m.a.u

About

Marc Udy, a winemaker of 18+ years, took a slightly unconventional path to the wine industry. His career path began with a “distinct lack of self-awareness” as he likes to put it, studying a BCOM and BTSM in Tourism Services Management at Victoria University in Wellington, straight out of high school.

After some time in the corporate world in both New Zealand and London, Marc unexpectedly worked the summer of 2003/04 at Marsden Estate in breathtakingly gorgeous Kerikeri. This experience, followed by a harvest at Ata Rangi as a cellar hand, sealed the deal for Marc who ‘followed his nose’ so to speak and went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology at Lincoln University.

It is very common for graduates to seek out vintage positions overseas to expand their knowledge and winemaking skills, and Marc is no exception here. After the 2006 harvest at Church Road, Marc ventured to Australia to work for Philip Shaw, a renowned figure in the wine industry who had previously served as the group winemaker for Southcorp/Fosters, overseeing prestigious brands such as Penfolds, Lindemans, and Rosemount.

In 2011 Marc fulfilled a dream of his, working vintage at Domaine d'Eugenie in Vosnee Romanee, Burgundy. Working with multiple Grand Cru vineyards during this period was an amazing experience that only fuelled his love of Chardonnay, and the fickle grape Pinot Noir.

2012 saw a move to Mudgee, NSW, where Marc stepped into the role of joint Winemaker for Oatley Wines, the family behind the famous Rosemount brand. This role saw Marc making wine with fruit from all over Australia, including; Mudgee, Margaret River, Great Southern, Barossa, McLaren Vale, Yarra Valley, and Mornington Peninsula.

Marc finally returned to Aotearoa - New Zealand, to become Marlborough Winemaker for the then still family owned Villa Maria, working under the guidance of Helen Morrison. Marc’s time in the corporate winemaking world was starting to take it’s toll and Marc was eager to start carving out his own path. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, he seized the opportunity and opted for voluntary redundancy, embarking on a new chapter …

As fate would have it, Marc and his partner Camilla signed a lease on a 2Ha vineyard just outside of Clevedon, Auckland. This vineyard, planted in 1995 primarily consists of Merlot, complemented by small plantings of Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Marc’s expertise in wineries is now merging with the intricacies of vineyard management, and he now finds solace and joy in tending to the vines barefoot, keeping the vineyard his little sanctuary.

In addition to his own vineyard, Marc sources 2 T of hand-picked Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the highly regarded Cowley vineyard in Marlborough's Southern Clays. The exceptional quality of this fruit left an indelible impression during Marc’s time in Marlborough.

“I unapologetically make wines I want to drink.”

- Marc Udy

Inevitably this will eventually include Syrah and Riesling.

[…Watch this space…]