About Us – Barkers Marque Wines

Barker's Marque Wines

Awatere Valley ~ Marlborough, New Zealand

Barker's Marque – Waverley Vineyards - nestled between the bluffs of Blind River, a half mile from the sea in the cooler Awatere Valley - is home to our award-winning family of Estate Grown and Certified Sustainable wines. Delve a little deeper into our story below...

The Story

Barkers Marque – Waverley Vineyards offers award-winning wines from Marlborough, New Zealand. These are the kind of wines that enthusiasts are looking for from this land of discovery – clean, fresh, intense and exotic wines of the highest caliber. They come from unique terroir with a unique profile.

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Our four distinctive Sauvignon Blancs and single estate Riesling, represent the finest wines in the region. Driven by a passion for wine, and for bringing exceptional quality to our customers, our aim is to enjoy “the ride” while building our wine business. We value integrity, openness and transparency in everything we do. We keep things focused and simple and plan to continue what we are doing for many years to come. Setting out to make a wine of distinction was our goal – only to find that if we were to be true to making the best “wine” we would need to listen to the vineyard – which told us that there were 4 distinguishable wines that were present. Using his vast international winemaking experience, and Vanessa’s viticultural expertise, 5 wines emerged from the one contiguous vineyard we planted in 2004 and 2005.

Our price advantage comes not by scrimping on quality or process, but by building direct and trusted partnerships. Because we grow, make, and import the wine to the U.S, we can offer superior value. The New Zealand branch can be found on the Waverley Vineyard in Blind River on the southeastern corner of Marlborough’s wine growing region. Simon Barker, our wine- maker, and his viticulturalist wife Vanessa live here with their family, so as to keep a daily eye on vineyards and winemaking.

Our Philosophy

We create wine that is honest and representative of this region. Wine that reflects the true character of the Blind River terroir of the vineyard that is our home. Wine that adds texture and balance to the intensity of the world-famous Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs. Our belief is that winemaking starts in the vineyard…

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and that fruit carefully tended and managed using sensible, sustainable methods requires minimal intervention from the winemaker for our terroir to show its potential. The result is wines of quality with unique flavour profiles—wines with a freshness and minerality not found else-where in Marlborough.

We judge ourselves more by the honesty of our wines and the place they represent. As a cool climate region, we expect variation between vintages. We continually seek improvement by blending our wines and conducting fining trails blind, rather than repeating last year’s process. And our process is transparent.

While the majority of our wines are sourced from our own vineyard, we tap some grapes for the winemaking mix from other vineyards we manage in Blind River, and who share our views on care and sustainability.

The Vineyard

Distinctive Terroir

Simon and Vanessa extensively researched the soil and climate in the Marlborough region, and discovered that Waverley’s terroir would produce wines of exceptional quality and character. The soil at Waverley is heavy— the right kind of clay that holds water in the soil and nourishes vine’s root system. Waverley is located a mile from the sea in one of the windiest areas of Marlborough. The sea breeze makes vines less prone to disease, allowing fewer treatments. Winds from the sea and mountains also reduces temperature, lowering yields and delaying maturity so the grapes sees more of the cooler fall evenings. The larger diurnal temperature difference helps develop aromas and flavors that give our wines their individual intensity. In line with Minimal Intervention, our wines are made “in the vineyard”. Our viticultural, and winemaking has practically become one and the same at Waverley.

The Barker's Marque Team

Vanessa Barker Having worked in vineyards since high school and gaining an Honours degree in Horticulture, Vanessa has a lifelong affinity with plants, especially grapevines. Her experience in developing and managing vineyards, including technical and grower liaison roles allows her to provide us with incredible insight into all things viticulture. She does it all while juggling a young family of three boys, though it has been rumoured that Simon helps out with this occasionally.

Vanessa Barker

Simon Barker, COO and 50% partner in BMWV. He is in charge of all Vineyards, Production and Winemaking. Simon has been making wines around the world, and since 2003. He has honed his winemaking skills in Sancerre, California, and even England – but has found his “winemaking soul” in New Zealand.

Simon Barker

W. Gillett Johnson, CEO and 50% partner in BMWV. He is a wine industry professional specializing in distribution and building brand equity. Since 1991 Gillett has managed dozens of brands, and since 2008 has overseen the Sales and Marketing development of Barker’s Marque – Waverley Vineyards.

W. Gillett Johnson

Louis Neil after working in the welfare sector, Louise retrained in finance and worked in the industry for 10 years before becoming an invaluable member of the BMWV team. As well as her accounting skills, she brings highly specific wine logistics skills, not to mention a fabulous, friendly, helpful and collaborative approach to everything she does.

Louis Neil

Anthony Searles has been with us for five years and has been working in vineyards for just about his whole life. With this experience comes an instinct for all thing’s vineyard – which, allied to a great work ethic make Anthony a fantastic asset in the day to day running of Waverley.

Anthony Searles