Kim Crawford

Waihopai Valley

It was Marlborough that broke the Kim Crawford virtual spell for the new millennium when the founders rented a state of the art winery and purchased vineyards in Marlborough’s cool Waihopai Valley in 2000. The region, situated at 41º latitude south on the north end of the South Island, is one of New Zealand’s sunniest and driest regions. The average daily temperature in summer reaches nearly 24ºC resulting in a high heat summation for the growing season. During the daytime, strong and warm north-west winds from the mountains prevail, encouraging flower fertility and ripening. In the evenings, the temperature shifts. Clear cool nights from ocean breezes keep acid levels high in the grapes. This diurnal shift is one of the critical components contributing to the intensity of our Marlborough wines.

The Chief Winemaker

The winemaker is Dave Edmonds. Dave has worked the vintage trail from Sonoma to Germany, fine-tuning his skills while working closely with Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay programs. After he returned to his native New Zealand. He joined the Nobilo Team as Senior Winemaker in 2002, upon setting his sights on the world-renowned Sauvignon Blancs of Marlborough. He is now Chief Winemaker for New Zealand Wines, leveraging his wealth of experience on Kim Crawford and producing quality wines for the world to enjoy. After 19 years crafting Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and working with such iconic brands as Nobilo, Drylands, and Kim Crawford, Dave is just as passionate about the varietal as the day he started.