Collection: Judge Rock

Judge Rock is a small family-owned winery run by the Jacobson-Ciaroni family.

Their motto is "elegant, sensual and intimate," and they aim to create wines that are balanced rather than powerful, familial rather than corporate, and like "romance rather than a blockbuster movie."

They describe themselves as "the Higgs of the world's Pinot Noir," humorously pointing out that although they may be small in size, their existence and numerous awards demonstrate their high quality.

history

Located on the hidden slopes of the Alexandra Basin, the 4-hectare vineyard was first planted in 1998 by Paul's father, John Patrick Joseph Jacobson, and is currently home to 12,500 Pinot Noir and 2,500 Saint-Laurent vines.

The region has an extreme climate, with temperatures ranging from minus 12 degrees Celsius in winter to 35 degrees Celsius in summer, but the cool nights help preserve the freshness and elegant aromas of the grapes.

Since 2019, the farm has been certified organic, and its cultivation is carried out with consideration for the natural environment.

Attention to detail

Their winemaking is meticulous and entirely handcrafted: grapes are hand-picked, fermented with wild yeasts, cold-soaked in stainless steel tanks, and then aged in French oak barrels (both new and used).

The winemaking team is made up of experienced New Zealand winemakers, and owner Paul himself oversees winemaking, drawing on his experience working at Benjamin Leroux in Burgundy.

Unique and Award-Winning Wines

The high quality of Judge Rock's wines has led to them winning numerous gold medals and trophies at national and international competitions, including the Decanter World Wine Awards and the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

Of particular note are the unique product names that include legal terms.

The wines are characterized by playful names such as "Guilty" (Pet Nat), "The Verdict" (Port), "The Alibi" (Blanc de Noirs), "Your Honour" (Pinot Noir), and "Innocent" (Rose).

They also produce Saint Laurent, a rare variety in New Zealand.

Hospitality

The winery has a cellar door attached to it that is open every day (11am - 5pm). They also have a stall at the Otago Farmers Market in Dunedin every Saturday morning, positioning it as a "cellar door to the world."

Additionally, the vineyard is home to Judge Rock Cottage, a self-catering accommodation offering a relaxing stay with spectacular Central Otago views, starry skies and award-winning wines.

While humbly admitting that "we are so small that we are almost invisible to the world," they continue to express the Central Otago terroir with their passion and the assured quality evidenced by numerous awards.

This is a wonderful winery with a strong love and commitment to wine.