Isabel Estate

About Isabel Estate

In 1980, a pilot named Mike Tiller flew his plane over a block of land in the Wairau Valley of Marlborough that caught his eye. He discovered a precious pocket of land; a very special place of earth with fertile soil and a unique aspect. Mike’s airborne vision was the beginning of Isabel Estate, one of the pioneering Marlborough wineries that unlocked the viticultural potential of the iconic wine region. It remains one of the oldest in the area. Mike and his wife Robyn built a winery on the site and named it in honor of his mother, Isabel. Their ambition was to produce ultra-premium classic grape varieties that were a true expression of Marlborough. Throughout the 1980s, their chosen parcel of land delivered fruit of exceptional quality, and it wasn’t long before it was in high demand. In the natural order of things, Isabel Estate released its first single-vineayrd wine in 1994, a Pinot Noir.

Isabel Estate is located just outside of Renwick village in the Wairau Valley at the heart of Marlborough’s wine region. The site benefits from all the climate characteristics that make the Marlborough renowned including extended sunshine hours combined with a long, cool growing season. Its soils are free-draining gravels with a narrow layer of tight clay in the subsoil that prevents excess water loss. Densely planted vines, double the usual number in Marlborough, further contribute to the concentration of flavor in the fruit. Narrow row and close plant spacing increase competition creating small bunch and berry size for more flavor intensity and complexity.

Being one of the original Marlborough vineyards, Isabel Estate is a part of the heritage of the Marlborough wine region. Their small team is dedicated to a focus on single-estate wines that deliver on the expression of site and provenance. Isabel Estate stays true to its roots by creating wines that are 100% grown and bottled within the boundaries of its estate.