Jules Taylor of Jules Taylor Wines
Born in Marlborough in the year the first vines were planted, Jules has literally grown up with Sauvignon Blanc. She trained as a winemaker at Lincoln University, cut her teeth at Cloudy Bay and Kim Crawford Wines, and squeezed in nine vintages in Italy along the way — five of them in Sicily — before going out on her own in 2001 with 400 cases and a lot of self-belief. Named New Zealand Winemaker of the Year in 2021, she's spent more than two decades championing Marlborough and its grape-growing families, and has made some of the region's best known and most successful wines.
We asked her to tell us about the six wines that changed her life....
Wine 1 - Daniel Le Brun Methode Champenoise. When I was 16, I stole (oops, they don’t know!) a bottle from my parents’ stash and was totally mesmerised by everything about this wine – you have to remember, this was in the late 80’s and wine hadn’t played a huge part in our culture when I was growing up so I hadn’t been exposed to many interesting wines at the time!!! This wine definitely got my attention….
Wine 2 - Not one wine but Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. At the time, I had no idea this variety that has such a unique expression when grown in our soil/climate, would have such a huge impact on my life! This wine style has supported me, our family and I’m so proud to have been part of its evolution here
Wine 3 - While working in Northern Italy as a young winemaker, Barolo was never far from my glass. Prunotto springs to mind as a wine with finesse, age ability, and gloriously simple, elegant packaging
Wine 4 Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes - Need I say more! The lusciousness of this wine, I loved it from the moment I had it. Back then, in the 90’s, I would carry half bottles home in my hand luggage.
Wine 5 - Taittinger Comtes Champagne 1986? - When the world was going to end at the turn of the century – we drank this! I think it was 1986 but can’t really remember. My desert island wine would be a blanc de blancs (if it were too far to ship sauvignon blanc!). This wine might have started that love….
Wine 6 - Sadie Vineyards Mev. Kirsten Chenin Blanc 2017 – one of the loveliest wines we drank over the first Covid lockdown in NZ. So many layers of flavour, floral with stone fruits and gorgeous acidity.
We aren’t supposed to have favourites, but I would have to say, a lovely glass of bright, juicy Marlborough sauvignon blanc with Barack Obama, Anthony Bourdain and Emma Thompson – over delicious food of course!
You can buy Jules' delicious wines by clicking here