From August 2023 the region’s winemakers and growers celebrated 50 years of Marlborough’s official beginning as a wine region.
To celebrate 50 years, seven of the region’s foundational wineries have come together to speak on the core values that uplift everyone in the industry.
From energy and place to diversity and innovation, they reminisce on their own stories and history in the region, and explore what makes Marlborough’s wine so special in the hearts and minds of wine lovers around the world.
Experience their ongoing legacy below.
Few would have predicted Marlborough’s rapid ascent to become one of New Zealand’s preeminent – and internationally renowned – wine-growing regions.
Discover the history of our region’s wine brands and explore stories about our people and place that make it special here.
25 years ago, on Bastille Day 1999, Adele and Daniel Le Brun released Cuvée No.1, the first Marlborough Méthode Traditionelle from their company No.1 Family Estate.
As we usher in the Year of the Dragon, symbolizing power, strength, and good fortune, we reflect on the spirit that ignited our journey from our Swiss wine estate to establish Hans Herzog Estate in Marlborough three decades ago.
In 1994, fuelled by a pioneering vision and a thirst for adventure, my husband Hans and I embarked on a daring expedition across oceans and continents. With the dream of crafting the finest wines in a land renowned for its beauty but relatively uncharted in the world of winemaking – Marlborough – we took the leap of faith that would forever change our lives.
The tale of Hunter's Marlborough began back in 1979 with the daring vision of Ernie Hunter, an Irishman hailing from Belfast. In a bold move, he decided to plant approximately twenty-five hectares of grapevines on Rapaura Road. Within that expanse, he allocated three hectares to cultivate Sauvignon Blanc, a relatively unknown grape variety with untapped potential at the time. The pivotal year came in 1982 when Hunter's produced its maiden vintage, which prominently featured Sauvignon Blanc. What's noteworthy is that all these wines received accolades at the National Wine Show—a remarkable feat for a previously obscure winery.
Pioneers of Méthode Traditionelle in New Zealand for 40 years, Adele and Daniel Le Brun launched No.1 Family Estate, their family-owned winery, in July 1997.
Steeped in history and tradition, Daniel crafts his wines using the same process perfected over 12 generations, by his champagne-making family in France.
The No.1 Family Estate winery and vineyard is set in Marlborough’s beautiful Wairau Valley and is the only winery in New Zealand committed exclusively to producing premium Méthode Traditionelle.
First Sip An AVIS Ford Falcon appeared at Cape Mentelle’s cellar door in 1983 and changed the world of wine forever. None of the five New Zealand winemakers on board knew it at the time, of course. Neither did the man they had come to see, winemaker David Hohnen. He took the five on a brisk tour capped off with barrel samples of his famous Margaret River Cabernets. The visitors were suitably impressed. Then, perhaps as a nod to his guests’ taste for white grapes, he let them try something he was pretty pleased with: a 1982 Semillon- Sauvignon Blanc blend.
In 1978 Phil and Chris Rose bravely began hand-planting vines in Rapaura whilst raising their family of five young children. After contract growing grapes for some years, they made a bold decision to produce their own wine, and in 1991 and the award-winning Wairau River label was born. That first vineyard, Home Block, has over time been joined by another 13 vineyards, which together make up the Rose Family Estate.
In 1979 Ivan and Margaret Sutherland planted their first vines at the foothills of the Southern Valleys on Dog Point Road.
After work and in the weekends, Ivan and Margaret along with cousin Robin and Bernice Sutherland excitedly began developing their land on Dog Point Road which they had purchased from Bill Walsh, planting over three successive years Muller Thurgau, Riesling, and Chardonnay.
Lawson’s Dry Hills was one of the few wineries in Marlborough when it opened in time for the rain-besieged 1995 vintage. Its owners Barbara and Ross Lawson, who planted Gewürztraminer on Alabama Road in 1981, had put in decades of hard work to get to this point. But that wet vintage took the cake, Barbara says. “We’d planned to do 100 tonnes. Suddenly we had winemakers from all over New Zealand here.”
Te Whare Rā is the oldest little winery & vineyard in Marlborough - first established in 1979. Both the winery and vineyard are certified organic. Since 2003 it has been owned and operated by two winemakers - Anna & Jason Flowerday. She's an Aussie from South Australia and he's a kiwi from Marlborough. Both have wine in their veins literally & metaphorically, and after years of working for other people they made the leap to doing their own thing. The Flowerdays have spent the last 20 years bringing their old vines back to life by farming organically with a regenerative mindset.
