| Region of production: | Marlborough GI |
| Winery Location: | Renwick, Marlborough |
| Year Established: | 1985 |
Vineyard Holdings
77 ha
- Awatere Vineyard (10 ha): Marlborough GI. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir on gravel over mudstone.
- Renwick Vineyard (7.5 ha): Marlborough GI. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir on stony alluvium.
- Opawa Vineyard (25 ha): Marlborough GI. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir on stony alluvium.
- Lanark Lane Vineyard (12 ha): Marlborough GI. Sauvignon Blanc on stony alluvium.
- Kaituna Vineyard (18.5 ha): Marlborough GI. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir on stony alluvium.
- Clay Hills Vineyard (5 ha): Marlborough GI. Pinot Noir on loess colluvium.
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Cuvée Marlborough Brut (Marlborough GI): 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Traditional method sparkling wine. Aged on lees a minimum of three years. Non-vintage, first vinified 1991.
- Vintage Rosé (Marlborough GI): 100% Pinot Noir. Traditional method sparkling wine. Aged on lees a minimum of two and a half years.
- Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough GI): Mechanically harvested. Aged on lees for five months, almost entirely in stainless steel. Inaugural vintage 1985.
- Pinot Gris (Marlborough GI): Aged on lees for five months, with a small portion fermented in neutral oak barrels. Inaugural vintage 2000.
- Chardonnay (Marlborough GI): Fermented using indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels, 20% new. Inaugural vintage 1989.
- Pinot Noir (Marlborough GI): Fermented using indigenous years in open-top vats, approximately 10% fermented whole cluster. Aged in a combination of new and old French oak barrels. Inaugural vintage 1997.
Average Total Production
- 1,200,000 – 1,440,000 bottles
Summary
One of Marlborough’s pioneering wineries, Nautilus was established in 1985 by the Hill Smith family. Nautilus remains in the family’s hands, under the stewardship of Robert Hill Smith. The winery emblem, a nautilus shell, inspires the winery’s philosophy in its mathematical precision by way of the golden ratio. Winemaker Clive Jones joined Nautilus in 1998. Nautilus is one of Marlborough most reputable wineries for Pinot Noir, a program Jones largely developed, and a recognized leader for sparkling wines, produced since 1989.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Nautilus operates two facilities: one for Pinot Noir, which is designed for gravity flow, and one for white wines. Nautilus has become a leader for New Zealand sparkling wines, creating some of country’s most sought-after traditional method bottlings. Indigenous yeasts are used for many of the winery’s top wines, while new oak is kept to a minimum.
Producer Website: Nautilus Estate