STONELEIGH

Located in the heart of the Rapaura area and the locally known 'Golden Mile' of vineyards, the 178ha Stoneleigh vineyard is on the northern side of the Wairau Valley, within 2km of the Wairau River and the Richmond Ranges. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris vines can all be found on the Stoneleigh vineyard and the site is home to some of the oldest grafted Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc blocks in Marlborough. Some blocks of these varieties are now over 20 years old.

On the site of a former riverbed on the side of Marlborough's Wairau Valley in New Zealand, the Stoneleigh range takes it name from the abundance of stones that cover the area. The exceptional quality of the wines owes much to these stones. These stones reflect heat up onto the vines enhancing the ripening process and within the soil create the ideal growing environment.

The Stoneleigh vineyards support environmentally sustainable practices and are part of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

JAMIE MARFELL

Winemaking and viticulture runs through the veins of Stoneleigh’s Chief Winemaker Jamie Marfell.
Born deep in the Marlborough Valley to a sheep farming family, Jamie always knew he was destined for a career in agriculture. The modern region of Marlborough was built on livestock farming, and as locals slowly converted from stock farming to planting vines, Jamie’s curiosity and passion for growing grapes started from an early age. A few years later, Jamie was fresh out of Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Science, and the wine industry was small but growing quickly. When a trainee winemaker position came up in the company that is now called Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Jamie took the opportunity, and with his industrious attitude and already well-established knowledge of Marlborough wines he began his professional winemaking career.
In 2002, he was offered the opportunity to return to Marlborough to work on the Stoneleigh brand. Jamie, along with his wife and children, did not hesitate to return to where it all began. With 26 vintages behind him, Jamie loves every moment of his job.
I am lucky to be working with an amazing team that puts 110% into everything they do, and that really shows up in the wines. I believe the passion for the Stoneleigh brand is expressed in the wine and I am honoured to be part of the team that delivers this effort.