Marlborough, January 2007 - Nautilus Estate has purchased a new Marlborough vineyard to help meet demand for the award winning Nautilus Marlborough Pinot Noir.

The “Clay Hills Vineyard” is the fifth vineyard owned by the winery, and will take total vineyard area to 70 hectares.

Located on an elevated hillside of the Eastern side of the Omaka valley, the vineyard was planted between 1999 to 2003 with 8 hectares of pinot noir - clones UDC5, 114, 115, 667, 777.

The purchase of this vineyard builds on Nautilus’ already strong focus on Pinot Noir, with its dedicated Pinot Noir cellar, (the first in the Southern Hemisphere), built at the winery in 2000 and its research into Pinot Noir clonal selection.

Winemaker Clive Jones says “The addition of the “Clay Hills Vineyard” fruit will further strengthen our Pinot Noir program and complement existing company and grower Pinot Noir resources.   We can expect the resulting wine to be a premium blend component for Nautilus Pinot Noir that will add mid palate structure and texture.”

Viticulturalist Mike Collins says “With our existing company vineyards on the Wairau Valley floor and in the Awatere, already producing trophy winning Pinot Noir, the one thing we lacked was a premium southern valleys hillside site.  The Clay Hills Vineyard fits the bill perfectly and with the majority of the block having been cropped for 5 years, the vines are looking well balanced and ready to reveal the full potential of the site.”