✦ MARLBOROUGH
A COOL CLIMATE WITH CLEAR INTENT
High sunshine hours encourage ripeness. Cool nights slow the pace. Diurnal shifts preserve natural acidity and aromatic definition.
The growing season unfolds gradually, encouraging even ripening and clear varietal expression. Sauvignon Blanc develops intensity and precision. Pinot Noir builds structure and depth. The result is grapes bursting with varietal expression.
SOILS SHAPED BY TIME
Much of Marlborough’s valley floor was formed by ancient glacial and river activity. The Wairau River carried stones, silts and sands from the mountains to the sea, creating diverse, free-draining soils across the region.
Some of our sites are stony and warm. Others are heavier and clay-rich. This variation creates a patchwork of meso climates and allows careful matching of variety to site.
THE WAIRAU VALLEY
The Wairau Valley is Marlborough’s warmest and sunniest sub-region, stretching from inland stony sites to cooler coastal zones influenced by sea breezes.
Its alluvial soils vary widely in texture and drainage, shaping ripening speed and flavour development. Sauvignon Blanc from the Wairau typically shows ripe tropical fruit, passionfruit and citrus, supported by bright acidity. Many of our Marlborough wines draw from the Wairau Valley for its consistency and expressive fruit character.
AWATERE VALLEY
Further south, the Awatere Valley is cooler, drier and windier, often slightly higher in elevation.
Wind-blown loess over alluvial gravel and greywacke soils naturally limit vine vigour and enhance concentration. The slower ripening environment produces Sauvignon Blanc with lively acidity, citrus precision and herbal lift.
SOUTHERN VALLEYS
South of the Wairau, the Southern Valleys are defined by rolling slopes and clay-rich soils.
These heavier soils retain moisture and reduce vine vigour, supporting structured and concentrated fruit. Pinot Noir thrives here, producing wines with depth and layered red and black fruit character. Chardonnay from these sites often shows stone fruit and citrus with refined texture.
✦ OUR VINEYARDS
Our vineyards are located across Marlborough, each chosen for its distinct soils and local growing conditions. Alongside our estate sites, we work with a trusted network of long-standing growers throughout the region. This keeps us close to the detail, vintage after vintage, and allows us to select fruit with clear intent. That diversity gives our winemaking team the scope to craft wines that reflect Marlborough’s range and character.
Clayvin Vineyard
Dillon’s Point Vineyard
Stump Creek Vineyard
