Autumn Newsletter

Latest news from the Martinborough Wine Village

Perfect Summer, Perfect Fruit 

Great news for Martinborough wine lovers – the driest, hottest summer in over 20 years according to locals, is expected to yield a bumper vintage of high quality wines.

Wines From Martinborough chairperson Janine Tulloch, said wine makers were picking earlier than normal as a consequence of the warm summer and dry autumn.

Due to the warm weather at the end of November and early December during flowering, and the follow on of a great summer, most wineries have found themselves coming close to capacity. Continued good weather, and having fruit in good condition has allowed those at capacity to empty tanks to make room. 
 
Escarpment Chief Winemaker, Larry McKenna said the signs were particularly good for his red varieties.

“The fruit is very ripe, there’s plenty of colour and so we expect lots of depth, concentration and ripe fruit flavours,” Mr McKenna said.  “The 2008 vintage will cellar well with good longevity – the fruit just couldn’t be better.”

Neil McCallum, Chief Winemaker from Dry River says that while you can never tell it’s a great vintage until the public are enjoying it from the bottle, it’s fair to say people are excited about the potential. “Everybody’s smiling round here”, he said.

Ms Tulloch said the vintage will be a great relief for the market which has been desperately short on Martinborough wines. “The early whites will likely be ready between September and November. We know that’s news that will really round off this perfect season”

Vintage Trade Day

Wine buyers from New Zealand and Australian restaurants and independent wine stores had the chance to help with the harvest earlier this month, at the third Vintage Trade Day event in Martinborough.

Wines From Martinborough General Manager, Rachael Fletcher, says the day was a great opportunity for those in the trade to literally get their hands on the latest Martinborough vintage.

“We bought over 50 people this year and had them working next to the winemakers, doing everything from picking, to crushing and plunging,” said Ms Fletcher.

“They also got the opportunity to sample the best of the regions previous vintages, as well as some superb Martinborough cuisine.”

Attendee, and owner of Wellingtons Crazy Horse The Steakhouse John McGrath said it was great to get an understanding of the productivity infrastructure and see all the facets of how a wine is put together.

“We split the visit so we were at Craggy Range  where we picked grapes and did the quality control of the fruit on the machines. Then we went over to Escarpment and plunged, and had a look at the chemistry side of it.

“As a Wellingtonian these are our regional wines and we’ve got a great relationship with the Martinborough providers. They showed us a great day, gave us great wines and then finished up with a fantastic dinner at the Martinborough Wine Centre. We were spoilt rotten.”

Logan Brown’s Alex Cumming also enjoyed the experience.

“Having the opportunity to try pretty much all the current vintages mean we are much more knowledgeable when dinner guests want help with their wine selection.  And it’s extra special because we can say we were there, we were part of it.”

Alex says the chance to get closer to some of the individual wineries made the experience unique.

“On the first night we sat at the round table in the Martinborough Vineyard staff room and had a meal with the team. We got to choose wines from their cellar that you just can’t buy so we were drinking wines no-one else can drink.

“Martinborough’s always been such a quality region anyway but I certainly feel even closer and more involved with that brand as a result of the Vintage Trade Day experience.”

Upcoming event: Unique and Boutique Vineyards of Martinborough “Meet Your Maker” – 7th and 8th May

Experience a tasting of over 40 wines from some of Martinborough’s finest boutique vineyards at the upcoming “Meet Your Maker” event, on 7th and 8th May at The Boatshed on Wellingtons waterfront. Talk directly with the winemakers as you sample their wines and enjoy sumptuous Wairarapa gourmet canapés and live music to match.

The participating vineyards are all family-owned and operated, producing excellent handcrafted wines including many Trophy and Gold Medal award winners. And with many of the wines in such small parcels, this may be the only opportunity you have to sample them.
 
The 15 participating Unique and Boutique vineyards are: Vynfields, Tirohana, Tiwaiwaka, Te Hera, Schubert, Pond Paddock, Oak House, Julicher, Hudson, Haythornthwaite, Croft, Coney, Cabbage Tree, Ashwell, Alexander

Tickets can be purchased from participating vineyards, The Martinborough Wine Centre Ph: 06 306 9040, or Wineseeker, 86-96 Victoria Street, Wellington Ph: 04 473 0228. Tickets sold out early last year so get in early to avoid disappointment.

Ata Rangi the magazines’ pick

Ata Rangi wines have made it into prestigious magazines in both New Zealand and the UK.

Out of 175 entrants, Ata Rangi Craighall Chardonnay 2006 was the top ranked wine, and 1 of just 10 wines to achieve 5 stars in the coveted Cuisine New Zealand Chardonnay tasting. Full details are in the May issue of Cuisine magazine.

And the UK’s leading wine magazine, Decanter, features a 2006 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir on its front cover, alongside a top Pinot from Domaine Dujac and a Chardonnay from Domaine des Comtes Lafon; the latter French wines from two of the finest producers in Burgundy. 

Ata Rangi founder Clive Paton says while they were over the moon with the Cuisine result, the exposure through Decanter magazine is even more significant.

 “Decanter magazine is widely regarded as the UK’s leading wine magazine. World wide circulation is over 40,000; about half reach wealthy UK wine-lovers, and most of the balance goes to subscribers in North America and Europe.”

