Auntsfield – Wines with History

Auntsfield Estate - Marlborough's Pioneer Winery

Sometimes, there are places that immediately captivate you. That's exactly what happened to us when we visited Auntsfield Estate. It wasn't just the wine that thrilled us, but also the unique atmosphere that made us feel: We have to work with this winery.

Auntsfield produces wine of uncompromised quality from grapes grown on the site of Marlborough's first commercial vineyard and winery. Auntsfield, now under the guidance of the Cowley family is again producing premium wines.

Brothers Luc and Ben Cowley bring renewed care and passion to the key roles of Winemaker and Viticulturist. Their artisan style reflects the love, craftsmanship and individuality that comes from traditional winemaking techniques. This artisan style reflects a new age of hand-crafted wines from Auntsfield Estate, whilst still reflecting the unique site and heritage of this special Marlborough vineyard.

Auntsfield: A Unique Tradition

David Herd, a man with great imagination and a deep love for wine, planted Marlborough's first vineyard in 1892, exactly where Auntsfield is located today. He was the first to recognize the potential of Marlborough and became the founding father of viticulture in this now world-famous region. He saw the unique nature of the soil, climate, and landscape and knew: This is the perfect place for viticulture. With Auntsfield, he realized his dream.

As early as the 19th century, David Herd gave the winery the name Auntsfield. He was probably inspired by memories of his childhood in Dundee, Scotland. The original vines later fell victim to phylloxera. The winery then lay fallow for decades.

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

Auntsfield Today

The current owners, the Cowley families, have revived the historic heritage after acquiring the vineyard in 1998. The name and tradition are lovingly preserved. The historic cellar building, with its manuka-log roof and dirt floor from Herd's time, has been restored and now adorns the wine label. His tiny hut is also still there and is proudly shown to visitors.

Auntsfield Estate is now led by brothers Ben (viticulturist) and Luc Cowley (winemaker) and is known for its outstanding, handcrafted Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. All grapes come from their own vineyard, which benefits from the region's climatic conditions and soils. The cultivated areas are divided into over 50 small, unique plots, each planted with carefully selected clones. But the true secret lies beneath the earth: a geological fault line runs through the vineyard, a remnant of old earthquakes and glaciers. These forces have created a unique soil of mineral-rich Greywacke rock and a thin layer of fine loess dust.

The vine roots anchor themselves in this shallow layer of soil. They absorb the unique properties of the soil, giving the wines their characteristic ripeness, texture, and an unmistakable minerality.

Unusually for Marlborough, where Sauvignon Blanc is the hero of the vines: Pinot Noir is the most widely planted grape variety at Auntsfield. It is particularly well suited for the old clay slopes of the winery.

The goal of Auntsfield Estate is to create wines that reflect the unique expression of their terroir. Through meticulous care of the vineyard and gentle aging, wines are created that delight with their aroma, fullness, and charm.

Auntsfield Estate wines, particularly the Sauvignon Blanc, are consistently among the highest rated in New Zealand and have received awards from publications such as Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.