Dog Point Vineyard: Four Iconic Wines, Crafted by Legends.

Dog Point Vineyards: A Story of Pioneering Spirit and Terroir

Dog Point is undeniably one of New Zealand's finest wineries. Established in 2002 by the Sutherland and Healy families, it remains in their ownership today, cultivating one of Marlborough's oldest privately owned vineyards. This vineyard is centrally located at the confluence of the smaller Brancott and Omaka Valleys – a site widely considered to be highly desirable for viticulture in Marlborough's southern valleys. The vines date back to the late 1970s and are farmed following organic principles. For instance, the Sauvignon Blanc vines average 25 years old, with the oldest exceeding 30 years. The single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc "Section 94" comes from 30-year-old vines, the Chardonnay averages 30 years (with the oldest being 40 years), and the Pinot Noir vines date back to the early 1980s, making some of them nearly 40 years old. The first outstanding wines, crafted from grapes from the 80-hectare Dog Point vineyard, followed in 2004.
 

"excellent wines with drive and energy." - James Suckling

“Dog Point is a remarkable estate”– Jancis Robinson MW

“top Marlborough producer to watch for”– Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast

"Gathering cult status." - James Halliday
 

One of five producers of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to try - Rebecca Gibb MW, Decanter Oktober 2019

Marlborough's Unique Terroir: Climate & Soils

Centrally located at the confluence of the Brancott and Omaka Valleys within the Southern Valleys sub-region, Dog Point's location is widely considered a desirable area for grape growing in Marlborough. Paired with the regions dry climate, and significant diurnal temperature range between cool nights and sunny days, creates ideal conditions for the long, slow ripening of grapes.

The soils are crucial to the character of the wines: most were laid down within the last 14,000 years, carved and eroded by glaciers in the high country and transported to the coast by melt-water rivers. Older, well-established vines are situated on free-draining silty clay loams, supplemented by more recent plantings on densely planted hillside blocks with a clay loam influence.

The Founders: Pioneers with Vision and a Cloudy Bay Legacy

The two masterminds behind Dog Point, Ivan Sutherland and James Healy, are true luminaries of New Zealand viticulture. They were instrumental in shaping Cloudy Bay into one of the world's most renowned wine brands: Ivan Sutherland managed the vineyards for 18 years, while James Healy served as oenologist for 12 years. After Cloudy Bay came under the ownership of Louis Vuitton-Moët-Henessy, the two visionaries founded their own Dog Point winery to uncompromisingly pursue their philosophy of quality and terroir expression. Now, the next generation is already taking the helm at Dog Point.

The Name Dog Point: A Story from Marlborough's Pioneering Era

The fascinating name "Dog Point" is deeply rooted in Marlborough's pioneering history, when sheep farming shaped the region. At that time, some of the working sheepdogs became lost or ran away, forming wild packs that lived on the tussock and southern hills of what is now the Dog Point vineyard – a testament to the region's rugged origins.

The Wines of Dog Point: An Expression of Pure Quality and Elegance

Dog Point deliberately focuses on producing just four wines, all of which impress with their exceptional quality: the classic Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc, the barrel-aged Dog Point Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc, the complex Dog Point Chardonnay, and the elegant Dog Point Pinot Noir. These wines are distinctive, captivating with their complexity, excellent texture, and intense fruit, making them among the most interesting in the region. Their secret lies in an uncompromising recipe for extraordinary quality: all grapes come exclusively from their own vineyard, yields are extremely low (significantly below the Marlborough average), only healthy grape material is used, the grapes are hand-harvested, and winemaking proceeds with minimal intervention.
 

"New Zealand’s most distinctive Sauvignon Blanc" - Jancis Robinson MW