Greywacke is the personal project of Kevin Judd, one of New Zealand’s most quietly influential winemakers and the founding winemaker behind Cloudy Bay. Established in 2009, Greywacke (named after the stony, ancient rock that underpins Marlborough’s soils) is a reflection of Judd’s deep knowledge of the region, his love of texture, and his pursuit of wines that speak with both radiance and calm precision.

Fruit is sourced from a close circle of growers in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys and Wairau Plains, focusing on sites with mature vines, complex soils, and naturally low yields. These vineyards — many dry-farmed and sustainably managed — deliver fruit with concentration, natural acidity, and a quietly expressive sense of place. Judd works closely with growers, selecting specific parcels that reflect Marlborough’s diversity beyond volume-driven expression.

In the winery, Judd’s approach is thoughtful and measured. Sauvignon Blanc, the flagship, is produced in two forms: a classic style fermented in stainless steel with extended lees contact for breadth and length, and ‘Wild Sauvignon’, fermented with native yeasts in old oak barrels for complexity, savouriness, and surprising depth. Pinot Noir is gently extracted and aged in French oak, with a focus on red fruit purity and silken tannin. Chardonnay is whole-bunch pressed and fermented in barrel with full malolactic and extended lees ageing, offering shape and salinity. Small volumes of Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Botrytis selections round out the portfolio.

The wines are structured and expressive. Sauvignon Blanc is citrus-driven with notes of elderflower, subtle tropicals, and a long, mineral edge. Wild Sauvignon brings flint, grapefruit peel, and smoky, savoury undertones — poised and cerebral. Pinot Noir is elegant and fine-grained, with cherry, spice, and earthy detail. Chardonnay shows white peach, toasted hazelnut, and struck match — layered and quietly textural. Across the range, the wines carry the signature of restraint, texture, and Judd’s unflinching eye for balance.

What defines Greywacke is not just craft, but observation — a producer led by quiet clarity, crafting wines that reflect a region through nuance, not noise.

These are wines that feel sketched in stone and light — focused, textural, and shaped by the steady hand of someone who’s seen it all, and still listens.