Our Marlborough
Situated at the top of New Zealand's South Island is the Marlborough wine region. With a diversity of landscapes and microclimates, it has a reputation for its premium seafood and is renowned for its iconic wines.
Our Estate
Our Marlborough
Situated at the top of New Zealand's South Island is the Marlborough wine region. With a diversity of landscapes and microclimates, it has a reputation for its premium seafood and is renowned for its iconic wines.
Marlborough is New Zealand's largest wine region with 20,000 hectares of land under vine and cultivates a vast range of varieties, from vivacious Pinot Noir to intense Chardonnay, and perfumed aromatics.
Marlborough's eastern coastal cooling sea breezes, protective mountain ranges, ancient glacial free-draining soil and labyrinthine river system that deposit layers of sandy loam over stony gravel, all contribute to an ideal environment for the cultivation of vines.
Marlborough is New Zealand's largest wine region with 20,000 hectares of land under vine and cultivates a vast range of varieties, from vivacious Pinot Noir to intense Chardonnay, and perfumed aromatics.
Marlborough's eastern coastal cooling sea breezes, protective mountain ranges, ancient glacial free-draining soil and labyrinthine river system that deposit layers of sandy loam over stony gravel, all contribute to an ideal environment for the cultivation of vines.
Average weather patterns of low rainfall, plenty of sunshine and long summers combine to deliver fruit of intensity, firm acidity and strong varietal expression with a distinct regional style.
Marlborough's diverse soils and meso-climates segment into exciting sub-regions within the region and allow for a wide range of varietals to shine brightly. Sauvignon Blanc shines the brightest and is the varietal that established Marlborough as one of the world's most significant wine regions.
Average weather patterns of low rainfall, plenty of sunshine and long summers combine to deliver fruit of intensity, firm acidity and strong varietal expression with a distinct regional style.
Marlborough's diverse soils and meso-climates segment into exciting sub-regions within the region and allow for a wide range of varietals to shine brightly. Sauvignon Blanc shines the brightest and is the varietal that established Marlborough as one of the world's most significant wine regions.
Wairau Valley and Omaka River
Our Estate
Isabel Estate is located just outside of Renwick village in the Wairau Valley at the heart of Marlborough’s wine region. The site benefits from all the climate characteristics that make the Marlborough renowned including extended sunshine hours combined with a long, cool growing season. Its soils are free-draining gravels with a narrow layer of tight clay in the subsoil that prevents excess water loss.
Densely planted vines, double the usual number in Marlborough further contribute to the concentration of flavour in the fruit. Narrow row and close plant spacing increase competition creating small bunch and berry size for more flavour intensity and complexity. Sustainable viticultural practices are used, including mulching and organic fertilisers to maintain soil nutrition while spraying is kept to minimum because of the cool, dry climate.
Our Estate
Isabel Estate is located just outside of Renwick village in the Wairau Valley at the heart of Marlborough’s wine region. The site benefits from all the climate characteristics that make the Marlborough renowned including extended sunshine hours combined with a long, cool growing season. Its soils are free-draining gravels with a narrow layer of tight clay in the subsoil that prevents excess water loss.
Densely planted vines, double the usual number in Marlborough further contribute to the concentration of flavour in the fruit. Narrow row and close plant spacing increase competition creating small bunch and berry size for more flavour intensity and complexity. Sustainable viticultural practices are used, including mulching and organic fertilisers to maintain soil nutrition while spraying is kept to minimum because of the cool, dry climate.
To ensure fruit quality is at its highest, Isabel Estate restricts yield by pruning to low bud numbers and where necessary employs shoot and bunch thinning.
All these factors combine with long, sunny, mild autumns to assist Isabel Estate’s grapes in ripening slowly and developing expressive fruit with unique flavours and aromas with layers of complexity.
To ensure fruit quality is at its highest, Isabel Estate restricts yield by pruning to low bud numbers and where necessary employs shoot and bunch thinning.
All these factors combine with long, sunny, mild autumns to assist Isabel Estate’s grapes in ripening slowly and developing expressive fruit with unique flavours and aromas with layers of complexity.
Isabel Estate is one of the original Marlborough vineyards with some of the oldest vines in Marlborough on original rootstock. The estate occupies 54 hectares with 45 of those dedicated to vineyard under canopy.
At Isabel Estate we are true to our roots by creating exceptional wines 100 per cent grown and bottled within the boundaries of the estate. Each block produces grapes that grow to express the distinctive characters of each individual patch of terroir contributing to Isabel Estate’s distinguished wines of elegance and finesse.
