Graham Norton hails ‘truly magical’ visit to Marlborough

The Irish funnyman helped with the harvest and received recognition of "years of drinking, making and talking about Sauvignon Blanc" as he became a Marlborough Grape Ambassador. After 11 vintages helping craft his GN Sauvignon Blanc, Graham Norton took one step further in 2025 and ventured to Marlborough during the harvest season. Norton travelled to Awatere Valley, Marlborough with Invivo Wines co-founders Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron, to survey the early progress of the 2025 vintage. There, the trio picked grapes for line's upcoming twelfth vintage, as well as assessing fruit quality and tasting juice samples. “What a special day!" Norton exclusively told db. "It was fantastic to visit the Invivo GN vineyards, taste some of the fresh juice samples and meet some of the growers. There’s something truly magical about drinking my own GN Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, in the Marlborough sunshine - it just hits differently.” The visit marked a natural progression for Norton, who advises on the wine's blend every year: "I don’t just put my name to the wines – I’m involved in the process, which makes being here in this stunning region for harvest all the more special.” Cameron, who is the project's winemaker, believes it is in keeping with Norton's approach. “Graham has always been hands-on – he personally tastes, blends, and signs off on every vintage with us to ensure his favourite wine is made to his exact taste preferences,” he explains. “To welcome him to our vineyard and experience the magic of Marlborough firsthand was a real highlight for all of us.”

A first for Marlborough

After Norton's sojourn into the backbreaking work of vineyard labour, the visit concluded with a touch more luxury: a winemaker's lunch with local produce to celebrate the end of harvest. Norton, Lightbourne and Cameron ate with the Mayor of Marlborough, Nadine Taylor, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon, as well growers from across the region. There, Taylor bestowed on Norton a first-of-its-kind distinction, the Grape Ambassador Award. The title recognises more than a decade he has spent advocating for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc around the world. “It’s such an honour to receive the first Grape Ambassador award from the Mayor of Marlborough, Nadine Taylor," Norton told db. "It turns out that years of drinking, making and talking about Sauvignon Blanc with Invivo Wines has its perks! I’m genuinely touched - and raising a glass to Marlborough!” Taylor, meanwhile, was full of praise for his advocacy. “It was my great pleasure to host Graham Norton and award him the title of Official Marlborough Grape Ambassador," she says. "Graham is not only a legend and high-profile broadcaster and author, he is also a strong supporter and advocate for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, our Sauvignon Blanc is quite a lot like Graham himself – vibrant, refreshing and fun, with razor-sharp acidity! Graham’s visit will do wonders for Marlborough’s profile and keep New Zealand’s premium wine on the international radar.”

Global growth in 2024

Since its launch in 2014, GN Sauvignon Blanc has built an enviable profile, and helped launch a 10-strong portfolio built on Norton's brand. The Sauvignon Blanc has since seen, among others, Prosecco, Shiraz and Malbec join the range, as well as vodka and a range of gins. Yet the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc remains a cornerstone of the Norton range. “New Zealand produces some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc, in my opinion," says Norton. "It’s incredible to think that what began as a small, limited-edition run of GN New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has grown into a global brand. Now, here we are harvesting grapes in Marlborough for our twelfth vintage!" The range overall saw a strong year in 2024, with sales up 396% year-on-year in the UK market and increasing by 28% in the US market, where Norton's brand shows strong momentum. The Sauvignon Blanc itself was the fastest growing major brand in the category in the UK, while in Ireland sales rose 47% year-on-year. Invivo, meanwhile, has its namesake bottlings, as well as a collection of wines with actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Invivo x Unity, which launched as the official Prosecco of Eurovision 2023. The New Zealand-based company has expanded significantly in recent years, including upping its holding in Marlborough.