At Barker’s Marque – Waverley Vineyard, wine is never just a product. It is place, people, and process — shaped by land, guided by experience, and refined by restraint. Here’s our story, explained A to Z.
A
A riper more tropical and exotic expression of our SB. Pineapple core and stone fruit make this dynamic alternative to MSB. A beautiful young mademoiselle, fruity, open, friendly – very approachable.”
A — Awatere Valley
Waverley Vineyard sits in Blind River, at the southeastern edge of Marlborough’s wine-growing region. The Awatere Valley is cooler, windier, and more mineral-driven than much of Marlborough — producing wines with structure, tension, and distinctive character.
A – Authenticity
In many ways, how we utilize the elements of climate and winegrowing techniques help to cultivate the Terroir. Authenticity for us is there to be captured not created.
B
B — Blind River
Blind River is more than a location — it is home. This coastal environment, shaped by cold nights, ocean influence, and rugged terrain, defines the personality of our wines and sets them apart.
B – Barker Marque – The Marque of Quality
The soul of the vineyard and wines. Simon incorporates every aspect of flavor, elegance, technique and intuition into the vineyards – directly creating our individual style of our Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs.
B – Battonage
Three Brooms benefits greatly from the blending of lees with the wine for a substantial period of time releasing Mannoproteins giving a richer creamier mouthfeel. Amino Acids and Polysaccarides enhance the body and texture, while oxygen is obsorbed in small amounts protecting the freshness.
C
C – Climate
A cool coastal climate allows slow, even ripening, preserving acidity, aromatics, and balance in the finished wines and future-focused practices.
C – Certified Sustainable
For us, sustainability is not a label – it’s a promise.
Every Barker’s Marque wine is 100% vegan and certified under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ), a nationwide program that ensures every step – from vineyard care to bottling – meets the highest environmental standards.
Healthy soil grows healthy vines, and healthy vines yield wines of character. That’s why we farm with biodiversity in mind, minimize intervention, and conserve water and energy at every stage. Sustainability isn’t just what we do; it’s how we ensure each vintage reflects the land as purely tomorrow as it did 20 years ago.
D
D – Detail
From vineyard decisions to cellar work, attention to detail guides every step — because small choices shape the final expression.
E
E – Experience
Having built and developed the vineyards from scratch… Two decades of working with the same site has given us deep insight into how the vineyard responds to cover crop, canopy, harvest timing, and pruning. Built on integrity, openness, and transparency. Every decision from vineyard management to winemaking — is made with long-term quality in mind. Some believe that experience is re-doing what you know, but for Simon – experience is adapting and continually being your own biggest critic.
F
F — Farming
Winemaking may sound glamorous, but there’s another name for it. All things BMWV start and finish in the vineyard. Our fruit is carefully tended using sensible, sustainable methods allowing the vineyard to express itself naturally with each of its wines with minimal intervention in the cellar.
F
F – Food pairing
We’ve created an interactive tasting experience to help you explore each wine beyond the glass. Discover two carefully selected recipes for every wine, along with musical playlists handpicked by our two vintners to personify the unique character of each wine. Together, they’re designed to make every tasting even more memorable. Did You Know?
G
G — Gillett
Co-Proprietor. He is a wine industry professional specializing in distribution and building brand equity. For over 35 years, Gillett has managed dozens of brands, and with Simon has overseen most every aspect of the development of Barker’s Marque-Waverley Vineyard.
H
H — Hangover 🙂
I
I — Independent , Irreverent, Intrepid
J
J — James Busby
We revere history. In 1840 an Englishman names James Busby began making wine in Waitangi. From that period the church began making wine for Sacramental purposes and moved to Hawkes Bay and started Mission Estate (still producing wine today).
L
L — The Loop “Blanc”
Named after a special place on the southern edge of the vineyard, The Loop is lush and floral, with hints of Kiwi fruit, goose-berry, pink grapefruit and herbs. The wine is personified as: “Mom…– kind and gentle but with a backbone of steel. Very Complex and incredibly intriguing”. – Simon Barker.
L — Location
We are all about the sense of place. Our wines are not made by a recipe but rather the best vineyard and harvesting management.
M
M — Marlborough
Marlborough is world-famous for Sauvignon Blanc, but we believe it is capable of far more depth and diversity. Our wines add texture and balance to the region’s intensity, offering a different perspective on what Marlborough can be. Only ¼ of 1% of all wines in the world come from Marlborough, but it is one of the most popular white wines in multiple countries.
N
N — New Zealand
We are Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc – don’t call us New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
O
O — Ocean influence
The center of our Waverley vineyard is about a half mile from the ocean. The ocean breezes/winds help moderated our temperatures, help protect from decease,
P
P — Philosophy
We create wine that is true 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 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 flavor profiles— wines with a freshness and minerality not found else-where in Marlborough.
P – Playlist
Listen to our Vintner’s favorite songs personifying each wine and area of the vineyard. (Click on an icon).
Q
Q — Quality
Quality is built through patience, discipline, and respect for the vineyard rather than shortcuts.
R
R – ranga.ranga Sauvignon Blanc
Crisp with hints of lemon grass and dried herbs complimenting deep range of sweet citrus flavors. “A feisty teenage boy, it’s fresh, it’s vibrant – full of life”.
Bright, juicy and crisp, it’s gently floral with citrus blossom aromatics and a creamy peach and nectarine richness.
S
S — Simon
Co-proprietor, in charge of all Vineyards, Production and Winemaking Guru. Simon has been making wines around the world since 2003. He has honed his winemaking skills in Oregon, CA, England, Sancerre and ultimately in Marlborough.
S – Super-Cold
You can’t think about Simon and winemaking without thinking about his maverick approach to making wine. He ferments dangerously cold to maximize flavor and complexity.
S — Sustainability
Certified sustainable and 100% vegan friendly, our wines reflect a commitment to responsible farming.
S — Sauvignon Blanc
T
T — Terroir
Blind River terroir delivers freshness, minerality, and unique flavour profiles not found elsewhere in Marlborough. The diurnal temperatures created by being in between the ocean and mountains allow the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly.
T — Three Brooms Sauvignon Blanc
Three Brooms 90 points Wine Spectator; A perfect balance of showcasing garden-fresh legumes and round tropical and melon fruits. Extended lees contact give this wine a rich, rounded mouthfeel surrounded by a multitude of exotic and tropical flavors. As personified “The patriarch of the family, Big, intense, but with incredible depth”.
U
U — Undeterred…
V
V — Value
We’ve been able to keep our prices competitive with the largest Marlborough producers. Are we charging too little or are they charging too much.
V — Vegan
W
W — Waverley Vineyard
Planted in 2004 and 2005, Waverley Vineyard is one contiguous estate. From this single site, four distinct wines emerged — each shaped by site, season, and intention.
X
X – Xplaining
I think we’ve done enough explaining.
Y
Y – Yield
Is about balance both from vine health point and a winemaking/business perspective. Cropping at the right level is good for both winemaking and making a living.
Z
Z — Zest for life…
At the heart of our Estate wines is a quiet determination to do things properly — to keep improving, to stay transparent, and to let the vineyard speak first, and to create the unexpected in Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that bring new drinkers to the category.
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