Rapaura Springs is proud to be a Marlborough based, New Zealand family-owned and operated business with intergenerational strength. The team is a down-to-earth bunch who have been hands-on in building vineyards and significant winery infrastructure from the ground up. The story begins with two families brought together by premium Marlborough produce. Together they have forged a strong friendship and business partnership.
Named after the majestic Catalina flying boats and the iconic Marlborough Sounds at our doorstep, Catalina Sounds produces wines that are true to the region and our vineyard sites while building an extra textural dimension –wines that are uniquely Catalina Sounds.
More than a decade after a grape growers’ cooperative began in Marlborough, it continues to help lift returns, says one of its founders. Ross Flowerday says the 2008 global financial crisis flattened grape prices in the region, but also kickstarted the grower-owned Marlborough Grape Growers Cooperative (MGGC). “We are there for the good of the industry. Without the co-op, the industry wouldn’t be what it is today.”
Patrick Materman began wine work in 1990, riddling Montana’s first release of Deutz Méthode Champenoise, a blend of Chardonnay and several ‘Pommard’ and Swiss Pinot Noir clones. Little did Patrick realise that within a few years he’d be overseeing the production of quite possibly more Pinot Noir than any other winemaker in the world.
August 2023 marks 50 years since the first vines were planted to launch the Marlborough wine industry. BRENDON BURNS looks back at some of the major challenges and monumental achievements over the past half century. These stories were first published in our Winepress Magazine in 2023.
Wine Timeline
The decision made by Montana Wines in 1973 to plant wine grapes in Marlborough was the most visionary and vital one made in the short history of the New Zealand Wine Industry. It wasn’t an easy road to success, but led by science, our enviable natural environment, and a brave small community who got together and got things done, Marlborough put New Zealand wine on the world map.
Marlborough has quickly grown to be New Zealand’s largest producer and has grown at an outstanding rate, from 6,831 hectares in 2003 to the nearly 30,000 hectares of vineyard Marlborough boasts today – about 71% of the national total. Annually, Marlborough produces 300 million to 400 million bottles of wine.
Coincidentally, 2023 also marks 150 years since Marlborough’s first vineyard of Muscat was planted at Auntsfield by Scotsman David Herd in 1873.
Discover some of the major challenges and monumental achievements in our Marlborough Wine Timeline below.
1970’s
1972
In July 1972, Marlborough County Council Livestock Instructor, S.G.C. Newdick, wrote “Vineyards: in regard to these, as there is a glut on the market of grapes there does not appear to be any likelihood of vineyards starting up in Marlborough in the foreseeable future.”
1973
Montana purchase land at Brancott, Woodbourne and Renwick and begin planting at Brancott.
"I sold them nine farms in 10 days and virtually overnight Montana doubled land values in the province from $250 to $500 an acre," said John Marris, a Pyne Gould Guinness land agent at the time, who later developed Wither Hills Wines with his son Brent.
1973
Monday July 30 - Friday August 3, 1973 Commercial planting likely started at Montana. Official celebration held August 24 (Montana).
1975
Worst recorded drought and most of the Montana planting dies and the importance of irrigation was eventually recognised.
1976
Henk Ruesink was the first grower to introduce trickle irrigation to Marlborough.
1977
Montana winery was opened by the Rt Hon Robert Muldoon on the 29th of April 1977. 800 tons of grapes process at the new winery by Gerry Gregg.
1978
Vineyards were established by Phil and Chris Rose who were originally growing lucerne for export to Japan. Then the 1970’s oil shock hit which made the harvesting and drying of lucerne uneconomic. The Roses looked to find an alternative use for their land.
They decided to plant grapes. After battling some major objections around land use, Phil and Chris finally gained consent and started establishing their vineyards in 1978.
In true pioneering spirit, they began hand planting vines and raising a family. After contract growing grapes for some years, they decided to produce their own wine in 1991 and the Wairau River label was born.
1979
First boutique winery at Renwick. According to Marlborough County Council records, the original vines were planted in 1979 on four hectares of land by Alan and Joyce Hogan, who purchased the property in 1977 . The original varieties planted were Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay and they produced their first wine in 1982.
1979
The tale of Hunter's Marlborough began with the daring vision of Ernie Hunter, an Irishman hailing from Belfast. In a bold move, he decided to plant approximately twenty-five hectares of grapevines on Rapaura Road. Within that expanse, he allocated three hectares to cultivate Sauvignon Blanc, a relatively unknown grape variety with untapped potential at the time.
1970s
Ivan and Margaret Sutherland were among the earliest Marlborough wine industry pioneers who planted grapes in Marlborough in the late 1970s. While working at Cloudy Bay Vineyards, Ivan met James Healy, where the pair played an integral part of the evolution of the Cloudy Bay brand. Discovering they shared the same aspirations, Ivan & Margaret and James & Wendy returned to a more 'hands-on' approach launching the Dog Point label in 2004 using fruit from the 2002 vintage.
