Looking Back – Bladen Wines w/ Blair Macdonald

What a brilliant evening, presented by the owner’s son, who is someone who is involved in all aspects of the vineyard and grew up helping with the set-up and expansion of the same.

We had 34 club members attend, with a good number of orders.

The wines are made in the Alsatian style, rather than French or Italian style, which makes them on the slightly drier side, and entirely enjoyable!

It was nice to hear the pitfalls that the owners have gone through with the set-up involving the terroir and the different varieties they wanted to grow, the solutions that were presented to them that they accepted and the way the business has grown with that vision intact.

The wines we tasted during the evening were:

  • 2023 Pinot Noir Rosé
  • 2023 Pinot Gris
  • 2023 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Five Barrels’
  • 2024 Riesling ‘Eight Rows’
  • 2023 The Sum of Us (Gertz, Pinot Gris and Riesling)
  • 2024 Gewurztraminer ‘Tilly Vineyard’
  • 2019 Pinot Noir

As a reminder to members: Bladen is now closed for tastings for the Winter; reopening 25th October 2025, at 83 Conders Bend Road, Renwick.

Bladen Wines presented by Blair Macdonald

Wednesday 11th June | 8 pm start

Door Price: Members $15 / Guests $19

Cellar Door Bladen Wines – 83  Conders Bend Road, Renwick, Marlborough

In 1989, Christine and Dave Macdonald left their city lives behind to realise their dream of establishing a vineyard and winery. With caravan in tow the family embarked on a national tour to find the ideal winegrowing region and vineyard location.



Settling in Marlborough, they planted their vineyard by hand, initially growing grapes for local wineries before creating their own wines under the Bladen name. Chris and Dave quickly developed a reputation for making exceptional cool climate wines.

The Bladen name refers to Chris and Dave’s children – Blair and Deni – who were toddlers when the vineyard was developed.

Chris and Dave Macdonald are proud to be amongst the pioneers of the Marlborough winegrowing region. There were only eight wineries in the Marlborough district in 1989 when they established their vineyard.

Blair will be presenting the following wines at our tasting:

  • 2023 Pinot Noir Rosé
  • 2023 Pinot Gris
  • 2023 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Five Barrels’
  • 2024 Riesling ‘Eight Rows’
  • 2023  The Sum of Us (Gertz, Pinot Gris and Riesling)
  • 2024 Gewurztraminer ‘Tilly Vineyard’
  • 2019 Pinot Noir

Bladen is currently closed for the Winter, reopening on 25th October 2025.