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It all started with a 1978 study that concluded the closest climatic region to Burgundy in New Zealand was the township of Martinborough in the southern Wairarapa. The free draining soils, hot summers and reliable long dry autumn suggested that the area was ideally suited to cool-climate varieties, especially Pinot Noir. Two years later, one of the authors of the report, Dr. Derek Milne, was so convinced of the region’s potential that he, along with five other enthusiasts, bought 16 acres and started Martinborough Vineyard.
Almost immediately it became apparent that the Martinborough appellation was capable of producing not just good wine, but great wine. In 1986, the group hired Larry McKenna, the respected winemaker of Delegats in Auckland to handle the winemaking duties.
Under Larry's expert guidance gold medals and awards soon rolled in including the Bouchard Finlayson Trophy for The Best Pinot Noir Worldwide at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Challenge in London in 1997.
In 1999, after the departure of Larry to start his own winery in the nearby Te Muna Road district of Martinborough, the winery hired Claire Mulholland to oversee the winemaking duties. In 2008 Claire left her winemaking role to Paul Mason who had worked at the winery for years. Martinborough Vineyard was granted ISO 14001 certification, signifying a clear and audited environmental policy based on the principles of minimum impact on the land and air.
While Martinborough Vineyard is internationally recognized for its Pinot Noir, over the past few years the winery has also won acclaim for its Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. The wines are prized by one and all for their remarkable purity, precision, elegance and balance. |
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| The Sorting Table, LLC 1700 Second St. Suite 380 Napa, CA 94559 (707) 603-1460 |
Content and Images ©2013 The Sorting Table, LLC. |
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