Successful wine producers are true visionaries and Babich wines is no exception. From small beginnings in 1916, this family-owned company has developed an enviable local and international reputation for producing high-quality innovative wines. The foundation for our success is having the right grapes, in the right regions, on superior sites.
The Babich Value and Premium Varietals offer a variety of contemporary wines for all occasions. These are high quality wines that represent excellent value for money.
Back in 1996 Bannock Brae Estate existed only as a brown, weedy patch of Earth supporting a few rabbits and even fewer sheep.
Nervertheless, it was earmarked as a prime piece of grape growing land. The prospect of turning this burnt, barren piece of landscape into a flourishing vineyard was daunting to say the least.
Heavy machinery came in to rip up the sandy, gravelly loess we call "soil", cultivate and contour it, an irrigation storage dam was built, posts and trellis system installed, 30 kilometres of irrigation pipes and tubes laid out, wind machine erected to fight potential frosts on the lower lying portion of the vineyard, and vines ordered and planted.
Clayridge Vineyards is an exciting concept with its focus based around a dynamic hand-crafted hillside vineyard.
The Pinot Noir vines that Mike and Paula Just hand planted on this steep north facing slope are situated on the highest such site in Marlborough. These vines, unlike most on the low flat plains of the region, have never been irrigated and as such have established a natural deep rooting system that will maximize the flavour potential of the low vigor clay-based soils on this unique site.
This combination of altitude and attitude will allow the vineyard to exhibit the genuine potential of terroir of this special slope. Careful vine selection, close planting, low yields & hands-on vitivulture based around environmentally friendly practices all contribute to achieving the premium quality this site can offer. Unlike most other vineyards, Clayridge is non-irrigated with the goal of growing small concentrated bunches to produce wines of great character and individuality.
Clifford Bay Estate Ltd is a private company established in 1993. The Awatere Valley is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the premium grape growing areas within Marlborough. The 20-hectare property has been fully planted in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling.
The first harvest of Sauvignon Blanc (1997) produced grapes of the highest quality and the vintage has received acclaim by winning a Gold Medal in each of the three wine competitions it was entered into.
Glenn Thomas has been contracted as winemaker and his expertise and reputation has played an important part in this new winery's success.
Managing Director, Eric Bowers, is actively involved in the vineyard as well as all other aspects of the business.
Clifford Bay is focused on producing quality wines and sets a high standard in conducting all aspects of its business.
Product List
CYPRESS
Eight years ago, the Lawson family purchased a small hillside farm within the famous Gimblett Gravels sub region of Hawkes Bay. Their sole intention was to establish a terraced hillside vineyard producing limited quantities of premium wine. The harsh sun baked environment ensures their vines struggle, and results in low yields of intensely flavoured grapes. The name is evocative of the Cypress studded hillside vineyard.
Product List
DASHWOOD
The emphasis on the Dashwood range is on the varietal fruit - intensity and flavour, which the Marlborough region is renowned for. These wines are designed to be attractive when young, but they will certainly reward with careful cellaring.
Goldwater was established by Kim and Jeanette Goldwater in 1978 when they pioneered winegrowing on Waiheke Island with the planting of the Island's first vinifera vineyard.
In 1992 the Goldwaters made their first wine in Marlborough and are now equally well known for their outstanding Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from this exciting region. More recently a new vineyard in the highly esteemed Gimblett Gravels sub region of Hawkes Bay has been producing the excellent ‘G-Block Merlot’ for Goldwater. It has been propogated from their vines on Waiheke Island to produce a rich ripe Merlot.
Hunter’s Wines (NZ) Ltd is a Marlborough based winery headed by Jane Hunter O.B.E. Not surprisingly Jane has been described by the London Sunday Times as the star of New Zealand wine. In 1993 she received an O.B.E for service to the wine industry, and in 1997 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Massey University for her outstanding contribution to the industry.
In 2003 Jane Hunter received the inaugural international Women in Wine Award at the International Wine and Spirits Awards held in London. One of the most prestigious accolades in the industry designed to recognize a woman who has made an exceptional contribution to one or more of the year's award winning wines or wineries.
