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Press Release 31 Jan 2012

The New Year sees Wine from Martinborough heading to Melbourne to show off the new season's releases and a special showing of older Pinot Noir at Golden Fields in St Kilda.

Eleven of the 23 members will descend on Melbourne on Waitangi Day, 6th of February for a full day of events at Golden Fields in St Kilda. Golden Fields is the new culinary delight of Mr Andrew O'Connell. This Asian inspired eatery is a true match for wines like Pinot Noir – see the menu to get inspired!!

The day's events will start with a structured tasting of older and current vintages of Pinot Noir for Sommeliers Australia from 12:00 to 2:00pm, hosted by Chris Crawford (Sommeliers Australia/Pinot Unearthed) together with Martinborough wine legends Larry McKenna (Escarpment), Allan Johnson (Palliser Estate), Paul Mason (Martinborough Vineyard) and Helen Masters (Ata Rangi) for an in depth exploration and discussion of the variety that, literally, put Martinborough on the map.

Wines from Martinborough will then host a general trade tasting of current releases from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. This will provide trade and lovers of Martinborough wine an opportunity to meet the personalities behind some of Martinborough's most iconic wine labels.

The evening sees the winemakers from the rural wine village letting their hair down and enjoying themselves with a consumer dinner from 7:00pm onwards. This is where Chef Andrew O'Connell's talent will really shine, with a stunning menu matched to a range of wines designed to showcase the distinct boutique nature of the Martinborough appellation. Lovers of Martinborough wine will get to try wines never before seen in Melbourne and this will be a great chance for the winemakers to let their hair down. Phillip Rich from the Prince Wine Store and Chris Crawford from Pinot Unearthed will be there so we are anticipating a fun evening - watch this space for the follow up report!

Wines From Martinborough Dinner:

When: Monday 6th February, 7pm
Where: Golden Fields, 157 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Melbourne
Cost: $145
For bookings, please call Golden Fields directly on 03 9525 4488

To preview the menu click here.

*This event is now booked out*

MEDIA RELEASE
4 May 2011
INTERNATIONAL BLOGGERS DRIVING MARTINBOROUGH WINE SALES IN ASIA

A who's who of Asia and Australia's wine writing cyber world is helping to fuel the sales of Martinborough's vintage following a two day wine and culinary experience in the boutique Wairarapa wine village.

Hosted by Wines From Martinborough, the visit by the select group of international media movers and shakers was part the world class Martinborough wine areas' latest push to spread its name and increase wine sales throughout Asia.

The eight Australian and Asian wine writing influences helping to drive Martinborough's wine export market were treated to a variety of vineyard visits.

Fine regional food, tastings of rare cellared wines, lunches and tours were topped off with a seven course degustation dinner with matched wines at Martinborough's Parehua Country Estate.

Visiting writers, including Yu-Sen Li of Taiwan, Suzie Chung of South Korea, Sarah Mayo of Singapore, Dan Sims of Australia and Tersina Shieh, who services the Greater China market from Hong Kong, all operate in the cyber world of internet websites and blogs.

In Hong Kong alone, 90 per cent of the population use iPhones, making blogging and social media the way of the future to push various markets, said Ms Shieh.

Getting Asian wine bloggers on board was a vital step to growing Martinborough's presence in the Asian markets, said Wines From Martinborough chairwoman, and co-owner of local exporting vineyard Vynfields, Kaye McAulay.

Nearly 60 per cent of Wairarapa's 43 wineries are actively involved in exporting their wine.

It's about cultivating wine champions, who could promote Martinborough wines effectively in Asian markets, she says.
“In the past the focus has been on the US and Europe markets, but there has been a shift toward Asian markets. The future of the economy is in Asia. You have young professionals there moving into western food and western wine.

“The bloggers in Asia are the people who drive the wine drinking and wine purchasing more than in the western world. We are now realising just how important these people are in shaping the industry. It is an interesting revolution going on and the reality for us selling our products is that they are the future of wine sales in Asia,” she said.

Figures from the New Zealand Wine Growers Association support the rising success of New Zealand wines in Asia.

According to association chief executive Philip Gregan, Asian markets are now a key focus for New Zealand wineries as they seek to grow their business beyond the traditional markets of Australia, the UK, the United States and Canada.

Exports into Asia could reach NZ$100 million by late this year, from around NZ$60 million last year, the Association has previously said.

Suzie Chung, a columnist, Wine 21.COM reporter and avid wine blogger from South Korea, said the telecommunications evolution was changing the way Asians sought out information on wines.

“Korea is like ‘connectopia,' where everyone wants to be connected with each other. I write a blog and promote a Martinborough wine which is on the market here for example and all of a sudden hundreds of other blogs blog about my blog, and the word spreads. We can get 10,000 hits about one wine in one day alone as the word spreads through the internet.”

Wine appreciation in Korea was an accidental success, she said.

“Around 2006, there was a huge growth in wine sales driven off the back of programmes promoting the health benefits of drinking red wine. The market grew at that time by around 140 per cent and even though an economic crisis which followed in 2009 shrunk that market, the word is spreading.

“People are now really aware of not just the promotion of health benefits', but developing a true appreciation for various tastes and flavours.”

For more information please contact Kaye McAulay, chairperson, Wines From Martinborough (06) 3069901 or 021 891 431.

