New Zealand organic wine producers Loveblock are proud to announce Loveblock TEE Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 has ranked #33 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2025.
Selected from more than 10,200 wines blind tasted from around the world, Wine Spectator’s Top 100 is one of the global industry’s most influential annual lists, highlighting the year’s most exciting wines based on quality, value, availability and the “X-factor”, a compelling story and vision that elevate a wine beyond the glass.
The definitive voice for wine in North America and beyond, Wine Spectator’s backing of Loveblock TEE sees the coveted Top 100 list spotlight an extraordinarily experimental wine that represents a bold departure from traditional winemaking, pushing the boundaries of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to new territories on the world stage.
Erica and Kim Crawford have made many memorable New Zealand wines, but Loveblock TEE might be their most innovative project yet. Crafted from organic grapes grown in the Awatere Valley, TEE is a single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc that replaces the traditional preservative, sulphites (sulphur), with tannin extracted from green tea.
While Loveblock’s organic wines are all made with lower levels of added sulphites, Erica’s search to eliminate preservatives entirely led her to further investigate tannins, following the chemistry of an established wine-making product to apply the indications to solve another challenge. Over the next 13 years of TEE’s development, the Crawfords became the first in the world to discover that tannin extracted from green tea leaves also provides powerful protection against oxidation and spoilage as a natural antioxidant without the need for added sulphites. Every time the grapes, then wine, are exposed to oxygen, a small amount of tannin is added, protecting the wine from oxidation and keeping the final product’s flavours fresh and bright.
This pioneering technique unlocks a suitcase of new flavours of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that has not been explored before, delivering vibrancy and texture and a uniquely long-lived expression that remains fresh for days after opening, even in the absence of preservatives.
“This recognition is incredibly meaningful for us,” says Erica Crawford, Founder of Loveblock. “TEE represents years of pioneering work, exploring flavour, structure, and natural protection in ways we hadn’t seen before in New Zealand or indeed the world. It’s highly experimental winemaking, grounded in organics and guided by curiosity, and to have it celebrated by the coveted Wine Spectator Top 100 is extraordinary. I hope it inspires others to be brave and keep pushing the boundaries of what New Zealand wine can do.”
Since 1988, Wine Spectator magazine’s senior editors have selected the 100 most exciting wines of each year, with this annual list honouring successful wineries, regions and vintages from around the world. In 2025, 100 bottles were chosen from over 10,200 wines reviewed in blind tastings.
“Our list of honourees provides a snapshot of the year in wine, covering everything from top-scoring bottles and standout values to a wave of emerging wineries,” said Jeffery Lindenmuth, Executive Editor, Wine Spectator. “In a year that has challenged the wine industry, our Top 100 reflects the resilience, commitment and long-term view shown by producers around the world. We hope our readers enjoy exploring these great wines, and congratulations to all the winners.”
TEE’s inclusion in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 affirms not only its quality, but also the global appetite for innovation within Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the relevance of brave, explorative winemaking in a rapidly changing industry.
Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 list has highlighted the world’s most compelling wines since 1988, recognising the producers, regions and styles shaping the future of wine. The complete 2025 list is available at https://top100-list.winespectator.com/ with extended profiles appearing in the December 31 issue of Wine Spectator magazine.
Loveblock TEE Sauvignon Blanc 2023, RRP: NZ$28.99 is available online from the Loveblock website:
https://loveblockwine.com/
