Cloudy Bay

The World’s Most Southern Wine

At Cloudy Bay

We believe that to understand our wine, you need to understand our places and meet the people behind the scenes.

Our Lands

Cloudy Bay vineyards are spread between two emblematic wine regions, full of climatic and geological diversities.

Marlborough Cellar Door

Cloudy Bay was among the first five estates/wineries to be established in Marlborough, the country's finest wine region. We invite you to experience Cloudy Bay’s way of life and enjoy our wines.

Tasting Experience

Our spacious and inviting cellar door is located at the winery itself, in the heart of the Marlborough wine region. Enjoy a glass of Cloudy Bay wine in the vast courtyard… amidst the natural elements that inspired it.

Central Otago Cellar Door

Nestled between the bronzed hills of our Northburn Vineyard and the splendid Lake Dunstan, our Central Otago Cellar Door showcases the full range of Cloudy Bay wines. In winter, the burning fireplaces invite visitors to enjoy a tasting flight in a cozy and warm atmosphere, whereas in summer our breathtaking outdoor spaces appeal to those wishing to indulge in a moment of relaxation. A lunch menu is also available to pair with our wines.

Our Origins

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.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.

About Cloudy Bay

Cloudy Bay was established in 1985 by David Hohnen, a pioneer and visionary, who was convinced of New Zealand wines' great potential. The winery was among the first five to be established in Marlborough, the country's finest wine region, and is now highly regarded for the superlative quality and consistency of its wines. Thirty years later, Cloudy Bay remains New Zealand's most recognized winery. Sauvignon Blanc is the Estate's flagship grape variety. Cloudy Bay also produces a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir and a sparkling wine, Pelorus.

Winemaking Philosophy

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.

At Cloudy Bay, we are passionate about creating wines which express our regional and national character, through the Cloudy Bay lens.

We work alongside Nature to translate and enhance its quality and obtain the pure, aromatic flavors of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

The Shed - Cellar Door Experience

Nestled between the bronzed hills of our Northburn Vineyard and the splendid Lake Dunstan, our Central Otago Cellar Door showcases the full range of Cloudy Bay wines. In winter, the burning fireplaces invite visitors to enjoy a tasting flight in a cozy and warm atmosphere whereas in summer our breathtaking outdoor spaces appeal those wishing indulge in a moment of relaxation. A lunch menu is also available to pair with our wines.

Custom-Made Experiences

Your host will open the doors of the Lakeview Room and propose a bespoke selection of our wines including limited editions and back vintages.

Whether you would like to explore our terroir by land or by air, our vineyard tour is a unique occasion to discover the elements which inspired our wines.

Opening of The Cloudy Bay Shed in Central Otago

Cloudy Bay is pleased to announce the opening of their new Cellar Door – The Cloudy Bay Shed - in Central Otago, New Zealand, on Friday 27th July.

Located at our vineyard in Northburn (45 Northburn Station Road, Cromwell), The Shed will be open to the public from 11am to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday, expanding to seven days a week from the summer months onwards.

Our tasting room will offer the full range of Cloudy Bay wines to taste, and to enjoy by the glass, with light snacks available alongside. There will also be the opportunity to book a private tasting, or a range of custom-made experiences, including vineyard tours by land and by air.

Yang Shen, Estate Director, says of the opening, “This is the culmination of the hard work and vision of our team. We are so happy to have found a home in Central Otago and look forward to sharing our wine and lifestyle with visitors to The Shed”.

Cloudy Bay has been making wine from Central Otago since 2010, purchasing the Northburn vineyard in 2012 and leasing part of the Calvert vineyard on Felton Road in Bannockburn. The Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir “Te Wahi” combines the qualities of the two distinctive vineyard sites, and is distributed worldwide through Moet Hennessy.

New Vintage Release: Sauvignon Blanc 2020

We are delighted to launch our 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, which is the product of a most extraordinary year.

The growing season of 2019/2020 was close to ideal and the fruit came into the winery was as close to perfect as could be imagined. On the 25th March, however, just at the beginning of harvest, New Zealand went into lockdown due to the COVID19 pandemic. The wine industry was fortunately permitted to work to bring in the grapes, but under extremely challenging conditions.

Yang Shen, Estate Director for Cloudy Bay says,  “While the conditions under which we worked were far from ideal, we feel so privileged to have been allowed to work and bring in this amazing vintage. We couldn’t have done it without the hard work and dedication of our team, who worked diligently and professionally despite the additional stress that the Covid restrictions added. This vintage will always be memorable, because of what we went through to make it happen, but we believe it will also be memorable as one of Cloudy Bay’s best vintages.”

New Vintage Release: Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Tim Heath, Senior Winemaker of Cloudy Bay said: “Cloudy Bay 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent vintage that reveals an elegant and concentrated palate with ripe, juicy stone fruit and lemongrass, supported by a lovely minerality. Its crisp acidity leads to a mouth-watering and persistent finish suggesting a Sauvignon Blanc that will age well.”

“The production of the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is lower to meet our quality and stylistic standards. We have focused on quality over quantity.” added Tim Heath.

The 2017 Sauvignon Blanc is a new invitation from Cloudy Bay to Come and Sail Away.

Cloudy Bay Releases its Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Cloudy Bay releases its 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, a vibrant and mouthwatering wine with notes of citrus, kaffir lime, passionfruit and white stone fruit. The Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are located in the heart of the Wairau Valley in Marlborough, centered around the Cloudy Bay winery itself.

The 2018 growing season began in fine style, with settled conditions and no frost, leading to an early budburst and successful flowering. Warm and dry conditions through December encouraged flourishing canopy growth and good potential crop levels, and - while there were rain events during the latter part of the season - diligent work in the vineyards ensured that fruit was of optimum quality and brought into the winery in excellent condition.

Jim White, Technical Director of Cloudy Bay said: "In 2018, we have made a wine that tells the story of our vineyards, our culture and that quality of our fruit. There are challenges in any year, but we have learned over many years that focus in the vineyard is the key to a delicious wine."

In 2018, Cloudy Bay became foundation members of Appellation Marlborough Wine, an organization designed to protect the integrity, authenticity and brand value of wines produced in Marlborough. Sauvignon made under the AMW banner must be 100% from Marlborough, be made from lower-yielding vines, and be made and bottled in New Zealand.

Cloudy Bay's 2018 Sauvignon Blanc is Appellation Marlborough Wine certified.

Yang Shen, Cloudy Bay Estate Director and committee member of AMW said, "Cloudy Bay is proud to be part of this movement, and believe it is an important step towards ensuring that quality remains at the heart of Marlborough winemaking and in guaranteeing Marlborough's reputation for years to come."

Celebrating our Nautical Roots & Lifestyle by Partnering with The Iconic JClass Yachts

An Invitation to “Sail Away”, by Enjoying Simple and Natural Luxuries

We are glad to announce that we have just become the principal partner of the J Class Association, gathering an exclusive, growing fleet of privately-owned yachts. Originally designed to compete for the America's Cup in the 1930s, the J Class yachts are considered some of the most beautiful boats ever built. Today, eight J Class yachts are sailing in the world’s most gorgeous waters and many still grace the start lines at prestigious regattas.

The majestic J Class yachts reflect our story and echo our genuine way of living. They generate global following and fascination; while differentiating by a lifestyle of elegant sailing and timelessness embodied by the legendary yachts and their crew of passionate gentlemen. This new alliance is an invitation to “Sail Away” - to take a well-deserved break by enjoying simple and natural luxuries.

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