The Sugar Loaf Story
World class wine starts in the soil. Sugar Loaf is a family run winery that takes Marlborough fruit further using generations of farming knowledge. Small batch by small batch, since 2007.
back in 2007
Where it all began
Born out of a youthful enthusiasm for the wine industry, Sugar Loaf Wines was founded in 2007 by the then 26-year-old Kate Acland, with little more than a love of wine, a healthy dose of optimism and a determination to give it a go.
What began as a young woman’s dream has survived the good times and the difficult ones, built on passion, dedication and plenty of hard work. Today, Sugar Loaf remains proudly family-owned, with Kate, her husband David and their three children part of a family story that spans six generations of farmers and growers.
The Acland’s are passionate about both wine and food production, with their farming roots firmly planted in the Canterbury foothills, where the family runs the extensive sheep station, Mt Somers Station. That connection to the land runs deep. Generations of farming have instilled a respect for the seasons, a long-term view of land stewardship and an appreciation that quality comes from getting the fundamentals right.
growing variety
The Vineyards
Today, Sugar Loaf has four vineyard sites spread across Marlborough’s diverse winegrowing landscape, each chosen for what its particular place brings to the bottle.
All of our vineyards are certified under the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand certification.
At Te One, on the banks of the Awatere River, we grow Sauvignon Blanc with stunning intensity and aromatics. The Papillon, in the clay hills of Marlborough’s Southern Valleys, is home to our cool-climate Pinot Noir and Syrah.
Lake Timara, at the base of the Waihopai Valley, produces classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, while our home vineyard around the winery near Renwick is dedicated to small batches of Chardonnay, Riesling and Chenin Blanc, as well as the grapes for our Blanc de Blanc.
Where the magic happens
Our Winery
Our winery at 56 Vintage Lane is perfectly equipped for production of our small batch wines, although the winery was completely refitted with modern equipment in 2026, our techniques remain traditional and time honoured.
Behind it all is a passionate and highly skilled team who take care of the day-to-day running of our vineyards, winery and business. Their experience, commitment and pride are at the heart of Sugar Loaf.
Our custom-built winery produces around 25,000 cases each year, all here on site, allowing us to oversee the journey from grape to bottle.
From one young winemaker’s leap of faith to a family business spanning six generations of farming and growing, Sugar Loaf has always been about a love of the land, a passion for what we produce, and the privilege of sharing it with others.