Jules Taylor Wines

Born in Marlborough in the very year the region’s first vines were planted, Jules Taylor has grown up with Sauvignon Blanc at her side. Deeply connected to her home region and its grape growing families, she has helped shape some of Marlborough’s most recognised wines. Time spent working in Piedmont and Sicily cemented her belief that wine should be about enjoyment, food and friendship rather than status. After rising to Group Senior Winemaker at one of New Zealand’s leading wineries, Jules launched her own label in 2001. In 2021 she was named New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller Wine, the first Marlborough winemaker to receive the award.

Jules Taylor Wines are defined by a hands-on, instinctive approach and a deep understanding of Marlborough’s diverse vineyard sites. Jules sources fruit from select areas outside the central Wairau Valley, uncovering pockets of exceptional quality that deliver bright citrus and tropical flavours. At harvest she relies on taste rather than laboratory numbers, producing just one batch of each wine and releasing it only if it meets her exacting standards. The Classic range includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Noir, all made to be honest, expressive and full of flavour.

Alongside the Classic wines sits On The Quiet, a collection of small batch, single vineyard wines from Marlborough’s Southern Valleys. Produced only in the best vintages, these wines are a more personal expression of Jules’ winemaking, challenging conventional interpretations of the region’s signature varieties. The range includes a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir, crafted in tiny quantities and released only when Jules believes they are truly special.

Completing the portfolio is The Better Half, a label created by Jules’ husband George Elworthy. A winemaker, pilot and lifelong South Island adventurer, George produces fruit driven Marlborough wines designed to be enjoyed in the moment. The Better Half Sauvignon Blanc and The Better Half Pinot Noir are vibrant, expressive and made with a strong sense of place and adventure. All wines across the portfolio are sustainably certified, made with minimal intervention and reflect a shared commitment to protecting Marlborough’s unique environment.