Dog Point, Marlborough, New Zealand

Owned and run by the 2 men who made Cloudy Bay into the cult New Zealand wine of the 80s and 90s, Dog Point now produces the benchmark Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. The winery only started in 2004 but has already gained rave reviews from Robert Parker and many of the world’s wine press.

What makes Dog Point’s wines different to other Marlborough producers?

• They own all their own fruit and so have full control over their vines and grape-growing techniques. Fruit quality in the vineyards is key;
• All grapes are picked by hand so that only the healthiest grapes are selected to make the wines, giving real delicacy and purity of flavour;
• Ivan Sutherland and James Healy, the owners/winemakers, believe in minimal intervention in the winery, allowing nature to take its course.

This is our sort of winery at Real Wines; a gem that has not yet been properly discovered by wine drinkers but which we know will be a superstar in the future. We have recently added their excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to our range, as well as their finest Sauvignon Blanc – Section 94 – which has been aged in French oak barrels for 18 months and, like fine white Bordeaux, is built to last several years.