Jules Taylor

Jules Taylor
Marlborough | New Zealand

For Jules, a Marlborough girl born and bred; life began in the early 70’s just two years before the fledgling local wine industry began planting its first vines. Growing up in this wine region meant that the ebb and flow of the viticultural seasons have never been far from her view. Jules has seen the transformation that the wine industry has brought to the area and with this life long association she brings to her winemaking an intimate understanding of the interplay between the grape and Marlborough’s variety of climates and soil. Although she calls the wine region “home” Jules has also spent much time wandering the globe’s other wine producing areas. During the 11 years since graduating she has completed 8 vintages in Italy; four in Piedmont and four under the direction of Kim Milne MW in Sicily. These were mixed with stints in Australia at Yarra Ridge in Victoria, and the Hunter Valley’s Rothbury estate. In New Zealand, her work history includes Villa Maria in Marlborough and successive vintages at Cloudy Bay. In 2000 Jules settled back into life in Marlborough and continued her day job as winemaker at Kim Crawford’s Marlborough winery, eventually becoming Constellation NZ’s senior group winemaker in 2008 after the Kim Crawford brand was purchased. She continued juggling time between her day job, moonlighting with her own wines and looking after her two young sons Louis & Nico. Very recently she has resigned from her position at Constellation NZ to concentrate full time on the Jules Taylor label. Jules is passionate about the flavors, the consistent fruit quality found in Marlborough and creating unique wines from these grapes.