Spy Valley Wines is named after a nearby ‘cold war’ era satellite listening station located in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley. Spy Valley Wines sources its grapes from a 125 hectare vineyard planted in 1993, which once supplied Corbans Wines (now Montana Wines). Spy Valley Wines produced its first vintage in 2000, using consultant wine maker and aromatic specialist Alan McCorkindale. Spy Valley Wines are now made by Ant Mackenzie. It’s a winery to watch, with capacity to produce large volumes and an impressive reputation for quality. The many awards made to Spy Valley Wines include gold at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2001 for its Sauvignon Blanc 2001 and gold for its unoaked 2004 Chardonnay at the Liquorland Top 100 in 2005. As well as growing grapes, the winery has a substantial planting of olive trees from which it produces olive oil.