Philosophy
My philosophy is simple; source outstanding fruit from exceptional vineyard sites. Once the fruit has been harvested, I believe my role is to simply steer the fruit in the right direction in order to best express the vibrant fruit flavours that Marlborough is renowned for while respecting the subtle differences of each site.

My aspiration at Catalina Sounds is to continue producing excellent quality wines of beautiful fruit expression, interest, finesse and balance. I will strive to create wines of great honesty and integrity that are true to their site, while attempting to incorporate complexity and longevity into the wines.

Marlborough Region
There is something very special about Marlborough. I am yet to visit a more ideally located wine region and a climate more suited to high quality cool-climate viticulture. Since working in a bottle store while studying in Adelaide and noticing the ever increasing interest in wines from the region and still after having lived here for six years, I continue to be fascinated with the diversity of styles of wine that this region can produce and what may evolve in the future.

And then of course there’s the outdoor lifestyle…from the snow-capped mountains and alpine lakes in one direction, to rugged coastlines and stunning tramping through native bush the other.

I can still remember flying into Marlborough for the first time in 2005, over the labyrinth of finger-like outcrops and deep turquoise water that are the drowned valleys of the stunning Marlborough Sounds and into the crisp air that awaited me on the ground. It is something that still gives me goosebumps every time I fly in today and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Peter Jackson,
Catalina Sounds Winemaker