Thursday 2 July 2009

PRIMARY PINOT - 200 HANDS

Primary Pinot is a fundraising initiative for Martinborough School and is a collaborative winemaking venture with Martinborough Vineyard.  In April the children of the school picked the grapes and Martinborough Vineyard winemaker, Paul Mason, is now turning it into wine.

School Principal Ann Easter notes ‘the 2009 vintage will be called 200 Hands celebrating the enrolment of the 200th child in our school this year, showing the growing population of Martinborough’. 

Pete Wilkins, viticulturist at Martinborough Vineyard and Martinborough School Board  Trustee member, is the man putting the project together. He said ‘we’re now at the next stage of involvement by the children.  We took barrel of Pinot Noir to the school today for the children to make their mark on.  All 200 children put a hand print onto the barrel in celebration of the 200 Hands label.’

Ruth Mahupuku-Kelly of Martinborough School who is the school’s liaison person said ‘the next task is creating the artwork for the labels for the 300 bottles that will be produced.’  Mrs Mahupuku-Kelly also commented ‘this project is an important part of our technology curriculum for next term and will help cement close links with the school to the community.’

For further information, please contact:

Peter Wilkins, Viticulturist, Martinborough Vineyard 06 306 9955 / 021 457 801
Janine Tulloch, General Manager, Martinborough Vineyard  06 306 99 55 / 029 3699 550
Ruth Mahupuku-Kelly & Ann Easter, Martinborough School 06 306 9602