Spy Valley

Spy Valley is a family-run winery in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley, where Bryan and Jan Johnson established 180 hectares of estate vineyards in the 1990s. Its name refers to its proximity to a local spy base.

The winery grows seven grape varieties, and its Area H vineyard is an example of spring-fed wetlands in the lower Wairau Valley. It has been accredited under the New Zealand Sustainable Winegrowing scheme since 1999. Organic matter and compost replenish soil nutrients, while cultivation is minimised. Sheep also graze during winter to keep the grass down and reduce mowing. Irrigation is minimal, with two of its vineyards receiving no irrigation.