The Kawarau Estate organic vineyard draws strongly on the essence of the land in making fine wines. Using knowledge both modern and age-old, we apply environmentally sound practices in every aspect of production. The only vineyard of it’s type in Central Otago, Kawarau Estate has been certified organic since 1996. Their award winning wines achieve exceptional clarity of flavour, reflecting nothing but pure Central Otago.
From the makers of Tasman Bay and Spencer Hill comes this classic new label. A blend of Nelson and Marlborough fruit, these wines are lively and expressive. Initially Chardonnay, Merlot and Sav Blanc varieties with more to come. With marketing innovations such as the signature 'vine twig' and the exciting new closure the 'Zork', Latitude 41 is sure to continue and expand on the enviable reputation of this fine Nelson winery.
Maude is one of the newest wineries to emerge from Central Otago, but it is not just another one. Owners and winemakers Sarah-Kate and Dan Dineen have recently returned to NZ from chief winemaker roles at some of Australia's most presitious wineries including most recently Tempus Two, Petaluma and Tower Estate. With such passion, creativity and skill, this is the very beginnings of a new superstar brand... Watch this space.
Our Martinborough Vineyard is famous for it's consistent output of premium wines including Pinot Noir and Syrah.
Yes, this is Martinborough, New Zealand, where our Blue Rock vineyard, with it's lime based soils and unique elevated position, produces wines of finesse and character; the Pinot Noirs exhibit many similarities with the best of Burgundy, while the Syrah compares well with wines from the Northern Rhone.
We believe premium grapes make premium wines, and all we do is focussed on making the very best from what nature gives us to work with.
"A man cannot make him laugh - but that's no marvel; he drinks no wine."
Chris Pask founded grape growing at Gimblett Road, Hawkes Bay in 1981 and what remarkable foresight he showed.
This region, collectively known as the Gimblett Gravels is internationally renowned particularly for Bordeaux style red wines.
C J Pask Winery is a dedicated Hawkes Bay producer operating 90 hectares of vineyard at Gimblett Road. Under the directorship of Kate Radburnd, world class wines are crafted with care, consistency and style.
The Rongopai Winery is located in Te Kauwhata and lies above the beautiful Lake Waikere. Rongopai holds the unique position of being one of the oldest wine brands in New Zealand. The name itself was introduced in 1932 while Rongopai as we know it today was established in the early 1980’s. Since then the name - a Maori word meaning “good taste, good feeling” - has also become synonymous with quality.
Since the first vintage in 1994 Spencer Hill Wines have been produced in very limited quantities. Made from a selection of the best grapes of each vintage, the resulting wines have caught the attention of many wine writers throughout New Zealand and the world. The stunning Coastal Ridge vineyards on a ridge overlooking the ocean seven kilometres north of Nelson are the home of Spencer Hill Estate . Production is limited to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The winemaker Philip Jones is recognised as being innovative with prominent wine writers commenting
“Spencer Hill is certainly a leader rather than a follower” - Bob Campbell MW
"It is a measure of Spencer Hill’s commitment to quality that it has the basics of balance, finesse and flavour dead right” – Keith Stewart
“Spencer Hill’s winemaker Philip Jones has forged a reputation for outstanding Chardonnay’s” - Joelle Thompson
The Gimblett Road area of Hawke's Bay is synonymous with the production of world renowned wines.
From these much celebrated shingle soils, hails the region's most exciting boutique label: Squawking Magpie. The wines exhibit all the elegance and finesse of a unique terroir and stand testament to the superiority of single vineyard estate management and production.
Tasman Bay wines are made using traditional techniques such as indigenous yeast ferments and oak aging together with many of the latest technological advances. Extreme care is taken throughout the entire process from vineyard to bottling. Only grapes from the wineries own vineyards and one high quality grower in Marlborough are used.
The wines are made by winemakers Philip Jones and Mathew Rutherford, in the company's Nelson winery.
Tasman Bay wines have received a stunning record of Trophies and Gold medals achieving International acclaim in a very short period of time.
Vavasour wines are the pioneers of the Awatere Valley. We were the first to plant in what is now regarded as the premium grape growing region of Marlborough, New Zealand.
Each year outstanding parcels of grapes are earmarked for special attention. When the resulting wine is regarded as outstanding, it forms the small quantity of wine under the Vavasour banner.
While the fruit is the driving force, there is more focus on the structure, subtleties and complexity. The Vavasour range is designed to improve with age.