1980’s
1980
Adele and Daniel, along with 4-month-old daughter Virginie, made the move to Marlborough. Daniel brought with him 50,000 cuttings from his Rotorua nursery. These hand-grown vines went into cool storage until they purchased 30 acres along State Highway 6 to plant their first Marlborough vineyard and a site in Renwick (where Mahi is today) for the winery.
1984
Disease found in Marlborough vineyards leading to the use of disease resistant root stock.
1985
First wine and food festival where the visitors were bused around different vineyards. This went on to become an annual event, moving from Montana Wines Brancott estate to the Renwick Domain in 2023
1985
David Hohnen and winemaker Kevin Judd launched Cloudy Bay in 1985 to international acclaim, with a Sauvignon Blanc that put New Zealand wine on the map.
1986
Government pays out to remove vines due to wine glut. Growers took the opportunity to plant Phylloxera resistant root stock and popular varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc.
1986
Hunter Wines win gold awards at the Sunday Times Vintage Festival U.K. in 1986, 87 and 88.
In April 2016, 30 years after that first win, Hunter’s repeated history by winning the prestigious Wine of the Show at the Sunday Times Vintage Festival in London, UK
1986
In 1986, the Awatere was a distant landscape dotted with sheep and thought too extreme for vines, so Peter Vavasour had the pick of the Valley. With sheep and beef farming suddenly marginal, Peter started looking to diversify, and planted 30 acres of grapes in 1985-86.
Vavasour’s first vintage was in 1989 and it wasn’t long before they discovered their punt had paid off, with their Sauvignon Blanc winning Champion Wine in the 1989 Air New Zealand Wine Show.
1990’s
1994
Therese & Hans Herzog, Vigneron from Switzerland planted roots along the banks of the Wairau River. Vines were planted in 1996 pioneering with some alternative varieties not seen in the South Island and maybe just one more in the North Island: Pinot Gris, Viognier, Montepulciano plus known varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
1990
Montana reveives the Marquis de Gourlaine Trophy for best sauvignon blanc in the world at the 21st International Wine and Spirit Competition in London.
1990s
Developed and manufactured in Blenheim. Plastic clips that are designed to hold wires for the vine canopy. They were developed by Rex Brooke-Taylor, owner of the local company, Wirecare. Previously wires were held up by nails but these wore both the wire and nail.
1993
Alan McCorkindale, winemaker, wins five national trophies at the Air New Zealand Wine show for Corbans Marlborough wines.
1990s
Geoff Taylor designed and manufactured some of the region's earliest wine tanks for Montana and many of the pioneering wine companies. By the 1990s, with the wine industry well and truly established, he began to develop other products including the tipping bin and wine tank.
1992
Bill Walsh becomes the first life member of the Marlborough Grapegrowers Association. He was a founding member and former president.
1997
Pioneers of Méthode Traditionelle in New Zealand for 40 years, Adele and Daniel Le Brun launched No.1 Family Estate, their family-owned winery, in July 1997.
2000’s
2000
In the early 2000s, a then little-known species of ground weta was discovered, causing significant damage to vine buds in the Awatere Valley. This led to a decline in grape production and caused big problems for grape growers.
2001
Tohu wines buy 120 hectares of land in the Awatere and first vines planted by board members James Wheeler, Rore Stafford and Mugwi MacDonald in 2002. Tohu is the first Maori owned wine company.
2001
This captured the attention of winemakers in New Zealand, particularly Marlborough, where, due to increased cork related problems, research was already underway. In February 2001 during a meeting, sponsored by Marlborough winemakers, the screw-cap seal/ closure was identified as the most promising alternative to cork closures for wine.
2001
“Great result for the team with the Clever Business Award from Marlborough Chamber of Commerce. With our launch of the new flushing valve for irrigation, batten bungee and solid core bungee for wakeboarding boots it’s been a good year for R&D”.
2005
Ormond Nurseries develop a modified net winder to remove nets before harvest and that can be operated by one person.
2006
The New Zealand Wine Company located in the Waihopai Valley in Marlborough (brands Grove Mill, Sanctuary and Frog Haven) become the first carbon-neutral certified-winery in the world, which it achieved in September 2006.
2007
Government-run, the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme allows employers within the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit a capped number of workers from overseas – predominantly from the Pacific – for seasonal work in New Zealand.
2008
KLIMA was established in 2008 by two leading New Zealand viticulturists Nigel George and Marcus Wickham.
