AT THE HEART OF THE MARLBOROUGH WINE REGION

An educational visit to one of New Zealand’s magnificent vineyards proved to be an unforgettable experience unlike any other

- DONG RONQUILLO

About 12 hours, two plane rides away from Manila is Blenheim, New Zealand—a place I haven’t heard of since Moët Hennessy’s wine brand, Cloudy Bay invited me for a visit to their vineyard. What is in Blenheim? Probably the world’s most peaceful and refreshing place I have ever been. With vast estates of beautiful wineries and landscapes, Blenheim houses one of the world’s best vineyards.

Blenheim is part of New Zealand’s Marlborough District, and is a short plane ride away from Auckland. This particular location is known for its wine production, more specifically its Sauvignon Blanc. One of the most storied vineyards in the area is Cloudy Bay.

Established in 1985, Cloudy Bay was one of the first vineyards to set-up a winery in the district. Back then, it was unimaginable to grow a vineyard there; but Cloudy Bay’s founder David Hohnen believed in the land’s potential. It was one of the first five vineyards to be established in the area. The vineyard is named after a body of water of the same name, discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770 who named it Cloudy Bay because of the sediment contained in the water. (idk why it selected an entire square)

Apart from its signature Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay has gained traction for its development of regional wines, which has helped distinguish the Marlborough District—and New Zealand by extension— as a quiet force in the wine industry. Its reputation of excellence is what captured the attention of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy Groups, the world’s biggest luxury conglomerate, and the two joined forces in 2003 through LVMH’s champagne Veuve Clicquot.

SEE, SMELL, AND SIP