Tucked away in a little valley, between Blenheim and Picton in Marlborough, is Johanneshof Cellars. It is one of Marlborough’s earliest vineyards and wineries, still owned by the original founders Edel Everling, and Warwick Foley. Read on to learn more about the people, the vineyard and their range of delicious wines, sparkling Methode Traditionnelle and Spirits.
INTRODUCTION
Johanneshof Cellars is a boutique winery in Marlborough at the northern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, just 10 km outside the seaside town of Picton. The acclaimed winery was founded by two winemakers from opposite sides of the world. Proudly celebrating 35 vintages at their boutique winery Johanneshof this year 2025. Edel and Warwick’s pioneering spirit also saw them create New Zealand’s first underground rock cellar in 1993.
Although a true ’boutique winery’ they have a large portfolio of wines, specialising in aromatic varieties, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Dessert Wines. Over 35 years Warwick and Edel have perfected the art of making Methode Traditionnelle in the traditional style. In true artisanal style, the two winemakers hand-riddle each sparkling wine bottle in their unique underground rock cellar, which was the first of its kind in New Zealand.
THE PEOPLE
Warwick, a New Zealander, and Edel trained as winemakers in her home area Rheingau in Germany. Both studied at the famous Geisenheim wine university and Edel worked at the Geisenheim Wine Research Centre in Rheingau, one of the world’s great white wine regions along the Rhine River. They also worked for a number of famous German wineries before returning to Warwick’s home in Koromiko, Marlborough, where they established Johanneshof Cellars, a true boutique winery in 1991.
Warwick Foley – Warwick, a fifth generation New Zealander grew up on the property that he and Edel later established Johanneshof Cellars on. As a teenager his parents encouraged him to follow his dream and plant one of the first vineyards in Marlborough on their land in 1977, just four years after the first commercial grapes had been introduced to Marlborough.
The vineyard at Koromiko consisted of mainly Riesling and some different varieties, and was later replanted entirely with Pinot Noir. Named “Maybern Vineyard” after Warwick’s parents May and Bernhard it was one of the first vineyards in Marlborough and the first steep hillside vineyard planted in Marlborough.
To learn about winemaking Warwick ventured north to work at NZ’s first wine research station in Te Kauwhata near Hamilton where he met Edel in the early 1980s. Taking up viticulture and winemaking training in Germany led him to work in renown wineries in Rheingau and Baden for the following five years.
While attending Geisenheim University as a guest student he took the opportunity to subsidise his studies by working as an English tour guide at the famous winery and cellar of Schloss Johannisberg and as steward at one of the world’s most famous wine auctions in Kloster Eberbach in Eltville, both in Rheingau.
Edel Everling M.Sc. Viticulture & Oenology – Edel grew up in Ruedesheim am Rhein, which is situated on the Rhine and part of the famous winegrowing area Rheingau in Germany. This area is world renowned for its Riesling, but also growing other aromatics and Pinot Noir.
Edel grew up in a winemaking family and can trace back five generations of winemakers on both sides of her family with her parents and grandparents growing and making wine in Rheingau and previous to that – like generations before them – around Bohemian areas across the border from Vienna, now in Slowakia.
From an early age Edel was helping in the vineyards overlooking the river Rhine where vines grow on the steepest slopes imaginable. This stood her well when meeting Warwick in New Zealand who had established Marlborough’s first steep hillside vineyard in 1977.
Edel continued her travels around Australasia for more than a year and finished her degree in viticulture and oenology at Geisenheim University in Germany, before the two went into business together to establish Johanneshof Cellars.
THE PLACE
Their estate vineyard ‘Maybern’ was planted by Warwick as a teenager, 45 years ago and was the first steep hillside vineyard in Marlborough. They employed coal miners to blast New Zealand’s first underground rock cellar underneath the Maybern vineyard, which extends 50 metres into the hill and seven storeys deep. It holds a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, ideal for aging their wines, Methode Traditionnelle and spirits.
The cellar was blasted by coal miners into the rock underneath the MAYBERN vineyard using explosives to establish a traditional wine cellar. Keeping a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius and a high humidity it maintains ideal conditions to cellar wines, sparkling wines and spirits.
Johanneshof Cellars is considered a benchmark for aromatic wines in New Zealand and produces a range of white wines, pinot noir and Methode Traditionnelle from hand harvested grapes only. Edel and Warwick craft all wines and sparkling wines on-site and the sparkling wines are bottle fermented like Champagne and are riddled by hand.
With their decade long expertise they were founding members of ‘Methode Marlborough’ a society of 12 premium Marlborough Methode Traditionnelle producers, educating about and promoting the art of Methode Traditionnelle wines. Johanneshof ages their sparkling wines for more than 10 years before disgorgement (taking out the yeast) and the release of thesparkling wine. Johanneshof also produces a super premium, 34 year old solera, a grape brandy named “Edelbrand”.
THE WINES
Johanneshof’s wines are crafted in very limited quantities and are sought after, not catering for the mass market. Their reputation as one of the most awarded and best boutique wineries in New Zealand is based on attention to detail in vineyard and winery, sustainably grown grapes, low cropping levels, hand-harvesting and handcrafting their premium wines, low-intervention winemaking and caring for the environment. Johanneshof wines are also found in the best restaurants in New Zealand and few export markets.
Some of their current releases include…
Johanneshof Cellars Pinot Noir Rosé NV Maybern Single Vineyard – Released September 2024
The Johanneshof Pinot Noir Rosé NV displays a very light rose colour. Heavenly scented aromas of violets, red melon, rhubarb and a touch of almond.
Johanneshof Cellars Marlborough Pinot Gris 2025 Single Vineyard – New RELEASE September 2025
The Johanneshof Pinot Gris appeals with its lovely opulent pearl appearance. Released in October 2024 it is a delicate wine with a bouquet of pear, peach and honeysuckle.
