Cloudy Bay’s New Cellar Door, The Shed
The winery recently opened a new visitor center in Central Otago, surrounded by stunning South Island scenery
“Getting the understanding of the landscape and the people in the place—that informs how we make the wines. It’s very much about the place,” says Jim White, Cloudy Bay‘s Technical Director. Unlike wine made in many other places around the world, limited to a specific vineyard or region, Cloudy Bay takes advantage of two of New Zealand‘s famous wine regions: Marlborough (in the northeastern tip of the South Island) and Central Otago, not far from Queenstown closer to the southern tip. In fact, it’s the world’s southernmost wine-growing region.
The scenery in Central Otago is visually more compelling than that of many other wine growing areas, but its proximity to water and mountains plays a central role in its weather and viticulture.
Built in an old space that was used for storage since its acquisition, Cloudy Bay’s new visitor center is the thoughtful hub of the brand in the south. Nestled in a gentle valley, with a view of the mountain and adjacent to a lake, it’s among the most picturesque vistas to be found. The Shed is influenced both by the maison’s home in Marlborough as well as its unique location in Cromwell—just as their wine is.
“I think with the brand, we’ve inherited something that is incredibly famous. You know, we’re always going to be just caretakers in this. But for me, it’s probably one of the few wines, certainly from New Zealand, that you can meet people anywhere in the world and they have some special connection to it,” says White. Now with The Shed, the brand has the opportunity to continue and elevate that.
A visit to The Shed can be simple—a tasting with a view, lunch, a special event, or a day of foraging culminating in a special meal. Special events, private tastings and tours, helicopter foraging and more are available as well. Visit Cloudy Bay online for hours and details.
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