Clayridge Vineyards is the embodiment of a dream for Mike and Paula Just; they lovingly hand-planted the vineyard themselves and they have created and developed the Clayridge brand over many years with same degree of focus and passion.
In the vineyard, careful vine selection, close planting, low yields & hands-on viticulture based around environmental sustainability all contribute to the consistent creation of a range of exceptional wines vintage after vintage. The key to Clayridge’s famous Pinot Noir range is that the non-irrigated nature of the vineyard means that the vines grow small concentrated bunches which then produce wines of great character and individuality.
Clayridge also has two other boutique vineyards growing exclusively for the Clayridge brand with the same degree of passion established by Mike and Paula.
Escaroth Estate is a stunning hillside vineyard of 10 acres situated on north facing slopes in Marlborough’s Taylor Pass valley, and the Barnhouse Vineyard is an impeccably managed 3 acre block planted in the clay based soils of the Wither Hills.
New neighbours Cloudy Bay and Seresin lend weight to Mikes “gut feeling” that the area has great potential!
Planting process at Clayridge, from site clearance to Mike and Paula hand planting
Mike pruning and training the next generation
Mike and Paula Just have been involved in the Marlborough wine industry for over a decade. Mike started his training as a winemaker in Germany in the late 1980’s & subsequently worked at a number of prominent German wineries. Paula worked alongside Mike for close to a year in Germany before they returned to New Zealand in 1995, where they settled in Marlborough. Mike established his winemaking reputation during an eight year stint as Senior Winemaker at Lawson’s Dry Hills where he amassed 6 Trophies, 20 Gold medals and achieved Top 100 status in the US with his wines before leaving to embark on the Clayridge ‘mission’.
The vineyard was painstakingly hand-planted by founders Mike and Paula Just on a steep north facing slope which is the highest site of its type in the entire Marlborough region. The Pinot Noir vines at Clayridge, unlike most on the low flat plains of the region, have never been irrigated and as such have established a natural deep rooting system that maximizes the flavour potential of the low vigour clay-based soils on this unique site. Clayridge’s unique combination of altitude and attitude allows the vineyard to exhibit the genuine potential of the terroir of this special slope.
Careful vine selection, close planting, low yields & hands-on viticulture based around environmentally sustainable practices all contribute to achieving the premium quality that Clayridge has become famous for. Unlike most other vineyards, Clayridge is non-irrigated with the goal of growing small concentrated bunches to produce wines of great character, depth and individuality.
Click here to view details of the Clayridge range of wines
Michael Edward Just (Mike) is a direct descendent of King Edward III of England & the Royal family of that era. King Edward III ruled from 1327 to 1377 and together with his legendary son Edward the “Black Prince” formed the Knights Order of the Garter and defeated the French in both the battle of Crecy and the battle of Poitiers. This ancestry led Mike to become very interested in the middle ages - to the extent that medieval sword fighting and tournament attendances became virtually a way of life during his time in Europe.
This passion has led him to choose the family crest of his ancestor and mentor King Edward III as the brand to represent Clayridge & thereby link past & present through these noble wines.
Edward the Black Prince