Spy Valley Wines

NEW WORLD PRODUCER OF THE YEAR! Sommelier Wine Awards 2014 30 May 2014

The Sommelier Wine Awards is a wine competition with a difference. Focused entirely on wines aimed at the on-trade, since it started in 2007 it has grown to become the key competition for wines trying to increase their presence in hotels, pubs, bars and restaurants, as well as the first point of reference for the UK's on-trade wine buyers.

Not only are wines that sell in the High Street supermarkets not permitted to enter*, but all of the judges are members of the on-trade, too. The tasting panel for the Sommelier Wine Awards reads like a Who’s Who of the UK hotel, restaurant and sommelier scene.

New World Producer of the Year: Spy Valley 3 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze.

From its 400 acres of vineyard on the southern slopes of the Waihopai Valley, Spy Valley picked up medals in the key Kiwi styles of Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc (in three different expressions), and also rosé, Gewürztraminer and Riesling.

New World Producer of the Year: Spy Valley 3 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze.

From its 400 acres of vineyard on the southern slopes of the Waihopai Valley, Spy Valley picked up medals in the key Kiwi styles of Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc (in three different expressions), and also rosé, Gewürztraminer and Riesling.

The Spy Valley ENVOY Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Spy Valley ENVOY Pinot Noir 2011 and the Spy Valley Gewurztraminer 2012 were all awarded GOLD at the 2014 Sommelier Wine Awards. 

Established in 1993 and planted on land considered too hard, too dry and unfertile for wine production, Spy Valley has since become one of Marlborough's finest cool climate vineyards. In 1993 Bryan and Jan Johnson established the first of their 380 acres of Johnson Estate vineyards. Pioneers in what was then a Marlborough sub region, the Lower Waihopai development continued with fruit being grown and sold to other wine companies.

From vintage 2000 wine was produced and sold under the Spy Valley label. The brand name SPY VALLEY® is derived from the presence of a satellite communications monitoring station (spy base) nearby, part of the Echelon Global Network. In 2003, all wine production moved on site to the ultra modern 2000 tonne winemaking facility - Spy Valley Winery. Situated on site in the lower Waihopai Valley, the winery comprises state of the art winemaking equipment, bottling line, temperature controlled warehousing, cellar door and all administration. It was at this same time we became certified under the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand programme.

In 2006, Spy Valley winery won the New Zealand Institute of Architects Award for Best Commercial Building. In 2007, the Outpost vineyard, located in the Omaka Valley, was added to the estate vineyards. It is a close planted hillside sloping vineyard composed of 4 varieties of grapes over 25 acres. 2007 was also the year that the Spy Valley Envoy range of wines was released. Accumulated knowledge of our estate vineyards has allowed the identification of single vineyard micro-sites that produce exceptional fruit year on year.

In 2008, Spy Valley Wines won the prestigious UK International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) "New Zealand Producer of the Year". In 2010, Spy Valley received worldwide acclaim, by winning the "New Zealand Producer of the Year" for a second time at the IWSC, UK. 2010 also marked the year we became certified to the international environmental standard ISO 14001 and the year the Spy Valley label received a revamped label design.

In 2012, Area H171 joined the estate vineyards - located in the lower Wairau Valley it is composed of 57 acres of Sauvignon Blanc grapes and includes a rare and protected wetland habitat. This was also the year that Spy Valley Wines won the Best of Wine Tourism Award for Architecture and Landscapes.

Currently with a crush capacity of 3,000 tonnes Spy Valley remains small enough to retain family values and have a total focus on wine quality and customer satisfaction. 

Exporting around 80% of production keeps the sales team in the international markets and are in touch with consumers the world over.

Johnson Estate is the family owned vineyards that supplies fruit to both the Spy Valley and Envoy ranges of wines. Over 400 acres of vineyards are sited in the lower Waihopai Valley on the terraces of the Omaka River and the Wairau Valley. Predominantly flat, three distinct land types are encountered, each subject to their own microclimatic influences.

1. Johnson Estate - Combination of very young, stony free draining lower riverside terraces and older terraces with deeper topsoils, higher clay content with underlying river gravels.

2. Outpost - Omaka Valley - north facing hill slopes with deep loess soils.

3. Area H - lower Wairau Valley - river flood plain with extremely variable soils from stony river wash to fine, deep alluvium seams.

With vines planted from 1993, Johnson Estate is established and consistent in its production of quality fruit for Spy Valley Wines. With careful and prudent management and an expert empathetic understanding of site and climate, Johnson Estate is regarded as one of Marlborough's finest cool climate vineyards. Viticultural practices determine to a large extent the quality of fruit grown.

Johnson Estate employs biodynamic consultants to complement the commitment to sustainable farming. Certified Sustainable in the vineyard and winery through New Zealand Winegrowers Sustainability Programme, Spy Valley is committed to looking after the land for generations to come. Managing nine varieties of grapes takes a great deal of understanding of the land, the environment and climate to ensure each has the correct requirements fulfilled for successful growth.

Viticultural staff link closely with winemakers in ensuring the goals of wine style and quality are achieved year after year.

The winemaking team, lead by chief winemaker Paul Bourgeois, prides itself on their ability to produce world class wines year after year. Working closely with the viticultural team allows accurate collaboration on wine style and direction. With a focus on cool climate aromatic white wines and terroir driven Pinot Noir the winemakers time is spent increasing their knowledge and perfecting their skills.

With nine varieties of grapes and a wide range of vineyard sites and micro climates there is much to learn. The path of continual improvement is a strong motivator in the quest for excellence.

Lake Timara Lodge is one of New Zealand's most luxurious and private Lodges. Located near the rural township of Blenheim in the province of Marlborough, Lake Timara Lodge is set amongst 600 acres of land, including 25 acres of one of New Zealand's most beautiful gardens.

The gardens include sweeping lawns, fully mature - some more than a century old - native and exotic trees, a five acre, man-made lake and an extensive and immaculately kept English style garden which abounds with native bird life. Adjoining the gardens are 400 acres of Marlborough's finest Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Timara Lodge's accommodation facilities ensure you enjoy your stay in privacy and comfort. With just two twin bedrooms and two double bedrooms, there are never more than eight people staying at any one time.

The Marlborough region is known around the world for its wines and gourmet foods. Most of the wineries are just a short distance from Timara Lodge and offer wine tasting and sell their wares from the cellar door. In addition, the region offers a number of other activities and attractions including golf at the nearby Fairhall Golf Course, cruising the magnificent Marlborough Sounds and fly-fishing at one of the many local rivers.

From the minute you arrive at Timara Lodge and see it's surrounding splendour, you know you're in for something special. It's not without a degree of pride when we say that Timara Lodge is a 'slice of paradise in Marlborough, New Zealand'.