Greywacke Brand Overview
Greywacke was founded in 2009 by Kevin Judd, the founding chief winemaker at Cloudy Bay, where he spent 25 years shaping the wine that brought international attention to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Greywacke represents Judd’s personal vision for the region, focusing on site expression, texture, and restraint rather than the overtly tropical style of his former role. Today, the vineyards are sustainably managed, with a growing proportion farmed organically, and wild (indigenous) yeast fermentations are widely used to add savoury complexity and build structure and mouthfeel.
The name Greywacke comes from the rounded greywacke river stones found in the soils of Judd’s first Marlborough vineyard in Rapaura, a sedimentary rock common throughout the region. Greywacke now works with carefully selected vineyard parcels across Marlborough, producing wines of clarity and balance. Alongside his winemaking, Judd is also one of New Zealand’s most respected wine photographers and the author of The Landscape of New Zealand Wine, reflecting his long-standing connection to Marlborough and its vineyards.
