Mud House — New Zealand's Most Expressive Multi-Regional Wine Producer
Mud House is one of New Zealand's most celebrated and widely enjoyed wine brands — a producer of genuine quality, regional character, and consistent excellence that has earned a devoted following among wine lovers in Australia and around the world. Established in 1996 and drawing on fruit from some of New Zealand's most prestigious wine-growing regions, Mud House produces wines that are vibrant, expressive, and deeply reflective of the extraordinary terroir from which they come.
History & Philosophy
Founded in 1996 in the Marlborough region of New Zealand's South Island, Mud House was built on a simple but powerful philosophy: source the finest fruit from the best sites across New Zealand's diverse wine regions, and allow each vineyard's unique character to express itself with minimal intervention in the winery. The name Mud House is a nod to the earthy, grounded character of the wines — wines that are rooted in place, shaped by soil, and honest in their expression of the land from which they come.
From the outset, Mud House distinguished itself by its commitment to multi-regional sourcing — working with carefully selected growers across Marlborough, Central Otago, and the wider South Island to capture the distinct character of each region in a range of wines that together tell the story of New Zealand's extraordinary viticultural diversity. Every vineyard batch is kept separate throughout the winemaking process until blending, ensuring that the distinct character of each site is preserved and that the final wine is a true expression of its origins.
Mud House is committed to sustainable viticulture, working with growers who share its respect for the environment and its belief that healthy soils and healthy vines produce the finest fruit. This commitment to environmental stewardship is reflected in the freshness, purity, and vitality of every wine in the range.
The Regions
Marlborough is New Zealand's most celebrated and largest wine region, located at the northern tip of the South Island in the Wairau and Awatere Valleys. The region's combination of long, sunny days, cool nights, low rainfall, and free-draining stony soils creates ideal conditions for producing Sauvignon Blanc of extraordinary aromatic intensity, vibrant acidity, and distinctive regional character. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc — with its signature profile of tropical fruit, citrus, and freshly cut grass — has become one of the most recognisable and beloved wine styles in the world, and Mud House's Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a benchmark expression of the style.
Within Marlborough, Mud House sources fruit from multiple sub-regions, including the Wairau Valley — the heart of Marlborough, with its deep, fertile alluvial soils and warm, sheltered growing conditions — and the Awatere Valley, a cooler, windier sub-region to the south that produces Sauvignon Blanc of greater structure, mineral intensity, and herbaceous complexity. The Woolshed vineyard in the upper Wairau Valley is a key source of fruit, contributing the generous tropical fruit character that defines the wine's approachable, vibrant style.
Central Otago is New Zealand's most southerly and most dramatically beautiful wine region — a series of steep-sided river gorges and high-altitude basins in the interior of the South Island, at elevations of 200 to 450 metres above sea level. The region's extreme continental climate produces Pinot Noir of extraordinary intensity, colour, and complexity. Hot summer days and dramatically cold nights create a diurnal temperature variation that preserves natural acidity and aromatic complexity while allowing the grapes to ripen fully, producing Pinot Noir of remarkable depth, structure, and longevity. Central Otago's schist-based soils add a distinctive mineral quality and textural complexity to the wines that is unlike anything produced elsewhere in New Zealand.
Waipara Valley, in the Canterbury region of the South Island, contributes to the Mud House South Island Pinot Gris. Waipara's gravelly loams over alluvial subsoil, combined with a warm, sheltered microclimate protected by the Teviotdale Hills, produce wines of distinctive minerality, structure, and aromatic complexity — qualities that complement the generous fruit character of the Marlborough component in the South Island Pinot Gris blend.
Grape Varieties
Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand's most celebrated variety and the grape at the heart of the Mud House range. Marlborough's cool climate and free-draining soils produce Sauvignon Blanc of extraordinary aromatic intensity — tropical fruits (guava, passionfruit, lychee), vibrant citrus (lemon, lime, grapefruit), and the distinctive freshly cut grass and capsicum notes that are the hallmark of the regional style. Mud House's Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel to preserve the variety's natural freshness and aromatic purity.
Pinot Noir is Central Otago's signature variety and one of New Zealand's greatest contributions to the world of wine. The region's extreme climate and schist soils produce Pinot Noir of deep colour, concentrated red and dark berry fruit, fine silky tannins, and a structural elegance that allows the wines to age beautifully for five to ten years or more. Mud House's Central Otago Pinot Noir is crafted with a combination of wild and cultured yeast fermentation, cold soak, and careful oak maturation to produce a wine of genuine complexity and regional authenticity.
Pinot Gris is one of New Zealand's most exciting and versatile white varieties, producing wines that range from crisp and aromatic to rich and textured depending on the region and winemaking approach. Mud House's South Island Pinot Gris blends fruit from Marlborough and Waipara Valley, with a portion fermented in old French oak barriques and left on lees to add texture, structure, and complexity to the finished wine.
Our Range
Mud House Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough — A benchmark Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from one of the region's most celebrated producers. Pale straw with brilliant clarity. Tropical scents of guava and lychee enhanced by lively citrus and a touch of freshly mown grass on the nose. Crisp and refreshing on the palate with prominent flavours of lemon, lime, and guava balanced by delicate capsicum undertones, culminating in a clean and refreshing finish. Pairs beautifully with fresh oysters, grilled fish, Thai green curry, and goat's cheese.
Mud House South Island Pinot Gris — Marlborough & Waipara Valley — A beautifully textured and aromatic Pinot Gris blending fruit from premium vineyards in Marlborough and Waipara Valley. Aromas of spicy red apple, ripe pear, and a hint of warming ginger on the nose. Lively and textured on the palate with juicy fruit flavours of crisp apple and succulent pear, balanced by warming ginger spice and vibrant acidity. A portion fermented in old French oak barriques and left on lees adds engaging structure and mouthfeel. Will continue to reward for at least five years with proper cellaring. Pairs with sweet Thai chilli chicken noodles, roasted pork belly, and creamy pasta dishes.
Mud House Pinot Noir — Central Otago — A deeply expressive Central Otago Pinot Noir from one of New Zealand's most celebrated Pinot Noir regions. Deep ruby red with aromas of ripe red and dark berry mingling with cherry, supported by subtle spicy oak. Juicy cherries lead into a smooth, well-structured palate with a long finish, fine tannins, and balanced acidity. Crafted with a combination of wild and cultured yeast fermentation following a cold soak, with each parcel aged separately in carefully selected oak before blending. Pairs magnificently with duck, lamb, mushroom risotto, and aged hard cheeses.
How to Enjoy Mud House Wines
The Sauvignon Blanc is best served well chilled at 8–10°C — a natural partner for seafood, Asian cuisine, and fresh summer salads. The Pinot Gris is equally at home as an aperitif or alongside richer dishes such as pork belly or creamy pasta — serve at 10–12°C to appreciate its full aromatic complexity. The Central Otago Pinot Noir is best served at 16–18°C in a generous Burgundy-style glass — allow it to breathe for 20–30 minutes before serving to open its full aromatic depth.
Explore our full Mud House range below and discover why this New Zealand producer has been captivating wine lovers with its vibrant, expressive, and regionally authentic wines since 1996.