Limited supplies of both the Craighall Chardonnay 2006 and the Pinot Noir 2006 are still available. Contact Ata Rangi on 06 306 9570 or www.atarangi.co.nz

Tirohana Vineyard introduces Tirohana Cellars

Tirohana Cellars, a new vineyard café at Tirohana Estate, opens its doors later this month. With views across the vineyard, a terraced patio, a large open fire and elegant furnishings, the café caters to the full range of diners, from casual to corporate and fine dining.

The restaurant offers a wine-matched menu and plans to welcome celebrity and guest chefs each season as well as hosting special events and cooking demonstrations. 
The restaurant will be open daily, year round. Bookings essential.

Contact: Toby and Saranne James, Phone: 06 306 9933 or info@tirohanaestate.com, www.tirohanaestate.com

Discover the Wairarapa region, and taste the wine

Cinema goers who like a wine with their movie can go one better at the boutique Circus Cinema in Martinborough.
 
“Vintners Choice – discover the region, taste the wine”
lets you recline, relax and discover the stories and characters behind the region’s wine from the luxury of an intimate theatre.  The 45 minute movie takes you soaring high above the Wairarapa valley, meeting the passionate pioneers and taking an expert lesson in wine tasting, sampling 6 local wines, with winemakers as your guide. 

The interactive wine film will screen at 4pm daily from 1st May, and is also available by arrangement at venues throughout Wairarapa and Wellington.

For further details, contact Tim Martin on (06) 306 9442 or at info@circus.net.nz

Marvellous Martinborough

A selection of recent rave reviews about Martinborough’s wines:

Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007
A prima ballerina of a wine – graceful and supple and light on its feet.  Citrus flavours edge out sauvignon blanc’s traditionally dominant herbaceousness, but what really sets this Martinborough wine apart is its sheer elegance and refinement.  This is about as good as sauvignon blanc gets outside Marlborough – for that matter, anywhere. 
Karl du Fresne, (Sunday Star – Times Magazine 24/2/08)

Palliser Estate Pinot Noir 2005
Soft, dusky plum and raspberry coulis.  Supple tannins. Long finish.  Delicious! 
Decanter Feb 2008; Top New World Pinot:  Decanter’s Best. 

Schubert, Block B Pinot Noir 2006 Wairarapa
Sweet but not sickly, dense but not chewy, lively with many subtle layers. Should age well.  Rated as top red wine in Jancis Robinson’s selection of NZ’s Top 50 Wines.
Jancis Robinson.com

Dr. Neil McCallum, Dry River Wines
It is a great achievement for any New Zealand wine producer to make a wine that ranks among the country’s best. But when a  winery  makes  chart-topping  Riesling,  Sauvignon  Blanc, Gewurztraminer,  Pinot  Gris,  Chardonnay,  Pinot  Noir,  and Syrah, it is a quite extraordinary feat.
Bob Campbell, The World of Fine Wine, Issue 10 2008

Escarpment Chardonnay Kupe 2006  - 5 stars
On bouquet there is a depth and beauty to this wine that immediately reminds of famous old world chardonnays one has been lucky enough to taste. It is the best Larry McKenna has made, and perhaps New Zealand's most complete and finest example of the grape yet.  Cellar 3 – 10 years, but should hold longer. 
Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews 03/08

Escarpment Pinot Noir Voyager Single Vineyard 2006 – 5 stars
This Voyager is arguably the greatest pinot noir so far made in New Zealand.  Larry McKenna has been thinking deeply about pinot noir in New Zealand for a full 23 vintages now, and it shows.  Big pinot noir ruby, but appropriate - the lightest of the Escarpments. Bouquet is simply sensational. Here is an antipodean expression of pinot noir immediately ready to take its place alongside some grand cru Cote de Nuits burgundies. There are 200 cases.  Buy as much as you can afford, and cellar 3 – 15 years. 
Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews 03/08

Foreign intern finds the Martinborough magic

A chance meeting with a Martinborough wine importer saw Drew Stapp head down under for the New Zealand summer.

Drew was working a wine tour in his native Southern California when he met up with the importer who introduced him to Larry McKenna and John Belsham, visiting from Martinborough and Marlborough respectively.  Having heard he was just out of University and wanting a background in the business, John offered him the opportunity to work in New Zealand for the summer as a vintage intern.

“I am just having such a fantastic time so far,” said Drew.  “I started in Marlborough working at Foxes Island, then moved over here to Escarpment to work with Larry.

“The chance to work with Larry in particular who is one of the best winemakers in New Zealand was just too good to pass up,” said Drew.

While his degree is in marketing, Drew has been enjoying the opportunity to learn every facet of the winemaking business.

“Everything is really hands on here and it’s great. I’ve been picking pinot, crushing fruit, putting it in the fermenters and I’m an expert on the forklift.” 

Drew will be in New Zealand until mid-May.

‘The Great Harry’ released

Palliser has released ‘The Great Harry’, the in the commemorative series of great wines dedicated to special dogs and their owners.
 
The third in their series of great wines commemorating special dogs and their owners and events significant to Palliser Estate, this moderate crop from the Burgundy clones 667 and 777 have been barrel aged for sixteen months in two-thirds new oak casks, has excellent colour, layers of ripe classic Pinot Noir flavours, structure and texture.