Harvest 2009 heralds new Marlborough venture

The completion of the 2009 harvest in Marlborough marks the genesis of Kevin Judd’s new wine label, Greywacke – and brings to a close his 25 vintage role as chief winemaker at Cloudy Bay Vineyards, a career inextricably linked to the international reputation of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Kevin has just completed his first solo Marlborough harvest that commenced on 3 April with hand-picked Pinot Noir from the Yarrum Vineyard, a distinctive site, which straddles the ridge between Marlborough’s Brancott and Ben Morven Valleys. It concluded this week with a select pick of botrytised Gewurztraminer from the Brancott Valley floor.

‘I am primarily sourcing fruit from Ivan and Margaret Sutherland’s vineyards in and around Marlborough’s Southern Valleys. They are prime viticultural sites with mature vineyards that contain a mixture of the best possible clones grown under yield restricted vineyard management regimes.

‘Ripe fruit and relatively hands-off winemaking techniques will be used to create concentrated wines with personalities that express the incredible varietal intensity typically enjoyed in New Zealand’s Marlborough region.

‘I feel very privileged to have been with Cloudy Bay from its inception. It has been a unique, rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable journey. Nevertheless, it has been fantastic fun pulling on the gumboots again. I am making my wines at the Dog Point winery, a facility extended to me by my long-standing and generous mates Ivan Sutherland and James Healy.’

This month also marks a second important milestone – the appointment of Negociants Australia and Negociants New Zealand as exclusive national distributors for Greywacke.

‘We were delighted when Kevin approached Negociants to handle distribution for Greywacke. His stellar winemaking and photography careers are well known in the world of wine. He is a perfectionist and we are confident the wines under the Greywacke label will carry his hallmark of fine balance and great concentration. With our focus on high quality and limited volumes we see Greywacke as complementary to our existing New Zealand portfolio and we look forward to bringing these wines to the Australian marketplace,’ said Nick Waterman, General Manager, Negociants Australia.

The inaugural Greywacke release – Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 2009 – crafted in the famed Marlborough style is due out in September this year. It will be followed in subsequent years by other varieties such as Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and a ‘Wild‘ Sauvignon Blanc.