Cloudy Bay Vineyards Limited

Cloudy Bay is not an ordinary wine name – it is the place where New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc established its reputation. David Hohnen founded the winery in 1985 in Marlborough, named after the bay that James Cook noted on his map in 1770. The very first vintage caused a stir: the British critic Oz Clarke described it as one of the best Sauvignon Blancs he had ever drunk – an assessment that made the winery famous overnight.

What Marlborough gives this wine is hard to copy: long sunny days, cool nights, and a gravel soil that stores heat and at the same time ensures good drainage. The result is wines with a characteristic tension – gooseberry, citrus peel, a hint of grass – and a freshness that has remained the winery's trademark even after decades.

Today, Cloudy Bay belongs to LVMH, but continues to work with the same demand for precision in the vineyard and in the cellar. In addition to the Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir are also produced in Marlborough, which show that the winery is more than just a single wine – even if this one wine changed everything.