Butterworth

Butterworth Estate

The Butterworths, a family entwined in New Zealand’s farming and sailing history, are the custodians of the Julicher Vineyard situated on the iconic soils of Te Muna. Planted in the late 1990’s, our vineyard is on a small block of land in the Te Muna Valley (Te Reo for The Secret Place) in Martinborough. Perched on a lifted alluvial escarpment, we have deep stony alluvial soils that are free-draining, we are in the windiest and driest area of the North Island. Our proximity at the bottom of the North Island and in a valley, we are exposed to the Antarctic winds. Our long warm days and cold nights make it ideal growing conditions for high quality Pinot Noir. 

Owned by champion yachtsman Brad Butterworth and his family, Brad is a 4 time winner of the America’s Cup and Hall of Fame inductee as well as winning the Round The World Race with Sir Peter Blake. While the Butterworth Family is world famous for their sailing achievements, their viticultural heritage dates back to the founding days of the New Zealand wine industry. Romeo Bragato described the family’s wine production as ‘equal, and very likely superior, to any wine imported into the country’ at the time. The original 1890’s vineyard property is still in the family today.