Cloudy Bay Vineyards
About
At Cloudy Bay, we are passionate about creating wines which express our regional and national character, through the Cloudy Bay lens. Today, Cloudy Bay not only captures the essence of Marlborough but also embodies New Zealand's luxury to the world. The luxury of space and time, of intimate moments and nature’s rarest qualities.
Location Description
Located in the Marlborough region of New Zealand.
Features
- We've long been known for our Sauvignon Blanc wines and also produce notable Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other whites.
Additional Information
- Meeting / Conference Facilities:
- Caves:
- Wedding Facilities:
- Picnic Facilities:
- Dog Friendly:
- Winery Tours:
- Wine Tasting:
- Art or Architecture:
- Organic / Biodynamic:
- Awards:
- Wine Club:
- Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:
Winemaker
Tim Heath:
After struggling to decide between a career in a chemistry lab or a kitchen, a rush of blood to the head saw Tim move into the wine industry...”because it looked like too much fun to be considered a ‘real’ job”.
Joining Cloudy Bay in 2005, Tim brought drive and diverse experience to the winery, having spent several years winemaking in South Australia’s Clare and Barossa Valleys as well as the Northern Rhône in France.
As a Senior Winemaker, Tim leads a dynamic team responsible for cultivating and refining the estate's style.
After struggling to decide between a career in a chemistry lab or a kitchen, a rush of blood to the head saw Tim move into the wine industry...”because it looked like too much fun to be considered a ‘real’ job”.
Joining Cloudy Bay in 2005, Tim brought drive and diverse experience to the winery, having spent several years winemaking in South Australia’s Clare and Barossa Valleys as well as the Northern Rhône in France.
As a Senior Winemaker, Tim leads a dynamic team responsible for cultivating and refining the estate's style.
History
Established in 1985, Cloudy Bay was one of the first five wine makers to venture into Marlborough. At the time, it was almost an unimaginable place to set-up a vineyard. But Cloudy Bay’s founder - David Hohnen - was convinced of its potential to produce great wine and invested in the best land of the region. Since then, Marlborough has risen to become New Zealand’s leading wine region, as well as one of the finest winemaking locations in the world.
The winery was named after Cloudy Bay, a body of water explorer Captain James Cook came across during his voyage to New Zealand in 1770. His discovery coincided with flooding in the region, which washed large amounts of sediment into the sea. Noticing the water’s opaque appearance, Cook cleverly christened the area Cloudy Bay.
The winery was named after Cloudy Bay, a body of water explorer Captain James Cook came across during his voyage to New Zealand in 1770. His discovery coincided with flooding in the region, which washed large amounts of sediment into the sea. Noticing the water’s opaque appearance, Cook cleverly christened the area Cloudy Bay.
The Team
Ian Morden (Estate Director)
As the Estate Director, Ian is responsible for the general management of Cloudy Bay and plays a key role in driving its strategic direction and global expansion, while continuing to deliver the undisputed high quality wines with which Cloudy Bay has become synonymous with.
Ian's journey to Cloudy Bay has been an interesting one. He spent the early part of his career working as a commercial lawyer for various international law firms, before moving into the wine industry. Ian used to spend a great deal of time working in New Zealand, including assignments in the Marlborough region. And so, having had a taste of Marlborough over the years, he found the unique opportunity to combine commerce with passionate creativity at Cloudy Bay irresistible.
Jim White (Viticulturist)
Like so many in the wine industry, Jim’s career was spurred on by an encounter with the ‘perfect’ bottle of wine. After completing a degree in Agriculture and Viticulture at Melbourne University, Jim worked his way across Australia before realising his destiny lay across the Tasman.
Jim is passionate about venturing amongst the elements and nurturing the vineyards through the endlessly fascinating changes of the seasons. What he loves most, is the fact that no two seasons, or vintages, are ever the same and that each year New Zealand’s unique and special climate presents a new set of challenges. The rewards are abundant with the ability to taste the fruits of his labour many times over, in the vineyard, in the winery, and finally at home at the table with family and friends.
As the Estate Director, Ian is responsible for the general management of Cloudy Bay and plays a key role in driving its strategic direction and global expansion, while continuing to deliver the undisputed high quality wines with which Cloudy Bay has become synonymous with.
Ian's journey to Cloudy Bay has been an interesting one. He spent the early part of his career working as a commercial lawyer for various international law firms, before moving into the wine industry. Ian used to spend a great deal of time working in New Zealand, including assignments in the Marlborough region. And so, having had a taste of Marlborough over the years, he found the unique opportunity to combine commerce with passionate creativity at Cloudy Bay irresistible.
Jim White (Viticulturist)
Like so many in the wine industry, Jim’s career was spurred on by an encounter with the ‘perfect’ bottle of wine. After completing a degree in Agriculture and Viticulture at Melbourne University, Jim worked his way across Australia before realising his destiny lay across the Tasman.
Jim is passionate about venturing amongst the elements and nurturing the vineyards through the endlessly fascinating changes of the seasons. What he loves most, is the fact that no two seasons, or vintages, are ever the same and that each year New Zealand’s unique and special climate presents a new set of challenges. The rewards are abundant with the ability to taste the fruits of his labour many times over, in the vineyard, in the winery, and finally at home at the table with family and friends.
Practices & Techniques
At Cloudy Bay we strive to expand our understanding of our land to reveal optimal grape and terroir combinations. This spirit is the founding element of Cloudy Bay’s signature style and begins with the selection of the best vineyards: a collection of rare parcels in Marlborough and Central Otago.