Isabel Estate is one of the original Marlborough vineyards with some of the oldest vines in Marlborough on original rootstock. The estate occupies 54 hectares with 45 of those dedicated to vineyard under canopy.
At Isabel Estate we are true to our roots by creating exceptional wines 100 per cent grown and bottled within the boundaries of the estate. Each block produces grapes that grow to express the distinctive characters of each individual patch of terroir contributing to Isabel Estate’s distinguished wines of elegance and finesse.
Our Vineyard
Tap the vineyard blocks to learn more about our wines.
Our Vineyard
Hover over the vineyard blocks to learn more about our wines.
Chardonnay
Complex aromas, sweet nuttiness, ripe figs, and a touch of melon. Bright, clean fruit with upfront acidity on the palate. Mid-palate displays elegant flavours of white peach and almond biscotti. A wine of depth and complexity, it is Isabel Estate’s hallmark wine.
Pinot Gris
A wine with strong mineral definition, yet a supple mouth feel and good length. Rich aromas of nectarine, white peach, and clover honey on the nose. The palate is subtly complex with persimmon, red apple, a hint of white pepper, at the drier style spectrum.
Sauvignon Blanc
Lush aromas of pineapple, kaffir lime leaves, elderflower, and lychee. Rich, fresh green mango, passionfruit, and guava on the palate. Long, persistent finish with classic Isabel Estate minerality.
Pinot Noir
The first style to be created under the Isabel Estate’s name, it has pronounced aromas of fresh, dark cherries, cedar wood, and a hint of cinnamon. Finely textured palate with layers of rich plum and white pepper. Its great backbone stems from clay rich soils that allow this fine wine to cellar for at least a decade.
New Syrah
This new varietal was planted in 2020 to explore the potential of Syrah on the Isabel Estate site. Watch this space for future wines created from these vines.
Sustainable Practices
By vintage 2021, many of the blocks will be certified Bio-Gro organic. This block is home to native vegetation and our burgeoning composting program, where post-pressed skins are used in the creation of compost. This compost is then used back on the vineyards.
Our Winery
Estate Bottled
Our Winery
Estate Bottled
Sustainability
At Isabel Estate we believe what is better for the environment is better for our wine. We currently have 15 hectares of vineyards that are certified bio-gro organic.
Our compost program is part of the 'sustainable practices/winemaking' we endorse. It involves the post-pressing skins incorporated into a compost starter mix to which is applied a microbial culture to kick start the anaerobic conversion into compost. Then we use it back on the vineyards.
We use dry farming techniques to make the most intensely flavoured Pinot Noir with superior finesse and an elegant tannin structure. The process encourages the 30-year-old roots to seek out the deep clay soil where the vines regulate on natural rainfall, removing the need for supplement irrigation.
As a reflection of our commitment to the pursuit of excellence, we started a replanting program replacing Champagne Chardonnay clones with Mendoza and the new Entav-Inra 548 clones of Chardonnay commonly used in Grand Cru vineyards in France.
Sustainability
At Isabel Estate we believe what is better for the environment is better for our wine. We currently have 15 hectares of vineyards that are certified bio-gro organic.
Our compost program is part of the 'sustainable practices/winemaking' we endorse. It involves the post-pressing skins incorporated into a compost starter mix to which is applied a microbial culture to kick start the anaerobic conversion into compost. Then we use it back on the vineyards.
We use dry farming techniques to make the most intensely flavoured Pinot Noir with superior finesse and an elegant tannin structure. The process encourages the 30-year-old roots to seek out the deep clay soil where the vines regulate on natural rainfall, removing the need for supplement irrigation.
As a reflection of our commitment to the pursuit of excellence, we started a replanting program replacing Champagne Chardonnay clones with Mendoza and the new Entav-Inra 548 clones of Chardonnay commonly used in Grand Cru vineyards in France.
We also use indigenous fermentation across our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to further capture the essence of our unique terroir and its minerality.
At Isabel Estate, we review our viticultural and winemaking systems perpetually in the pursuit of perfection to ensure Isabel Estate delivers wines of exceptional quality today and for the future.
We also use indigenous fermentation across our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to further capture the essence of our unique terroir and its minerality.
At Isabel Estate, we review our viticultural and winemaking systems perpetually in the pursuit of perfection to ensure Isabel Estate delivers wines of exceptional quality today and for the future.