Ashleigh Barrowman

Marlborough, New Zealand

Ashleigh Barrowman is part of the exciting new wave of small producers who are reinventing the Marlborough appellation. Long considered to be the engine room of New Zealand wine production, Ashleigh is one of a growing group of inspired winemakers working with a totally different mindset to their counterparts.

In 2014, whilst working as a web designer, Ashleigh met Hans and Therese Herzog, Swiss-German winemakers who moved to NZ to pursue a new winemaking project in Marlborough, an 11.5HA estate planted with over 27 different varieties. Soon afterwards, Ashleigh would come to join the team, helping the Herzogs with their sales and getting the opportunity to spend a lot of time in the vineyards.

Ash’s commitment to making fine wines is reflected in her many harvest experiences, having worked under Jean-Jacques Morel (Burgundy), Jean-Baptiste Menigoz &  Florien Kleine Snuverink (Les Bottes Rouges, Jura), Anna Martens and Eric Narioo (Vino di Anna, Etna) and Charline, Julien and Romain Labet (Domaine Labet, Jura).

The Covid-19 pandemic then proved to be the catalyst that Ashleigh needed to start her own project. As the world locked down, she saw this as an opportunity to return to NZ and embark on the journey of finally making her own wines. It led her to Wrekin Vineyard, a polyculture farm working with cattle, sheep, fruit, olives, vineyards and natural woodlands. She has become an integral part of their vineyard team, working with organic and biodynamic practices, and pouring all of her energy into the 11HA farm. It also means that she has access to fruit from this special site, long considered to be one of the ‘Grand Crus’ of Marlborough. Ashleigh only works with fruit from The Wrekin, and so only makes wine using Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Ashleigh’s wines are beautiful. They are fine wines, intelligently crafted to fully express a very special nook of the Marlborough landscape. They are soulful and refined, and sit comfortably alongside some of the most sought after wines of the world.