Isabel Estate

Founded in the heart of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, Isabel Estate is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s benchmark producers of Sauvignon Blanc and aromatic whites. Established in 1980 and named after Isabel Sutherland, an early settler of the region, the estate quickly earned a reputation for wines of remarkable purity and precision. With vineyards rooted in ancient riverbed soils and cooled by maritime breezes, Isabel Estate produces wines that capture the vivid aromatics and freshness that made Marlborough famous.

The wines are crafted by Chief Winemaker Jeremy McKenzie, one of Marlborough’s most respected talents, whose philosophy centres on careful vineyard work and minimal intervention to allow each site’s character to shine through.

Yet Sauvignon Blanc is only part of the story. Among those who know the estate well, Isabel’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are often considered its finest wines, combining Marlborough brightness with Burgundian finesse and texture. These wines remain something of a hidden treasure, frequently overlooked in the shadow of Marlborough’s iconic Sauvignon Blanc, but offering depth, elegance and complexity that reveal the true breadth of what the region can achieve.