About
About
Established
in 2004
Established in 2004, Two Rivers of Marlborough takes its name from the iconic rivers that feed the wine growing heart of Marlborough’s renowned Wairau and Awatere Valleys.
It was in the Awatere valley, overlooking the braided river, that founder and winemaker David Clouston spent his childhood. He now lives in the Wairau valley, where he has made his home and his mark on the wine industry.
Established
in 2004
Established in 2004, Two Rivers of Marlborough takes its name from the iconic rivers that feed the wine growing heart of Marlborough’s renowned Wairau and Awatere Valleys.
It was in the Awatere valley, overlooking the braided river, that founder and winemaker David Clouston spent his childhood. He now lives in the Wairau valley, where he has made his home and his mark on the wine industry.
Our Team
Pip Clouston (Pipi)
Co-owner & In House Legal
Pip was born in Marlborough, educated in Christchurch and then studied law at the University of Otago. After years of travelling and working abroad, Pip returned to Marlborough in 2008. She loves spending time in the Marlborough Sounds, enjoys skiing, yoga and sampling her husband’s Rosé.
Jason Yank
Commercial Director
UK born, Jason was schooled in Holland and took on management roles for Marks and Spencer and Aston Carter in London before settling in New Zealand with his family in 2004. Jason brings to the table over a decade of wine industry knowledge, people and places and loves sauvignon blanc and chardonnay.
Sanna Stander
Production Winemaker
Born, raised and educated in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Sanna gained winemaking experience in South Africa and France before coming to New Zealand in 2004. She loves spending time with her two young children, enjoys cooking, art, and her favourite wines are chardonnay and cabernet franc.
Rachael Pauw (Rach)
Logistics & Dry Goods Manager
Originally from Auckland, Rachael came to the team in 2016, armed with 5 years of logistics experience from Wine Works Marlborough. She is most happy with her gorgeous new baby daughter in her arms, or a glass of something big and red in her hand, preferably a pinotage.
Naomi Galvin (Nomes)
Marketing Manager
Growing up in Wellington, Naomi came to Marlborough to study wine and then went on to work vintages in New Zealand, Australia and France. She can be found riding her bicycle to work, watching French cinema or camping with her family. Chardonnay and syrah are her wines of choice.
Cherie Pope
Accounts Manager
Cherie, a Marlborough local, started working for Dew & Company Lawyers straight from school 28 years ago and in addition, takes care of the accounts for Two Rivers and Winos. Cherie enjoys spending time with her teenage children, reading a good book and gardening. Her favourite wine is Two Rivers Rosé.
01
Wairau Valley
Vineyards
This pioneering winegrowing valley of Marlborough, has exceptional stony vineyard sites for white wines, showing great vibrancy and pure fruit intensity.
Soil
Ancient alluvial with deep, free-draining stony soils.
Climate
Largely regulated by the Wairau River, this valley is warm and sunny with many early-ripening sites.
| Vineyards | Varietal | Vine Age | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Collyns | Sauvignon Blanc | 10 years |
2 | Jones | Sauvignon Blanc | 12 years |
3 | Macfarlane | Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay | 30 years 25 years |
02
Southern Valleys
Vineyards
Made up of the Omaka, Fairhall, Brancott, Ben Morvan and Waihopai Valleys this important sub-region has complex soils which add depth and structure to wines, especially Pinot Noir.
Soil
The hill slope soils of the Southern Valleys tend to be heavier than that of the Wairau Valley. They are richer in clay and more complex.
Climate
Cold air descends from the nearby Wither Hills creating a cooler, later ripening climate than that of the Wairau Valley. These valleys see less rainfall than the northern side of the Wairau plain.
| Vineyards | Varietal | Vine Age | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pouwhare | Sauvignon Blanc | 10 years |
2 | Dew | Sauvignon Blanc Pinot Noir | 10 years 8 years |
3 | Brookby Hill | Pinot Noir | 10 years |
03
Awatere Valley
Vineyards
Situated farthest south and with the highest altitude, this most recently developed valley has typically low yielding sites, producing bright, aromatic Pinot Noir and dramatic, distinctive Sauvignon Blanc.
Soil
Diverse soils from river terraces and flood plains with alluvial gravels, clay and windblown loess.
Climate
Stretching inland from the sea, with higher altitudes, the Awatere Valley is cooler, drier and windier than the other Marlborough valleys.
| Vineyards | Varietal | Vine Age | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jones (Terrace) Altitude - 75m | Sauvignon Blanc | 12 years |
2 | Richmond Brook Altitude - 100m | Sauvignon Blanc | 12 years |
3 | Jones (Long Lane) Altitude - 50m | Sauvignon Blanc | 16 years |
01
Wairau Valley
Vineyards
This pioneering winegrowing valley of Marlborough, has exceptional stony vineyard sites for white wines, showing great vibrancy and pure fruit intensity.
Soil
Ancient alluvial with deep, free-draining stony soils.
Climate
Largely regulated by the Wairau River, this valley is warm and sunny with many early-ripening sites.
02
Southern Valleys
Vineyards
Made up of the Omaka, Fairhall, Brancott, Ben Morvan and Waihopai Valleys this important sub-region has complex soils which add depth and structure to wines, especially Pinot Noir.
Soil
The hill slope soils of the Southern Valleys tend to be heavier than that of the Wairau Valley. They are richer in clay and more complex.
Climate
Cold air descends from the nearby Wither Hills creating a cooler, later ripening climate than that of the Wairau Valley. These valleys see less rainfall than the northern side of the Wairau plain.
03
Awatere Valley
Vineyards
Situated farthest south and with the highest altitude, this most recently developed valley has typically low yielding sites, producing bright, aromatic Pinot Noir and dramatic, distinctive Sauvignon Blanc.
Soil
Diverse soils from river terraces and flood plains with alluvial gravels, clay and windblown loess.
Climate
Stretching inland from the sea, with higher altitudes, the Awatere Valley is cooler, drier and windier than the other Marlborough valleys.
Our Mission
Two Rivers of Marlborough’s mission is to select the finest parcels of fruit from the banks of both the Wairau and Awatere rivers to craft wines that express the different microclimates peculiar to these two rivers.
Our aim at Two Rivers of Marlborough is to capture and emphasise the intense power of flavour for which Marlborough is famous for while adding complexity and elegance to our wines through traditional winemaking techniques.
Our Mission
Two Rivers of Marlborough’s mission is to select the finest parcels of fruit from the banks of both the Wairau and Awatere rivers to craft wines that express the different microclimates peculiar to these two rivers.
Our aim at Two Rivers of Marlborough is to capture and emphasise the intense power of flavour for which Marlborough is famous for while adding complexity and elegance to our wines through traditional winemaking techniques.