The Vineyard

Right from the beginning, Jean-Charles and Marguerite were convinced of the wonderful potential of Marlborough for producing premium quality Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. They spent time exploring the region seeking the ideal site to establish their vineyard. They found it in the Awatere Valley, where they bought 10 hectares of bare land in 1998. Patiently they observed the terroir and experienced the climate before planting the first block in 2000. The rest of the vineyard was planted over the following years then, in 2005, they built a winery on site.

With 4,000 vines/hectare for the Pinot and 3,000 for the Sauvignon, Clos Marguerite is considered a high density planting in the region. While this system has been used successfully for a decade by the best Pinot producers in New Zealand, and for centuries in traditional vineyards in Europe, close planting is still an unusual sight in New Zealand. The major drawback is an increased production cost. This however has not deterred Jean-Charles and Marguerite; such is their passion for quality and their conviction of the potential of their vineyard.

All the vineyard operations, including double Guyot pruning, shoot and crop thinning if necessary, contribute maintaining low yields (8 tonnes per hectare for the Sauvignon - 6 tonnes per hectare for the Pinot) and producing grapes of the best possible quality. The fruit is hand picked for a final selection and transported straight away to the on site winery in small bins to ensure the grapes remain in perfect condition.

Respecting the environment is also an important component of Jean-Charles’ and Marguerite’s project. Not only because they believe in the higher quality of a natural product but also because this fits with their philosophy of nurturing the planet. Examples of this approach include grazing sheep in the vineyard to control weeds and provide natural fertiliser. Leaf plucking and crop thinning are done carefully by hand, as this helps to prevent disease, minimising the need for fungicides. Both the vineyard and winery comply with the "Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand" practices.