Cloudy Bay
Unarguably New Zealand’s most internationally-known winery, Cloudy Bay produces the country’s most famous Sauvignon Blanc. Established in 1985 by David Hohnen, both his Western Australian estate, Cape Mentelle, along with Cloudy Bay were recently acquired by the French luxury goods giant, LVMH. Located in Marlborough, at the northern end of New Zealand’s South Island, Cloudy Bay takes its name from the inlet that lays just east of its home in Wairau Valley. It’s cool maritime climate combined with the vineyard’s advantageous sun exposure creates for the perfect environment for their Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, smaller amounts of Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris varieties to prosper. Their Sauvignon Blanc, is exemplary, great on the nose, with endless fruit flavors which are complemented by a structure that provides an uncharacteristic aging ability. While the Te Koko is a barrel-fermented and aged version of the Sauvignon Blanc. Among the fourteen wines produced, their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir also stand out as some of the best in the country.