Johanneshof Cellars Marlborough Gewürztraminer 2025 – Released in September 2025
The Johanneshof Gewürztraminer 2025 shines in the glass in its straw colour. The floral bouquet of honeysuckle, rose petals and violets is underpinned with aromas of white stone fruit and pears.
Johanneshof Cellars Pinot Noir ‘Maybern’ 2024 Single Vineyard Reserve – New Release April 2025
The 2024 Johanneshof Cellars Maybern Pinot Noir with its translucent ruby colour is beautifully aromatic with notes of violets, red melon, rhubarb, and a gentle touch of almond. Flavours of wild Cherries and blackberries are layered with subtle notes of tobacco and smoke.
To purchase current releases online visit – https://johanneshof.nz/
Johanneshof Cellar Door
You may wish to visit the cellar door, taste the wines and explore the underground cellar too – You are encouraged to book your visit and check opening hours by phoning first, as their hours may change at short notice. They are a small team involved in all aspects of growing and crafting their wines and are currently creating a new vintage of wines for you.
There is lots of information here about their location and contact detail, visiting hours, arranging tours, New Zealand and International wine deliveries, joining their cellar club and social media links
For more information and to explore the Johanneshof website visit:
https://www.johanneshof.co.nz/contact.html
ACCOLADES
Johanneshof Cellars has established a strong reputation for hand crafted, full flavoured wines, recognized by many national and international awards. Testimony to that is Johanneshof’s outstanding International Trophy for “Champion Aromatic White Wine of the World” at Decanter World Wine Awards in London in 2005.
Johanneshof Cellars Gewürztraminer is classed a “Super Classic New Zealand Wine” by prominent wine writer Michael Cooper in his ‘Michael Cooper’s Buyers Guide to NZ Wine since 2010 highlighting consistency of excellence over at least five vintages.
Johanneshof Gewürztraminer has been recognized in the ‘Real Review Wine Classification’ with TWO MERITS. It comprises the greatest wines of Australia and New Zealand with an outstanding track record of a decade or longer. Each wine has demonstrated its outstanding quality in blind tastings over a period of at least ten years.
Johanneshof Cellars Pinot Noir Rosé Maybern Single Vineyard NV
Judges Selection – Global Fine Wine Challenge 2025, Sydney Sept 2025
Johanneshof Cellars Pinot Noir Maybern Single Vineyard 2024
GOLD – NZ International Wine Show, Sept 2025
Johanneshof Cellars Gewürztraminer 2024 (Sold Out Already)
GOLD – Global Fine Wine Challenge 2025, Sydney Sept 2025
GOLD – NZ International Wine Show, Sept 2025
GOLD – National Wine Awards Aotearoa NZ, Sept 2025
5 STAR – SUPER CLASSIC NZ WINE – Michael Cooper, since 2010
Wine Classification NZ & 2 Merits MM – The Real Review Nov 2022
94/100 – Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review Dec 2024
More awards and accolades here: https://www.johanneshof.co.nz/awards.html
JB’s WINE NOTES
Johanneshof Cellars Pinot Gris 2025, Marlborough NZ
Pale rose-gold, onion-skin coloured wine, with a lovely oily viscosity. In the nose, ripe stone fruit, spiced pears & tropical fruit aromas, a hint of savoury herb / minerality too. The off-dry palate has flavours of crunchy pear, peach, ripe pineapple & spice, the acidity is softer than expected but lots of complexity, it’s beautifully textured & the finish is long & unctuous. Excellent food wine paired with Asian dishes. RRP: $32.00
Johanneshof Gewürztraminer 2025, Marlborough NZ
Shiny pale straw in colour, soft golden hues, & a nice oily viscosity. An aromatic & rose perfumed nose has notes of white peaches & tropical fruit & a hint of spice too. Lovely, well-rounded palate, the stone & tropical fruit flavours reflect the nose, then a sweet hint of honey, Turkish delight & spices. It’s juicy, nicely textured, with a fine acid line all in balance. Delicious off-dry finish. A taste of Alsace but from Marlborough Excellent! RRP: $37.00
Johanneshof Gewürztraminer 2024, Marlborough NZ
Bright, clear & glossy pale gold in colour, green hues, oily viscosity. The nose is fragrant, sweet floral notes then aromas of honey, pears, peaches & ginger spices. On the intensely concentrated palate, there’s luscious tropical & stone-fruit flavours, ginger spice & honey, all underpinned with a fine, grippy acidity & mouthfeel. A complex, textured, layered wine. Long juicy, yet off-dry finish. Awarded a Gold Medal at the recent NZ International Wine Show – Outstanding! RRP: $37.00
Johanneshof ‘Mayburn Single Vineyard, Pinot Noir Rosé NV, Marlborough NZ
Mid salmon pink in colour with orange & copper hues. Interesting & enticing nose of strawberries, raspberries & cream, stone-fruit / apricot, rock melon & spice. The palate is rich and textured, with red berry, cherry & stone-fruit flavours – a crisp acidity & light silky tannins are nicely integrated too. It’s crunchy, crisp & full flavoured with a long, dry fruity finish – An excellent summer sip! RRP: $25.00
Johanneshof Cellars NZ Mayburn, Single Vineyard Reserve, Pinot Noir 2024, Marlborough NZ
Translucent mid ruby to raspberry red in colour to the rim. The nose is fragrant, with spring floral notes, dark berry fruit & plum aromas, savoury / earthy notes too. On the palate, flavours of ripe cherry & dark summer berries, a hint of savoury earth – mushroom & some nutty barrel notes, fine tannins & a lively acidity providing texture & interest. A long, dry quite memorable finish. Excellent! RRP: $44.00