The Marris family is not simply a family of winegrowers in Marlborough, they are one of its founding families. When John Marris, Brent's father, planted the region's first commercial vines for Montana Wines in 1973, he laid the foundations of a saga that now spans three generations. Marisco Vineyards, a name drawn from the family ancestor "de Marisco", has been producing since 2006 wines that express every face of Marlborough, from the vibrant Sauvignon Blanc of the Waihopai Valley to the Pinot Noir of the Southern Valleys.
History / Heritage
Brent Marris grew up among his father's pioneering vineyards and fermentation tanks. His trajectory is that of a man who always kept one step ahead: founder of Oyster Bay, then creator of Wither Hills, two brands that contributed to the worldwide renown of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, he launched Marisco in 2006 to go further: towards wines that tell the story of Marlborough's sub-regions rather than simply the generic appellation. His daughters are now involved in managing the estate, with Emma Marris becoming the first third-generation female winemaker in all of Marlborough.
The Terroir
Marisco owns five distinct vineyards across the region. The heart of the range is anchored in the Waihopai Valley, a steep valley carved by glaciers, with three terraces of different soils generating a remarkable diversity of aromatic profiles. The Ned vineyard is planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, and smaller blocks of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Viognier. The Leefield Station estate, a former pastoral property of 2,200 hectares, of which 650 are under vine, is the most recent and most ambitious. The Southern Valleys house the Pinot Noir parcels, on soils particularly well-suited to the variety.
Viticulture and Winemaking
Marisco's philosophy combines family heritage with modern technical rigour. Sustainable viticulture is central to practices across all vineyards. In the cellar, precision is paramount: controlled fermentations for fresh Sauvignon Blancs, partial oak ageing for superior cuvées, and gentle extraction for the Pinots. The range is divided into several collections: The Ned (everyday and exuberant), Leefield Station (terroir and history), Kings Series (a tribute to Marisco's ancestors), and Craft Series (prestige wines honouring key personalities of the house).
Wines / Key Cuvées
The Ned Sauvignon Blanc is the estate's flagship cuvée and one of Marlborough's best-selling export wines: blackcurrant, melon, citrus, grapefruit, with the zesty acidity that has made the variety's worldwide reputation. The Ned Pinot Gris, salmon-pink and perfumed, combines lychee, white peach, and a broad palate. The Kings Series is a more ambitious line, inspired by the De Marisco ancestors, offering cuvées with a more complex profile in search of parcel identity.
Marisco Vineyards embodies three generations of passion for Marlborough, and the conviction that the better you know a terroir, the better it expresses itself.
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