40 Years in the Making
In 2025, Cloudy Bay celebrates 40 years of winemaking. That’s four decades of bold wines from beautiful places. From the very first vintage, we’ve sought to capture the purity and vibrancy of our surroundings, making wine that is unmistakably from New Zealand.
A journey through the decades
We’ve come a long way since 1985, when David Hohnen and his small team took a chance on a new corner of the wine world. Sauvignon Blanc put us on the map, but the story is about much more than just one grape.
Here’s a brief look at the people, places and moments of Cloudy Bay’s first forty years.
1985
The beginning
1986
Chardonnay
Our early passion for Chardonnay began in large part because of Kevin Judd’s expertise with the variety. His focus on balance and finesse impressed David Hohnen (himself a big fan of Burgundy Chardonnays) and laid the groundwork for what would become one of our most elegant and food-friendly wines.
1987
Pelorus enters the story
The idea to create a Cloudy Bay sparkling wine started bubbling early. Not long after the first vintage, David Hohnen reached out to his old friend Harold Osborne, a legendary figure in the American wine industry. The vision was to use the time-honoured méthode traditionnelle of Champagne to invoke Marlborough’s unique terroir and create something new. He travelled to New Zealand and created the first Pelorus vintage in 1987. A classic was born and named for Pelorus Jack, a famous dolphin who welcomed travellers arriving in the Marlborough Sounds. Like its mammalian namesake, Pelorus is synonymous with celebrations.
1990's
Pinot Noir joins the family
The first experiments with Pinot Noir began in 1989. But it was not until 1994 that Kevin Judd and James Healy achieved a wine they believed befit the Cloudy Bay name. Balanced, lively, and richly fruited, it’s an approachable Pinot Noir with complex savoury notes and a silky texture. It’s the wine we say is perfect for when you’ve been invited over for dinner and are not sure what’s on the menu: it goes with everything.
2001
World, meet Te Koko
2010s
The journey south
2012
Welcome to The Shack
When fire claimed the original villa (fondly known as ‘the shack’) that our founder David Hohnen had lived in, we commissioned architects Tim Greer and Paul Rolfe to create a new Shack that was modern, comfortable, and fit perfectly within the landscape. Now, The Shack serves as our Marlborough brand home, offering an immersive experience of the Cloudy Bay. The luxurious self-contained guesthouse contains four ensuite bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen and modern living spaces. Accommodating up to eight guests, the villa boasts views of the breathtaking Richmond Ranges and Cloudy Bay vines.
2022
The Founders’ Cellar opens
A special vintage for a special year
OUR 40TH VINTAGE
2024 Sauvignon Blanc
The 40th vintage of our flagship wine reflects an extraordinary growing season, shaped by dry conditions and careful vineyard management. The result is a wine of vibrant acidity, concentrated citrus and delicate saline notes.
Looking ahead
Forty years might sound like a long time, but in the world of wine, it’s just the first chapter. Every vintage adds another few pages to the Cloudy Bay story, and every bottle carries the legacy of the people who made it possible.
From David Hohnen and Kevin Judd, to the team shaping our wines today, this milestone belongs to all of them, and to everyone who’s ever raised a glass of Cloudy Bay to their lips and had their eyebrows raised in return.
Here’s to the place. The people. The wines.