JACKSON ESTATE

Lineage, history and ancestry all play a big part in forming the texture and culture of a winery. So it's rewarding to see how Jackson Estate can lay claim to not just nearly 30 years of excellent winemaking, but a connection to the land that goes back 160 long years. John and Warren Stichbury, who planted the company’s Home Vineyard in 1998, are great-grandsons of Adam Jackson after whom Jacksons Road was named. Pedigree aside, their vision and determination has created an impressive recent past, and is shaping an exciting and progressive future. Surviving the economic and meteorological travails that life throws at any winery operation is no mean feat; to do so and remain firmly in private hands is testament to the grit of those involved. This is still very much Estate-made wine, the fine fruit from three company-owned sites in and around Marlborough: Homestead’ in the Wairau Plains, and 'Eversley' and 'Somerset' in Waihopai. Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and, naturally, Sauvignon Blanc pour forth in fine style from the fiercely modern winery complex, which winemaker Matt Paterson-Green has helmed for the last 15 years. Their trophy cabinet is in dire need of extension, with enough silverware to threaten the All Black’s stash. But these myriad awards, while gratifying, are simply third party acknowledgement of a job well done. And a vision pursued assiduously through core principles: a respect for vineyard sites, an unerring pursuit of varietal integrity and the employment of the best traditional and modern wine making techniques.

Matt Patterson-Green

Matt completed a B.Hort Business and B.Hort Tech at Massey University, started as the Production Manager then to Lincoln University to complete a Post Grad Dip Viticulture and Oenology. Following this Matt worked at various vineyards and wineries in South Canterbury, Waipara, USA, Marlborough, Germany, Nelson and back to Marlborough. Started at Jackson Estate as the nightshift winemaker for six weeks when JKE offered a full time position. Matt was really impressed with what they were doing so stayed.