According to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise:
- The China market for domestic and imported wine has been developing rapidly, and it is now becoming a fashionable drink for the wealthy and elite.
- Wine consumers in Hong Kong are mostly Chinese familiar with Western food and beverage products, Europeans and expatriates. Similar to other Asian countries, Hong Kong is primarily a red wine market.
- Demand for New Zealand wine in gradually increasing in South Korea, but suppliers face a challenge in the form of inexperienced wine consumers
- Despite the downturn, Taiwan has seen demand for wine grow substantially in the past year, making it the fourth largest Asian wine market.
- Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Vietnam have a combined population of around 450 million, with wine consumers ranging from uninitiated to sophisticated.

Winestate  (advance news)

The next issue of Australia's prestigious Winestate magazine (May/June 2011) is huge for Palliser Estate Wines – announcing 5 Stars and Equal Top in Class status for both the Palliser Estate Pinot Noir 2008 and the Pencarrow Pinot Noir2009.  The Palliser Estate Methode Traditionelle 2006 also scored Top in Class.   

Cuisine

Cuisine magazine's March 2011 Aromatic wine feature gave 5 Stars and a Top 10 rating to Martinborough Vineyard Manu Riesling 2010, and 4 Stars to the Burnt Spur Pinot Gris 2010. Following are the ratings from other publications and commentators:  

• Martinborough Vineyard Pinot Gris 2009

- Top 20 in New Zealand by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine  (January 2011)

• Burnt Spur Pinot Gris 2010

- 4.5 stars - excellent result / high silver medal Winestate magazine

- Nominated for Winestate Annual 2011-12 and Wine of the Year judging for late 2011 by Winestate Magazine (Michael Cooper - NZ recent releases) in the March/April 2011 issue internationally 

• Bob Campbell listed Martinborough Vineyard  in the Top 20 New Zealand wineries in Decanter magazine (September 2010)
• Both Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Pinot Noir and Martinborough Vineyard Pinot Noir are being poured in Qantas Trans-Tasman Business Class flights
• Sue Courtney listed Martinborough Vineyard as Best Producer for 2010 and the Martinborough Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 as Best Chardonnay for 2010

Glittering Gold at the 2011 Air NZ Wine Awards

Two iconic Martinborough wineries took top honours at the Air NZ Wine Awards in November 2010.

Gold medals were awarded to Palliser Estate for their Martinborough Pinot Noir 2008 , and Pencarrow Martinborough Pinot Noir 2009. 

The Palliser Estate Pinot Gris 2009 and Palliser Estate Chardonnay 2009 both took home a silver medal, while  the Palliser Estate Chardonnay 2008 won Pure Bronze .   Read More: Richard Riddiford's blog

Margrain Vineyard won Gold with their sparking wine entry Margrain La Michelle 2007 .  www.margainvineyard.co.nz

The 2007 La Michelle, just the second bubbly they have produced, also took out the coveted Winestate Magazine Wine of the Year trophy for Best Sparkling Wine at an awards luncheon in Auckland. The finalists are selected from the thousands of Australian and New Zealand wines tasted throughout the year, then re-tasted to establish the overall winners.

Martinborough Pinot Beats The World

Schubert 2008 Pinot Noir Block B receives the INTERNATIONAL TROPHY for best Pinot Noir at Decanter World Wine Awards 2010 in London. “This is a great honour” says proprietor & winemaker Kai Schubert, “receiving this huge accolade. There were Pinot Noirs from 19 other countries including France, Italy, Australia, the USA, Chile and Germany which makes this International Trophy not only a fantastic success for us at Schubert Wines, but also for the Wairarapa region and the whole of New Zealand. Click HERE to read more

Boutique Size No Barrier

Size really does not matter when it comes to fine wine.  Martinborough produces less than 4 percent of New Zealand's wine but took 20 percent of Decanter magazine's Top 20 picks for “exciting producers and stunning wines. Click HERE to read more.

Schubert Wines

The International Wine Challenge in London just announced the 2010 Trophies and after awarding both Schubert Wines' Pinot Noirs with GOLD the Schubert Pinot Noir Block B 2008 was also awarded the Trophy for BEST NEW ZEALAND PINOT NOIR. Click here to read more

IWC Kiwi Winners

Harpers Wine & Spirits, UK, April 2010
"New Zealand's Wairarapa region may be small, but it's wines are making a big impact".  Click here to read the full article

Martinborough in the Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Bourne, March 2010
"For lovers of pinot noir the grass is greener in New Zealand".  Click here to read the full article

Martinborough Feature in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph

Sandra Lee, February 2010
"Cross the Tasman and raise a toast to the wine region bursting with natural beauty and bottled pleasures". Click here to read the full article

Magestic Martinborough

John Hawkesby, World Magazine December 2009
"Refined and self-confident, low-profile Martinborough produces some of New Zealand's best wines, writes John Hawkesby."

On an overcast late afternoon on a quiet Monday there's not even enough breeze to rustle the leaves of the trees on the green that defines the quaint town of Martinborough.  Looking at the historic two-storey Peppers Martinborough Hotel you'd be excused for thinking you'd stumbled onto the set of High Noon or Three Ten To Yuma.  There's a sense of being in another place at another time.  Click to read the full article

Top of the Range from down under

Will Lyons, Scotland on Sunday, October 2009

In just three decades New Zealand has moved into the forefront of wine producers. What's the secret? "One region that immediately stands out is Martinborough, at the southern end of the North Island. A relative newcomer to the stage – its first vines were only planted in 1979 – it now boasts a trio of outstanding wineries such as Ata Rangi, Dry River and Palliser. The region stands out for its chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir. In fact, the pinot noir I have tasted from Ata Rangi and Dry River can stand alongside any of those found in Burgundy. They possess a ripe, plummy fruit character with an appealing savoury component that puts to shame many of the one-dimensional fruit bombs found elsewhere." To read the full article click here

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