Home About Us Vineyard Kitchen Our Wines News Social Media Distribution Orders Contact Us About Us Our People Vineyards & ViticultureSaint Clair Vineyards Winery Marlborough Join the Saint Clair Wines mailing list Search Wines Reserve Range Pioneer Block Range Premium Range Vicar's Choice Range Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay Riesling Pinot Gris Grüner Veltliner Gewürztraminer Viognier Rosé Pinot Noir Merlot Cabernet Merlot Malbec Syrah Trophies Connect with Saint Clair Follow @saintclairwine View Saint Clair on YouTube View Saint Clair on YouTube View Saint Clair on Flickr View Saint Clair on Flickr Subscribe to Saint Clair RSS Subscribe to Saint Clair RSS Read the Saint Clair Family Estate Blog Read the Saint Clair Family Estate Blog Saint Clair Social Media Feeds Vineyards & Viticulture Home > About Us > Vineyards & Viticulture A wide choice in Marlborough Vineyard sites, including the Wairau, Awatere and Ure Valleys, allows Saint Clair to specialise its plantings by grape variety in the sub-regions that provide the most suitable terroir for each. Saint Clair has developed six vineyards in different sites in Marlborough, including the Rapaura, Awatere, Waihopai and Omaka Valleys. Only superior fruit from the best locations for each individual variety is selected for the Saint Clair label. In 2001 Saint Clair introduced a ‘grading system’ for all its vineyards different wine batches and marks them out of 10 for quality each year. This provides valuable information with records now over a period of time showing which vineyards provide the best fruit and which varieties produce the best quality in each of the vineyards. The grading system is also used extensively as a management tool for identifying and improving best vineyard practices, and for payments to growers. Other factors contributing to wine quality include a sustainable approach with minimal use of vineyard sprays, open canopy with good light and airflow, leaf plucking, fruit and shoot thinning and selection with no cultivation. After harvest the fruit is moved rapidly from vine, to press, to tank and barrel, to preserve fruit quality and character. Awatere Vineyard Saint Clair Vineyard Locations Neal Ibbotson’s mastery of grape growing lies behind Saint Clair’s expanding international profile. Michael Cooper, Cuisine, January 2006 Saint Clair Vineyards Click on the thumbnails below to view Saint Clair Vineyards Doctor's Creek Vineyard Doctor's Creek Vineyard Awatere Valley Vineyard Awatere Valley Vineyard Rapaura Vineyard Rapaura Vineyard Omaka Vineyard Omaka Vineyard Ben Morven Vineyard Ben Morven Vineyard Strip Block Vineyard Strip Block Vineyard Doctor's Creek Vineyard At Doctor’s Creek Vineyard, Neal and Judy’s key varieties are Sauvignon Blanc Riesling and Pinot Noir. They have successfully experimented with top grafting Pinot Noir (using Dijon clones) in adjoining properties, where more clay under the sub-soil is providing some intense and interesting flavours. back to top of page Saint Clair Family Estate :: Marlborough :: New Zealand Vintage | Contact Us | Distributors | Trade & Media | Orders | Join Mailing List Saint Clair Wines RSS Follow Saint Clair on Twitter Follow Saint Clair on Facebook