History & People

Globally, there is immense respect for the craft of Marlborough wine, which is confidently passed on not just down through generations, but across regions and the globe as people come to learn from us and give back to our wine. The people of Marlborough wine are guardians for their craft - they guard it by sharing, to keep it alive and strong.

August 2023 marks 50 years of the Marlborough Wine Region. Learn about our regions wine story here.

Image: Marlborough Winemakers hosting Sommeliers. Photo: Richard Briggs

Our History

In 1873 David Herd planted a small vineyard of Brown Muscat at Aunstfield in Fairhall, an anomaly in a region known for its cropping. One hundred years later, in August 1973, Montana started planting vineyards in Marlborough. At the celebration ceremony, Frank Yukich, the man behind the plan to buy land and plant grapes here made the statement that “Wines from here will become world famous.” At the time, no one took him seriously but the prophetic words would go on to be remembered as this variety took Marlborough’s name to the world.

But while Montana Wines was the first to place its faith in the region, there have been many others that have helped secure its reputation kick-starting what would become the province’s dominant industry, responsible for around 80% of New Zealand’s wine exports, and creating a global reputation for Sauvignon Blanc.

  • It is hard to imagine the Marlborough landscape without hundreds of thousands of vines. But it hasn’t always been this way. In reality the march of vines across the plains and gently sloping hills of the region only began back in 1973. Prior to that Marlborough was better known for its abundance of sunshine and its production of barley and lucerne. No one could have imagined that a little known wine company based in Auckland would change the face of Marlborough forever.

    Read more here

  • August 2023 marks 50 years of the Marlborough Wine Region. Learn about our regions wine story here.

  • 1873 - Marlborough’s first vineyard was planted by Scotsman David Herd in the southern valleys.

    1880 - Marlborough’s first winery was established by George Freeth, near Picton. The winery was closed in 1958.

    1973 - Commercial planting began at Montana’s Brancott Estate at Fairhall.

    1980 - Marlborough Grapegrowers Association Incorporated established.

    1984 - Phylloxera outbreak first recorded and widespread by 1992.

    1985 - First Marlborough Wine & Food Festival

    1986 - Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (Hunters) awarded the top three trophies at the London International Wine Show.

    1986 - Oversupply of unsuitable varieties leading to Government sponsored vine pull.

    1992 - Wine Marlborough Limited formed as the trading company for Marlborough Winegrowers Association.

    1997 - 2,655 ha of grape vines in Marlborough

    1999 - 60 Winery members of Wine Marlborough and 3,500 ha of vines

    2007 - 110 Winery members of Wine Marlborough and 21,276 ha of vines

    2008 - 25th anniversary of the Marlborough Wine Festival

    2009 - Marlborough celebrates 30th anniversary of the regions first Sauvignon Blanc vintage.

    2012 - Marlborough produces 72% of New Zealand’s 2012 vintage.

    2013 - 40th Anniversary of Marlborough’s first commercial plantings.

    2016 - The first International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration is held in Marlborough.

    2016 - Winepress Magazine celebrates its 25th anniversary.

    2020 - Marlborough Winegrowers Association celebrates 40 years.

Montana planting in 1973

Image: Neal and Judy Ibbotson were presented the Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 Marlborough Wine Show. Photo: Richard Briggs

Our Winegrowers

Grape growers and winemakers in Marlborough bring a lot to the community – as employers, as educators, as stewards of the land, as national/international representatives and as people who have made their own homes and lives within the region.

  • 2023 - James Healy

    2023 - Dave Pearce

    2023 - Tessa Anderson

    2023 - Murray Gibbons

    2022 - Mark Allen

    2022 - Allan Scott

    2021 - Dominic Pecchenino

    2020 - Neal and Judy Ibbotson

    2019 - Dr John Forrest

    2018 - Dr Rengasamy Balasubramaniam (Bala)

    2016 - Jane Hunter

    2014 - Ivan Sutherland

    2011 - Phil Rose

    2009 - Ross Lawson (posthumously)

    2007 - Gerry Greg

  • 2023 - Zac Howell

    2022 - Tahyryn Mason (Regional & National Winner)

    2021 - Jess Wilson

    2020 - Rhys Hall (Regional & National Winner)

    2019 - Ben Richards

    2018 - Ben Richards

    2017 - Anthony Walsh

    2016 - Brenton O’Riley

    2015 - Brenton O’Riley

    2014 - Brenton O’Riley

    2013 - Mathew Duggan

    2012 - Mathew Duggan

    2011 - James Bowskill

    2010 - Stuart Dudley

    2009 - Stuart Dudley

    2008 - Simon Bishell

    2007 - Nigel Sowman

    2006 - Marcus Wickham

  • 2023 - Callum Haynes

    2022 - Alun Kilby

    2021 - Peter Russell

    2020 - Peter Russell

    2019 - Emily Gaspard-Clark (Regional & National Winner)

    2018 - Greg Lane (Regional & National Winner)

    2017 - Abigail Maxwell

    2017 - Kelsey Daniels (National Winner)

    2016 - Jordan Hogg (Regional & National Winner)

    2015 - Abigail Maxwell

513

GRAPE GROWERS/ 75% OF NZ

 163

WINE COMPANIES / 22% OF NZ

6,099

JOBS / NOT INCLUDING SEASONAL ROLES

Wine Industry Workforce Planning

Across the backdrop of a global skills and labour shortage, and ongoing growth across the Marlborough wine industry, there is an urgent need to understand and plan for the sustainability of the wine industry workforce. Production capability is people capability; without understanding the industry’s workforce challenges and planning the right support for the workforce’s development, we put at risk the ongoing success of the industry and the Marlborough region.  

Photo: Richard Briggs

Our Stories