Established in 1985 by the Hill-Smith Family, Nautilus Estate is a small family-owned winery nestled in the cool and diverse valleys of Marlborough New Zealand.

Nautilus is committed to crafting wines that are textural, age-worthy and foodfriendly, respecting and showcasingthe unique Marlborough terroir. Grapes are selected from a handful of specially chosen Marlborough vineyard parcels, which contribute avast spectrum of flavours and aromas. The resulting blend gives complexity and depth.

We believe in the value of hard work, and embrace our responsibility as stewards of the land

The first release from Nautilus Estate was a 1985 Sauvignon Blanc. At the time there were approximately 80 wineries in New Zealand, today there are over 700. Nautilus Estate is one of the few wineries that still has the same ownership over twenty-five years later. Under the stewardship of the Hill-Smith family, Nautilus Estate has remained true to its mantra of never being the biggest but always striving for the best. Growth has been controlled and deliberate, rather than riding the euphoric wave that was created as Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc took the world by storm.
Recognising the winemaking complexities of the inspiring but sometimes infuriating Pinot Noir grape, Nautilus built two separate wineries; The Nautilus Pinot Cellar, built to handle Pinot as gently as possible, and the Nautilus White Winery, dedicated to crafting cool climate varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Grüner Veltliner.