The estate was founded in 1978 by by Neal and Judy Ibbotson, and there are now six vineyard sites throughout the Awatere and Wairau valleys. These vineyards take advantage of Marlborough's cool, dry climate, and a grading system allows the viticulturalists to assess which plots are giving the best fruit each year.
Plots are vinified separately to give the winemakers lots of options while blending. Saint Clair also source grapes through relationships with local growers.