LAWSON'S DRY HILLS

When you combine over 30 years’ experience with an inquisitive spirit, the result is a perfect balance of knowledge and innovation. These two traits can be found in every bottle of Lawson’s Dry Hills wine – wonderful, top-quality fruit from carefully nurtured vineyards, transformed into imminently drinkable wines, using modern winemaking techniques.

2022 was Lawson’s Dry Hills 31st vintage, quite a milestone! In 2021, the company was awarded carbon zero certification having achieved the tough international standard, ISO14064. This is in addition to ISO14001, environmental management, for which the company was certified back in 2011.

The original company vineyard was planted in 1982 by Ross and Barbara Lawson, who launched the Lawson’s Dry Hills label ten years later. Today, the company’s wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and their famous Gewürztraminer, all made from fruit grown in the Wairau, Waihopai, Omaka and Awatere Valleys. These different regions and carefully selected vineyard sites provide varying characteristics derived from the different soils and microclimates, giving many options when it comes to blending to that much-anticipated Lawson’s style.

Marcus Wright

Marcus’s love of good wine came from friends passionate about NZ’s Wine Options competition. He joined them for various tastings and then competed as part of the team. In 1997 he worked with Montana as a cellar hand during vintage and then as their Cellarmaster. He then headed to South America to work the 2000 vintage in Chile for Vina San Pedro, in the Central Valley. Next was the Loire Valley, France for vintage with the highly-respected Jacques Lurton, making white wines including Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Marcus started with Lawson’s Dry Hills in 2001 and continues to enjoy producing a number of wine styles from the company’s vineyards.