Back in 1979, when Ivan and Margaret Sutherland first planted the Dog Point vineyard, Marlborough was a long way from being the household name amongst wine drinkers that it is today. The investment proved to be a sage decision, and as the popularity of Marlborough grew (thanks in no small part to Ivan Sutherland’s work as chief viticulturist at Cloudy Bay), the fruit from this vineyard in Marlborough’s southern valleys became highly sought-after. Whilst working at Cloudy Bay, Sutherland met James Healy, the head winemaker, and together, they aspired to produce their wines. This dream came to fruition with the 2002 vintage, and the first wines made under the Dog Point name were released in 2004, quickly winning global acclaim. Dog Point’s icon status has been maintained through a meticulous approach in both the vineyard and the winery, now the responsibility of the next generation of the Sutherland family who has taken charge. All the grapes from the low-cropped, organic vineyard are hand-picked, and the wines are either partially or fully fermented with wild yeasts. The focused range of just four wines allows for a house style that marries complexity and drinkability, producing distinctive and age-worthy wines that are recognisably Dog Point.