruit, lychee, and jasmine and a clear signal that the U.S. market is ready to embrace this New Zealand classic. For Delicato Family Wines, the U.S. importer of Stoneleigh, the win is a meaningful milestone in their efforts to position a top-tier, estate-grown Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc on wine lists and shelves across the country.

We spoke with Mary G. Burnham, Director of Public Relations & Events at Delicato, about what this win means, how they’re introducing Stoneleigh to more Americans, and why it’s a great value and a textbook expression of its region.

Image: Mary G. Burnham, Director of Public Relations & Events at Delicato.

Congratulations on Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc being awarded both Sauvignon Blanc of the Year and Best Wine by Value at the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards. What does this dual win mean for Delicato and the Stoneleigh brand, and how are you planning to leverage this accolade across key markets?

We are thrilled to receive both of these phenomenal accolades. To stand out and gain two outstanding recognitions from the incredibly experienced, respected and sophisticated palates that comprise the judges of the Sommeliers’ Choice Awards is extremely meaningful for the entire Stoneleigh family—from our winemaking team to all of us proudly representing the wine in the U.S. We have created sales materials touting these awards that our team is using as a talking point when introducing the brand to potential customers. We are also planning on adding information about the awards to the Stoneleigh website.

Image: Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - “Sauvignon Blanc of the Year” and “Best Wine by Value” at the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards.

The wine stood out for its vibrant citrus, lychee, and floral character, paired with crisp acidity and a hint of effervescence. What do you believe makes this particular Sauvignon Blanc such a compelling expression of Marlborough’s terroir, and how does it reflect the philosophy behind Stoneleigh’s winemaking?

First, the wine comes from an estate-owned vineyard that’s located in one of the top spots in the world to grow Sauvignon Blanc, which is the northern side of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. This part of Marlborough is warmer and more sheltered, which helps the grapes get riper and yields fruitier, less overtly herbaceous wine. The vines are 15-30 years old and are very well established and balanced. They’re rooted in alluvial soils--essentially gravel beds covered in smooth ‘sunstones’—meaning, these soils are low in nutrients and fast-draining. The combination of mature vines, infertile soils, and a warmer climate yields Sauvignon Blanc of exceptional concentration and fruitiness.

Image: Stoneleigh vineyard covered with sunstones.

With the U.S. being a major growth market for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, can you share where Stoneleigh is currently available, both in terms of national retail chains and key restaurant or on-premise placements? Are there any standout partnerships or listings you'd like to highlight?

Stoneleigh is a strong brand in restaurants, with about half of its U.S. sales coming from the on-premise sector, primarily in independent restaurants. These include Vincents on Camelback, Calvert’s, and Chicago’s iconic gastropub, The Gage. National chains carrying Stoneleigh include Hilton Hotels, Publix, and Harris Teeter. 

What are your current marketing and promotional strategies for Stoneleigh in the U.S. and other international markets? Are you running any activations, tastings, or collaborative events tied to the Sommeliers Choice Awards win?

In the U.S., we are focused on pairing Stoneleigh and seafood. We offer pairing ideas via point of sale materials for the off-premise, on-premise marketing tools (education and pairing suggestions) and are participating in seafood events and festivals around the country. We also develop sell sheets that tout the wine’s many accolades—now including the Sommeliers’ Choice Awards, of course. We are also involved in cause marketing sponsorships, with partnerships with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Sea Turtle Conservancy. We are not doing any events tied specifically to the SCA, but rather are integrating the awards into our messaging and materials.

Image: Simple and sophisticated honey-glazed fish pairs well with the  Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

From a commercial standpoint, how do you work with importers, distributors, and retail partners to ensure strong in-market presence and steady movement of stock, especially in competitive categories like Sauvignon Blanc?

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is a growing category, and since we re-introduced Stoneleigh to the U.S. a few years ago, we have not had any issues with stock moving. The wine has done extremely well with U.S. sommeliers, retail wine buyers and consumers, so our focus has been on keeping the wine in stock with our existing customers and taking a smart, incremental and strategic approach to growing the brand as we are able, in working closely with the winery on each vintage and plan for the year. Stoneleigh’s superb quality in the bottle—along with brisk sales of existing inventory—has also been key to the wine’s success.

Delicato Family Wines has an impressive portfolio. Could you tell us more about your approach to bringing international wines to the U.S. market, and where Stoneleigh fits within your broader brand strategy?

We are very selective in partnering with wineries abroad to bring in their wines, which is apparent in our small portfolio of imports. Our first priority is quality—the wines must be exceptional at whatever price they sit at—whether that’s a $17 bottle of wine, such as Stoneleigh, or a $700 wine such as Torbreck’s The Laird. We look for wines that complement our existing portfolio, that compete in established categories, and that offer a compelling point of difference. In Stoneleigh’s case, the ideal location of its vineyards within Marlborough makes a qualitative difference that you can taste in the glass—it’s got lovely ripe fruit in addition to the mouthwatering acidity and a bit of herbaceousness one expects in a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Image: Winning brands of Delicato Family Wines at the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards (L-R) Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Franz Keller vom Löss Pinot Blanc 2022, and Black Stallion Napa Valley Transcendent 2021.

Sustainability is increasingly important to consumers and trade alike. What environmental practices are in place at Stoneleigh’s vineyards in Marlborough? And how is Delicato supporting or amplifying those efforts?

Stoneleigh wines come entirely from estate-owned vineyards that are certified sustainable by both local and international standards, by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand and ISO (ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management). We plant 100% of the vine rows with permanent or cover crops for regenerative soil protection and dedicate 86 acres to biodiversity projects to restore and regenerate the land, having planted more than 10,000 plants in this effort. The winery is also certified sustainable by the above organizations. It operates entirely on renewable electricity. Nearly all of Stoneleigh’s wines (90%) are bottled in lightweight (<420g) glass that’s produced in New Zealand and made from approximately 45% recycled glass.

Image: Sustainability in action.

Given the evolving landscape of wine marketing—particularly digital channels and social engagement—how are you reaching younger or more globally connected consumers? Has the brand adapted its communications in light of emerging trends or generational shifts in wine buying?

Stoneleigh’s style, quality, and value make it a natural fit for consumers who are entering the wine category, as lighter, brighter white wines are trending with this demographic. With its strong traction in independent restaurants, Stoneleigh is getting discovered by consumers who find it on the wine list during an evening out, then purchase the wine in-store. We stay true to our core values and let the quality in the bottle shine. 

Finally, beyond the awards, what would you say is the most distinctive or special thing about Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that you wish more people knew?

We wish more people knew that it exists! While the winery is well-known in New Zealand, Stoneleigh is not well-known in the U.S. So, we are very grateful to the Sommelier’s Choice Awards, and all of the sommeliers and wine buyers around the country who are supporting Stoneleigh and helping to introduce it to the U.S. market. Thank you. 

Conclusion:

Stoneleigh’s confidence is rooted in the stony alluvial soils of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley and a thoughtful, measured approach to growth. From sustainable vineyard practices to restaurant partnerships and cause marketing initiatives, Delicato is building Stoneleigh’s reputation organically—glass by glass, rather than billboard by billboard. With this recent recognition from a jury of sommeliers, the team now has another powerful story to tell. But as Burnham makes clear, the most important message remains in the glass: a wine that’s honest, expressive, and ready to be discovered.

In conversation with Malvika Patel, Editor and VP, Beverage Trade Network

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