Neal and Judy Ibbotson

Neal and Judy Ibbotson’s remarkable contribution to wine

This story was written by Sophie Preece, for the November 2020 edition of Winepress.

Photo by Jim Tannock 

WHEN NEAL and Judy Ibbotson bought a bare block of land on the outskirts of Blenheim, it was meant as a stepping stone to something bigger. Instead it was the “right place at the right time”, say the founders of Saint Clair Family Estate, 42 years after planting their first vines. 

Judy and Neal have been awarded the 2020 Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award, after more than four decades spent growing and promoting Marlborough’s wine industry. It’s a story that stretches from 1978, when they planted their own block – one of the first nine property owners to become contract growers for Montana – to today, when Saint Clair Family Estate is one of the largest family-owned wine companies in New Zealand, with a number of Marlborough vineyards, a winery and over 70 export markets to its name. “We are very proud of the fact that we are 100% family owned and that we now have our children involved in the industry,” says Neal, from their vineyard home at the edge of that original block. 

He was a farm consultant in the 1970s, and the 13-hectare Fairhall land was not the farm he dreamed of. But the couple set about making it work for them, with 100 pigs on their paddocks and Judy sometimes seen racing down New Renwick Rd in her turquoise Morris Minor, chasing an errant porker. 

In 1978, the Ibbotsons took a punt on a brand new industry, and set about planting vines. Neal would drive a tractor up and down their paddocks on the weekends, drilling holes ready for planting. On weekdays, Judy and a group of helpers would set about planting during school hours, driving her Morrie through the vineyard, loaded with vines. “It was once stuck out here for two days in the mud,” she says with a laugh. “Because it wasn’t a tractor,” adds Neal. 

They were busy days of planning and planting, and Judy clearly remembers the day Neal returned home for lunch wielding a calculator. “He asked me how many rows I had done,” she says, still amazed at his audacity. Neal recalls it clearly too. “Judy pointed to the gate and said, ‘go back the same way you came in’.” 

He soon found that growing young vines was as rewarding as growing young livestock, with similar principles to both – “it’s all about care and attention,” he says. “With vines they respond and produce quality wine.” 

In those early days, fellow grower Henk Ruesink was an invaluable source of advice for the couple, advising them to use trickle irrigation at a time when people feared it would dilute the wines. “Henk was a great mentor,” says Neal. “He had green fingers and knew about horticulture and put it into grape growing.” He and the straight-talking Dutchman had an annual competition to grow their young vines the fastest. “We saw Henk one day and he said, ‘I got my first grapevine onto the wire on Christmas day’,” Neal recalls. “I said, ‘what time?’” 

In 1994 the Ibbotsons established their own label with three wines – a Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc - and by the next year had quadrupled their production. By 2006 Saint Clair had its own winery, and they’ve steadily grown their offering and reputation since, with the likes of the wines that won four trophies at last month’s Marlborough Wine Show.

Neal and Judy’s strong partnership has been key to their success, and Neal says it is “significant and important” that the Lifetime Achievement Award recognises that, instead of acknowledging an individual. “Because Judy has been such an important part of the development. Not only in the initial planting but also in promoting our wines all around the world.” Judy says they decided very early on, after Neal did an overseas marketing trip on his own, that “if we couldn’t both go, we wouldn’t go”.

As well as their team of two, and the family coming up through the business, their successes have only happened because of Saint Clair’s wider crew, says Neal. “Whilst the names are Neal and Judy, it’s only been possible because of the people around us. It’s not about the things you do yourself, it’s always about the people you work with.” 

To read more about the Saint Clair Family Estate journey, check out the May 2019 edition of Winepress.