Odyssey Wines is the story of one winemaker’s long journey through land, learning, and quiet conviction. Founded in 1994 by Rebecca Salmond, one of New Zealand’s pioneering female winemakers, Odyssey is a small, independent label built on site selection, sustainable practice, and a patient approach to wine that rewards texture and nuance over trend. With vineyards in both Marlborough and Gimblett Gravels (Hawke’s Bay), the winery bridges two of New Zealand’s most expressive regions — crafting wines that are elegant, structured, and enduring.

The Marlborough vineyards, located in the Southern Valleys, are planted on clay-rich soils that provide weight and texture, particularly for Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir. In Hawke’s Bay, the focus is on Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, grown on the stony, free-draining soils of the Gimblett Gravels, where heat accumulation and gravelly stress produce reds of depth and quiet intensity. All vineyards are managed sustainably, with a strong commitment to soil health, biodiversity, and vine balance.

Winemaking is careful, restrained, and tailored to each varietal. Whites are often fermented cool in stainless steel, with extended lees contact or partial barrel fermentation in the Iliad reserve tier for added complexity. Reds undergo small-lot fermentations, with gentle extraction and ageing in French oak — always more about structure and expression than oak signature. The Iliad series, named after the epic poem, represents the pinnacle of the Odyssey range: wines of concentration, elegance, and long cellar life.

The wines are quietly expressive and composed. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc shows citrus peel, white florals, and stony tension — more mineral than tropical. Pinot Gris and Chardonnay balance orchard fruit with texture and drive. Syrah from Hawke’s Bay is fragrant, peppery, and fine-grained, while Merlot and Cabernet blends offer dark fruit, dried herbs, and firm, age-worthy structure. Across the portfolio, Odyssey wines are marked by restraint, depth, and a subtle confidence that reflects the hand behind them.

What defines Odyssey Wines is its quiet perseverance — a winery that has walked its own path, shaped by the long arc of experience, and grounded in the rhythm of land and craft.

These are wines that don’t seek attention — they hold it, with grace, clarity, and the quiet authority of time well spent.