Bladen Wines has always been part of Deni Macdonald's life, as she grew up alongside it.
Her parents moved from Wellington to Marlborough in 1989 and turned a bare paddock on Conders Bend Road into a vineyard. The label was named after her and her brother, Blair, so she had a special connection with it from the start.
Growing up, she watched Marlborough turn from forests into vineyards and her parents build a business from scratch. Today her parents still lead the business, and she and her brother are shaping its next chapter. Her brother cares for the vineyard, and she shares its story.
“Together we get to tell the journey from vine to glass, and that's something I don't take for granted,” Macdonald said.
The wines reflect both Marlborough and the family. The Sauvignon Blanc is Bladen’s signature wine, and Macdonald said it delivers freshness and balance.
The Pinot Noir also had a special place in their hearts. Macdonald’s parents had many conversations about making it and wondered if they should choose something a little less temperamental.
However, they were grateful they opted to produce it because it had become an integral part of who they were.
Alongside those, the Pinot Gris and soon-to-be-released Chardonnay will continue to showcase Bladen’s diversity.
Read more in the latest issue here
