In 1842 James Holdaway arrived in Nelson and by 1853 at only 17 years of age he was working in Marlborough. One of his many jobs was driving a bullock dray carrying wool from the Awatere Valley to the Wairau Bar. In 1864 he purchased land in Dillons Point on the lower Wairau plains which he named Lowlands. Now his descendants grow Sauvignon Blanc grapes on this land.

Nestled in the heart of Marlborough’s lower Wairau plains, Holdaway Estate's vineyards (totalling 182 ha) are all in the Lower Wairau/Dillons Point sub-region of Marlborough and include property continuously owned by the Holdaway family since 1864.

At Holdaway Estate, we aim to work with natural systems and processes, employing an innovative and biologically regenerative approach to grape growing that focuses on improving the quality of the soil and health of our vines.

The Holdaway family have founded the Mount Impey Conservation Estate - one of the largest privately owned areas of forest being actively managed for conservation in South Marlborough.

Through this project, proceeds from wine sales directly contribute to the enhancement of New Zealand’s unique biodiversity.