Vavasour Wines, established in 1985, pioneered viticulture in the Awatere Valley. The winery is located thirty minutes south of Blenheim on the stony river terraces of the Awatere Valley. It is an area of stark and majestic beauty. Scorching sun and dry winds result in ripe and concentrated fruit that winemaker Glenn Thomas turns into some of New Zealand's best wine. Owned by New Zealand Wine Fund Limited, Vavasour announced in March 2006 its intention to merge with Waiheke Island based Goldwater wines. Vavasour/Goldwater will join Delegats and Villa Maria as one of the largest New Zealand owned wine companies. Vavasour makes very good Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Vavasour Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2005 was awarded 91 points by Wine Spectator magazine. Premium wines are branded ‘Vavasour’, while younger drinking wines that are made from grapes grown in the Awatere Valley and the neighbouring Wairau Valley are labelled Dashwood and Redwood Pass. Vavasour Wines welcomes visitors. It is located 24 km south of Blenheim, in the Awatere Valley. The cellar door is incorporated into the working winery to provide a truly authentic wine tasting experience and is open for wine tasting 7 days over summer from 10am to 4pm. Over winter the winery is shut to visitors on Saturday. Vavasour wines can be purchased direct from the winery, by internet, throughout New Zealand and are exported to countries including France, Switzerland, the United Kingdon, Ireland, the United States and Australia.