NZ Winemakers | Our Story

2024

Another static bin is installed at Kendrick Rd Winery, two 60-tonne central membrane presses, continuous float and Omnia. Our automation and efficiency journey continues with innovative projects underway across all wineries.

In the news: Expansion doubles processing capacity | Business South March 2024

2023

Global recognition comes with a Grand Gold medal at the International Bulk Wine Competition in Amsterdam.

Kendrick Rd winery continues to increase capacity with the addition of four 500,000 litre tanks, purpose built on site, and trials of new smart tank technology also gets underway. A 500,000 litre tank is equivalent to 666,667 bottles of wine!

A state-of-the-art refrigeration plant is also installed at Kendrick.

Trials of new decanter technology get underway at Waipara during vintage 2023.

2021 - 2022

Our third winery, known as Kendrick Rd, is opened in Marlborough.

The state-of-the-art, modern, high-tech facility employs the latest technology to maximise quality and yield on large parcels of Sauvignon Blanc above 200 tonnes.

Efficiency, automation and innovation are key to this site with automation prioritised wherever possible. Static bin, 60-tonne central membrane presses, continuous floatation and Omnia high solids crossflow technology are all included.

In the news: New winery lifts processing capacity | Business South November 2021

2020

Our range of winemaking offerings continues to expand after breaking ground on the development of a new site adjacent to the existing Marlborough winery, to be known as Kendrick Rd.

The opening of Kendrick Rd will complement New Zealand Wineries’ existing capacity and offers additional processing capabilities alongside small batch, hand pick, and medium parcel winemaking options.

The ability to scale Kendrick Rd up to 32,000 tonne capacity provides plenty of room for future growth.

2017

Work gets underway on a substantial upgrade of our refrigeration plant and glycol distribution systems. Forming the very heart of a winery, a reliable refrigeration system is critical to its smooth operation, especially over harvest where demand is high due to cold settling juice and controlling fermentation.

Completed in 2018, we undertook a complete overhaul of our refrigeration systems, installing a state-of-the-art ammonia refrigeration plant that is extremely reliable and has ample capacity to cover all our winery needs.

2015

Our ‘Quarter 4’ front end upgrade commences. This begins with installation of a new 30-tonne receival bin and ramp and finishes with the addition of three new 35-tonne central membrane presses. Primarily targeted for larger blocks of Sauvignon Blanc, this major upgrade means higher press yields, larger truck capacity, and the ability to receive truck and trailers into a single bin and press. This in turn increases throughput in Quarter 4 and provides flexibility for clients when it comes to harvest planning or adverse weather events.

2013

Independence day! With the sale of the Mudhouse wine group to Australian multinational Accolade Wines, New Zealand Wineries became an independent provider of contract winemaking and bulk wine supply services. With no brands or vineyards, we became the only truly independent boutique and commercial winemaking service provider in New Zealand, establishing our vision of “Your Wine, Your Way”.

2006

New Zealand Wineries and its now large sister company, New Zealand Vineyard Estates, with over 1,000 acres of productive vineyards spread between Marlborough, Waipara and Central Otago opted to ‘close the loop’ and enter the branded wine business. New Zealand Wine merged with Waipara Hills and with Canterbury House in Waipara and bought Mud House Wines, resulting in the formation of the Mud House Wine Group.

2003

Three ‘individual’ 2,000 tonne wineries were built and ready for Vintage 2004! Clients included Mud House Wines, Jackson Estate and South Pacific Cellars (comprising shareholders Lake Chalice, Waipara Hills and New Zealand Vineyard Estates)...the latter being New Zealand Wineries’ own vineyard operation.