Neudorf: one of the top producers in New Zealand

About Neudorf Vineyards

Judy and Tim Finn of Neudorf were one of the pioneers for wine in New Zealand when they started in 1978. They have successfully established themselves as one of the top producers in the country. Back in the 80s Tim was instrumental in helping establish the Sustainable Winegrowing NZ scheme.

For their important role in making New Zealand wine the success that it now is, Judy and Tim Finn have been awarded as „Legends of New Zealand Wine“ by the New Zealand International Wine Show.

Neudorf is part of the Family of Twelve. The Family of Twelve is a fraternity of twelve of New Zealand’s most prestigious and enduring artisanal wineries.

Neudorf wines

Great wines have a basis of fruit concentration, length and sense of place – characters which can be formed only in the vineyard. Their motto: "Gentle in the vineyard - gentle in the winery".

The team at Neudorf under Todd Stevens and assistant winemaker Simon McQuire believe their primary task is to grow grapes which express the site, to take the essence of that fruit and then preserve it as wine.

On the way they may fine tune the balance and complexity in a number of ways but the aim is always to allow the site to speak.

Neudorf Home Vineyard

Nelson’s Moutere Hills are sited in the centre of the northern tip of the South Island of New Zealand. Mountain ranges to the east, south and west provide a rain shadow effect, while Tasman Bay to the north ensures a maritime climate.

The home plantings spill over 25ha down a gentle north-facing slope overlooking a side branch of the Moutere Valley. They are dry framed.

The valley floor is home to hop gardens, orchards, berry farms and new vineyards. Nelson often has the highest sunshine hours in the country; summer growing months are warm and relatively dry, with the possibility of rain increasing towards Autumn.

Night temperatures cool markedly towards vintage, but damaging frosts are rare.

Soils

The vines are planted in deep clay gravel soils, laid down by ancient, long melted glaciers. These kaolinitic clay soils have a naturally low fertility and a sandy loam topsoil with an ever expanding organic matter content.

They have a great water holding capacity which allows us to dry farm our vines through the sunny Nelson summer.

Praise for Neudorf and its wines

“I cannot think of another New Zealand wine producer that has been making top wines across their entire range as consistently as Neudorf over three decades.“ – Bob Campbell MW

Winery of the Year 2012 & Contender for 2018. “Regular as clockwork, Neudorf Vineyards … produces some of this country’s best wines.“ – Raymond Chan

“One of New Zealand's most admired producers. Tim and Judy Finn have a great track record.” —Jancis Robinson MW

"Neudorf is one of New Zealand's top wineries“ — Robert Parker's Wine Advocate