Cloudy Bay
Cloudy Bay is a New Zealand premium winery producing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir from Marlborough and Central Otago, operating as a subsidiary of Moët Hennessy (LVMH) and serving legal-age wine consumers globally via wholesale and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersTimaru, New Zealand
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cloudy Bay does
Cloudy Bay is a New Zealand premium wine producer founded in 1985 by David Hohnen, operating primarily from vineyards in the Marlborough and Central Otago wine regions. Its product portfolio is anchored on three varietals — Sauvignon Blanc (the signature product and category-defining release for Marlborough), Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir — produced under a single brand positioned at the premium tier of New Zealand wine.
The company operates as a subsidiary of Moët Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of LVMH, which provides the parent-level distribution, marketing, and capital backing of a global luxury conglomerate while allowing Cloudy Bay to retain its New Zealand-origin brand identity. Through Moët Hennessy, the brand is also embedded in international industry associations (Spirits EUROPE, Discus, Wine in Moderation) governing responsible consumption policy.
Cloudy Bay sells both through its parent's distribution channels and via a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront (cloudybay.co.nz) that requires country/region and age verification, with shipping supported across an extensive list of international markets. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customer-targeting language is horizontal, aimed at legal-age wine consumers globally. The reported headcount of 51-100 employees indicates a focused operational footprint concentrated on viticulture, winemaking, brand, and DTC operations in New Zealand.
Cloudy Bay firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cloudy Bay
- Legal name
- Cloudy Bay
- Website
- https://cloudybay.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Cloudy Bay is a New Zealand premium winery producing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir from Marlborough and Central Otago, operating as a subsidiary of Moët Hennessy (LVMH) and serving legal-age wine consumers globally via wholesale and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cloudy Bay industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium New Zealand Wine
- NAICS
- Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)
Keywords
Where Cloudy Bay is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Timaru
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Markets served
Cloudy Bay business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Cloudy Bay product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cloudy Bay produces and sells a portfolio of premium New Zealand wines, primarily Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, sourced from its vineyards in the Marlborough wine region and Central Otago wine region. The company operates as a branded wine producer and marketer, distributing its bottled wines internationally under its own label.
Product overview
Cloudy Bay is a world-famous New Zealand winery producing a portfolio of premium wines. The company offers a range of varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, sourced from vineyards in the Marlborough Wine Region and Central Otago Wine Region. The product lineup consists of distinct wine products, each representing a different varietal produced from New Zealand's premier wine-growing regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
Companies that use Cloudy Bay
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cloudy Bay technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cloudy Bay partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Spirits EUROPEminorCloudy Bay supports the responsible consumption of wines and spirits through Moët Hennessy membership in Spirits EUROPE, an industry trade association.
- DiscusminorCloudy Bay supports the responsible consumption of wines and spirits through Moët Hennessy membership in Discus (Distilled Spirits Council of the United States).
- Wine in ModerationminorCloudy Bay supports the responsible consumption of wines and spirits through Moët Hennessy membership in Wine in Moderation, a global wine industry initiative promoting responsible drinking.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cloudy Bay competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Brancott Estate: Brancott Estate is one of Cloudy Bay's closest New Zealand rivals, also a Marlborough-based Sauvignon Blanc producer with global distribution. Direct overlap in varietal, region, and premium off-premise positioning makes it the most comparable peer.
- Villa Maria Estate: Villa Maria is one of New Zealand's largest and most awarded wineries, producing Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir across multiple regions. It directly competes with Cloudy Bay in premium on-premise and export channels.
- Kim Crawford: Kim Crawford is a Marlborough-focused New Zealand winery famous for its Sauvignon Blanc, now owned by Treasury Wine Estates. It competes head-to-head with Cloudy Bay in the global New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc category.
- Oyster Bay Wines: Oyster Bay is a Marlborough-based New Zealand producer specializing in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir with strong international distribution. Direct overlap in varietal mix and export-led business model.
- Foley Family Wines: Foley Family Wines owns and operates multiple New Zealand wineries including Vavasour and Martinborough Vineyard, producing premium Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Comparable varietal mix and premium positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Treasury Wine Estates: Treasury Wine Estates owns Penfolds, Wolf Blass, and Kim Crawford, and is one of the world's largest premium wine producers. As the parent of a direct New Zealand peer, it competes broadly in the same premium wine category.
- Moët Hennessy (LVMH Wines & Spirits): Moët Hennessy is Cloudy Bay's own parent company, overseeing a global portfolio of wines and spirits including Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Hennessy. Its broader portfolio provides relevant comparison for the premium wine and spirits operating model.
- Pernod Ricard: Pernod Ricard owns a global wine and spirits portfolio including Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate (via prior acquisitions), and Mumm. Overlaps with Cloudy Bay in premium wine distribution and parent-owned brand strategies.
- Accolade Wines: Accolade Wines owns Hardys, Banfi, and several New Zealand and Australian wine brands. It is a broad incumbent in premium and mainstream wine with comparable international distribution reach.
- Constellation Brands: Constellation Brands operates a large premium wine portfolio (including Robert Mondavi and Kim Crawford's prior parent assets) alongside its spirits business. Comparable as a multi-region, premium-wine-led operator with global distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Cloudy Bay social profiles
Digital presenceCloudy Bay financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cloudy Bay leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cloudy Bay funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cloudy Bay M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cloudy Bay
What does Cloudy Bay do?
Cloudy Bay produces and sells a portfolio of premium New Zealand wines, primarily Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, sourced from its vineyards in the Marlborough wine region and Central Otago wine region. The company operates as a branded wine producer and marketer, distributing its bottled wines internationally under its own label.
Is Cloudy Bay a public or private company?
Cloudy Bay is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cloudy Bay founded?
Cloudy Bay was founded in 1985. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Cloudy Bay based?
Cloudy Bay is headquartered in Timaru, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
Who are Cloudy Bay's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Brancott Estate, Villa Maria Estate, Kim Crawford, Oyster Bay Wines and Foley Family Wines. Broad incumbents are Treasury Wine Estates, Moët Hennessy (LVMH Wines & Spirits), Pernod Ricard, Accolade Wines and Constellation Brands.
Does Cloudy Bay have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cloudy Bay.
What industry is Cloudy Bay in?
Cloudy Bay's product category is Premium New Zealand Wine. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAB, Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAB, Wine Production & Winemaking. Its NAICS code is 312130 and its SIC code is 2080.