2007
The Rapaura Springs story begins with two families brought together by premium Marlborough produce. Together they have forged a strong friendship and business partnership.
The Neylon family have a long, proud association with premium exports from the Marlborough region.
They were early pioneers of the green lip mussel industry and the first family to grow, process and export this premium product in the early eighties. In 1985 they purchased prime vineyard land in the Rapaura and Dillons Point subregions and started a business partnership with the Wiffin family. In 2007, the first wine was produced under the Rapaura Springs brand. Since then, the brand has grown to be exported to more than 15 markets around the world.
2005
Situated in the Waihopai Valley, which forms part of the sought after Southern Valleys sub-region, the Sound of White Vineyard was first planted with vines in 2005. The land was a blank canvas, nestled amongst the snowy shadows of the majestic Waihopai Valley Ranges. An awe-inspiring and peaceful place in Marlborough elevated some 200m above sea level, with its own micro-climate and distinct soil profiles that create real wines of place. A unique site, one which our Winemaker Matthew Ward is truly enamoured with
2009
Mechanical cane stripper, Langlois machines, reduce time and injuries that manual stripping involved. Developed by Walter Langlois of Machinery Services Ltd, Renwick.
2010’s
2011
Barnet Construction, Renwick design and build an undervine mower used at Isabel Vineyards.
2011
Blenheim business FMR Group builds a sprayer that captures and recycles Vineyard spray, cutting spray drift and reducing chemical use by about 30%.
2013
Ormond Nurseries, Grovetown, replanting rootstock after increased demand. 90% had been pulled out due to a drop in demand in 2008.
2014
Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand to move its head office to Blenheim.
2014
“I clearly remember the first Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs,” says Sam Weaver. “The wines were interesting but more a curiosity than anything.” But then came Cloudy Bay. “It was astonishing and completely unlike any other wine I’d tasted with exuberance and aromatic intensity.”
2014
WineWorks begin building a 10,000 square metre building for wine storage, at Riverlands. This will be Marlborough’s largest building.
2015
Paul Millen receives the top award for Supreme and Business Innovation at the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards. Awarded for his work breeding eucalyptus for durable hardwood products such as vineyard posts.
2015
Huia win Natural Biodynamic Winery of the year in New York International Wine Challenge. Also Giesen Marlborough Winery of the year; Staete Landt Vineyards Marlborough Pinot Noir Winery of the year at the same awards.
2015
Mike Trought started at the Marlborough Research Centre in 1984 and was made a fellow of the New Zealand Winemakers in recognition of his research into the wine industry, 2015
2016
Harvesters used to control disease by shaking the vines before harvest and causing them to drop grapes. This reduces the risk of botrytis.
2016
The Bottling Company was set up by directors Matt Elrick and Stefan Newman in May, after the pair noticed a gap in the bottling market. The Bottling Company, based at Riverlands Industrial Estate, south of Blenheim, was scheduled to start operations in the last week of January, with trial runs before then.
2017
One of the largest organic vineyards in the country has scooped the top prize at the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards.
Dog Point Vineyards received the supreme award after winning the landscape and habitat enhancement category
2017
For the third year in a row Villa Maria has been named one of the most admired wine brands in the world. It is the only New Zealand winery to be in the top 10, placing fourth in this year’s “World’s Most Admired Wine Brands” list.
2019
A multimillion-dollar expansion at a seasonal worker complex moves more than 150 people out of motels and backpackers into custom-built accommodation.
2020
Based at the Marlborough Research Centre, BRI partners with industry and other research organisations to set the national research agenda, trial world-first technologies, conduct commercial trials, and connect educators and students to science and industry. BRI was established with additional funding from the Marlborough District Council, recognising the local economic contribution of its global reach and national focus from the region.
2020
Restriction on entry to NZ affects the number of workers available for vineyards and wineries. Lockdown occurred as Harvest was starting and the wine industry was deemed to be an essential industry. Harvest continued under strict conditions.
2020
Repurposing Grape Marc in Marlborough: The Way Forward by Jim Jones, Sarah McLaren and Qun Chen was initiated by the Marlborough District Council and is funded in part by them and by the Waste Minimisation Fund. The motivation to consider alternatives for repurposing grape marc has a number of contributing factors.
2022
A new wine research centre has been opened in Marlborough with the aim of helping the industry stay ahead of global trends and fostering research and collaboration.
2023
There is an administrative limit or cap on the number of RSE places that can be taken up in any one year. This cap was set at 5,000 places when the scheme was established in 2007, but the success of RSE has led to increased demand from employers for the cap to be set at 19,000 for 2022/23.