WINEMAKER
Simon Waghorn – the winemaker. Astrolabe wines are their own brand.
The Astrolabe company was established in 1996, and is the culmination of a wine-making career that began in 1982. All the skills and abilities of Simon united to capture the essence of Marlborough in purity of wine, direction and elegance.
Simon is fascinated by the distinctive features of the Awatere Valley, the Wairau Valley and the Kekerengu Islands - Marlborough sub-regions, which are either bottled or mixed together.
BEGINNING…
Simon’s winemaking career began in southern Australia and led him and his family from Kauwhata to Gisborne, and eventually settling in Marlborough. In 1996, along with old friends Paul Davenport and Sally Lewis, Simon and his wife Jane decided to start making wine under their own brand ... and this was where Astrolabe began.
OUR ESTATE…
Our grape varieties come from unique Marlboro vineyards, which adds complexity to our wine. Each vineyard was chosen for the distinctive taste that it produces. We work with specialized growers who understand the rhythm of the earth and know how to grow grapes that express terroir.
WHAT IN THE NAME?
Being a navigational tool, L’Astrolabe was the name of the ship of the French explorer Dumont D'Urville, who explored the Marlborough coast in 1827.
Simon chose the name Astrolabe because of his historical ties with Marlborough, and he likes the shade of exploration and discovery.
MARLBORO
The cool and dry climate, unique terrain and terrain make Marlborough the leading producer of aromatic white wine and Pinot Noir.
