Lawson’s Dry Hills becomes NZ’s most sustainably certified wine producer

Wine producer Lawson’s Dry Hills has showcased more than four decades of industry knowledge in the Marlborough Business Awards held last November 2025. From humble beginnings with just one vineyard planted by founders Ross and Barbara Lawson in 1982, the business has developed into an internationally renowned wine brand.

A decade after planting the original vineyard, the Lawson’s Dry Hills label was launched and has gone from strength to strength. Sales and marketing manager Belinda Jackson says the business has evolved significantly since those early days. “It has evolved in many ways — growth for a start, we export to 20 or so markets now. We have a wider range of wines too. We have also developed a very strong philosophy on environmental sustainability, becoming New Zealand’s most sustainably certified wine producer.”

That commitment to sustainability has been a defining milestone for the company, alongside a range of awards that recognised its wines and wider business practices. Among those accolades is the Excellence in Sustainability Award from the New Zealand International Business Awards in December 2023.

Today, Lawson’s Dry Hills sources fruit from 120 hectares across Marlborough, including Wairau, Waihopai, Omaka and Awatere Valleys, split between their own vineyards and a few long-term growers. The diversity of soils and microclimates across the region provides valuable blending components.

“From clay-based soils to free-draining gravels, glacial riverbed and silty loam, these all give different characteristics to the grapes and therefore the resulting wines.” She says the microclimates also meant the business was spreading risk, so if there was a weather event in one part of the valley, other vineyards could still be relied on.

“Our wines are of Marlborough, so to show our company at a local level is to pay tribute to the region’s natural resources as well as the efforts of our team.”

Sauvignon Blanc remains one of the winery’s most recognisable varieties. Belinda says the team focuses on ensuring the vineyard’s character is reflected in every bottle by carefully translating the vineyard’s flavours into the wine glass. “We do go the extra mile when it comes to grape-growing and winemaking as we want to create textural, expressive wines that are authentic to the grape variety and the place it is grown.”

Despite exporting to about 20 markets around the world, Lawson’s Dry Hills is a very hands-on business. “It means we do the lot,” Belinda says. “From nurturing the vineyards and growing the grapes through to harvesting, winemaking and even bottling and warehousing on site, it’s all done by our team of just 18. We touch every bottle that leaves our winery.”

Belinda describes the team as “more like a family,” who catch up over morning tea and the daily quiz and celebrate each other’s birthdays with home baking. The team’s work was celebrated at the Marlborough Business Awards, where they won the Excellence in Sustainability category, showcasing their connection to the region. “Our wines are of Marlborough, so to show our company at a local level is to pay tribute to the region’s natural resources as well as the efforts of our team.”

Looking ahead, sustainability remains a focus of the company’s long-term direction. “Our vision is to lead New Zealand in sustainable wine production and, as a result, continue to grow a thriving, global wine business for us, the Marlborough region and New Zealand.”