MARVELLOUS MARTINBOROUGH!
Winery Tour 11-14 March, 2021
MARTINBOROUGH
Martinborough wasn't discovered as a prime site for viticulture until the 1970's. In 1978, a scientific report compared the climate of the region with that of Burgundy, France, and a few pioneering vignerons began to buy land around Martinborough. Nowadays, the busy township has several dozen wineries in its vicinity.The annual Toast Martinborough wine festival attracts around 10,000 visitors every November.
The viticultural areas of the region lie on the Martinborough Terrace – a raised plateau of alluvial gravel that has been forced up over time by tectonic movement. The free-draining nature of the soil is excellent for viticulture because it limits the hydration of the vines, leading to stressed vines that put their energy into producing small, concentrated berries, increasing the quality of the grapes (and the wines).
Come with us to marvellous Martinborough & savour special food and wonderful wines, while enjoying convivial company. It's time to have some fun!
11 MARCH - DAY ONE
After being flown from Tauranga, clients will be met at Wellington Airport before being transported to our first Martinborough tasting at Luna Estate.
We had gone around in circles trying to find 2 vineyards we had previously visited - then found a Raymond Chan article that updated us:
"Luna Estate is the former Murdoch James Estate, undergoing revitalisation under the ownership of Wellington businessman and wine lover Charlie Zheng. Purchasing Murdoch James in 2011 then Alana Estate in 2014, the vineyards are undergoing a programme of replanting which will see Pinot Noir become the predominant variety in a 44 ha estate of vines. Joel Watson, with the company since February 2015 is the winemaker and fully involved in the changes. I met him and tasted his new wines about a year ago (click here to see my reviews), and was impressed with the serious approach and quality of the wines. Here, I review a new selection, from 2018 the Pinot Meunier Rosé, Pinot Gris and Riesling, and 2017 ‘Eclipse’ Chardonnay from the Martinborough Terrace vineyard. www.lunaestate.co.nz"
Two precious parcels of land are home to Luna Estate’s vineyards - Blue Rock and Eclipse. From ancient seabed to river terrace, their two distinct terroirs allow them to create wines that truly reflect place. Pinot Noir focused, they also produce delicious Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Rose, Chardonnay and Syrah.
The World of Wine when writing about Top Wine Destinations, said:
“Of the many fine wine producers there today, Luna Estate is one to know and visit.….Wines for tasting are from the estate and single vineyard sites each showcasing their own distinctive profile, flavours & textures.’
We will then travel on to one of our favourite venues, Tirohana Estate, for a tasting & lunch.
This venue is now privately owned and managed by the Raymond Thompson Family Trust. It is a boutique, award-winning vineyard (and restaurant) located on the “golden mile” with unique soil properties nourished by the alluvial terraces of the ancient dry riverbed.
Raymond Thompson has always enjoyed New Zealand and the Wairarapa region as an escape from his hectic activities in the global film and television industries.
The vineyard enjoys the unique distinction of winning the prestigious Romeo Bragato award for Championship Pinot Noir NZ and Championship Reserve Wine NZ, as well as several Championship trophies and medals, along with a Cuisine 5 star recommendation acknowledging Tirohana Estate Pinot Noir as being in the top ten Australasian wines.
Our final visit for the day, before returning to our Greytown accommodation, Greyfriars Motel will be to Palliser Estate.
Palliser Estate is comprised of 85 hectares of ultra-premium Martinborough land. The first vineyards were planted in 1984 and its current wines reflect the characters being developed from these older vines. Their philosophy is to produce wines of quality, distinction and style – reflected in the number of awards they have won at home and abroad.
“Palliser Estate has not tended to flagship any one varietal, but its Sauvignon Blanc has set a benchmark and the Pinot Noir is nestled comfortably among the country’s heavyweights.”
12 MARCH - DAY 2
Their cellar door is housed in the 130-year old cottage of Martinborough’s namesake, John Martin. It showcases the bounty of the incredible landscape - a true legacy from Martinborough’s pioneering past, formerly housing John Martin’s senior stockman. Today it is the home of award-winning wines. We will enjoy a tasting in the rustic aesthetic, inviting surroundings & cottage gardens.
This long-time favourite destination for a huge number of Toast Martinborough tourists provides wines for all tastes. A complimentary overview in The Real Review commented:
“
The Margrain vineyard, planted in 1992, was born from the passion for fine wine, good food and the country lifestyle held by husband and wife owners Graham and Daryl Margrain. They were part of the second wave of wine enthusiasts who came to Martinborough to follow on from the success of the pioneer wineries that had established themselves some 10 years previously. Having developed a love for the regions wines they came to realise the importance of the local climate plus the effects of the now famous Martinborough soil terraces. Winemaker Strat Canning came to them for their second production year and in 2016 worked his 21st vintage. His has been a key role in the development of both viticulture and wine style and is keen to ensure there is no barrier between vineyard and winery efforts. Since their inception Margrain has quietly gained a reputation for producing a wide range of exceptional wines that exude both complexity and charm. The line-up has only become more eclectic over the years.”
We'll enjoy lunch & a tasting at this wonderful venue.
Our next tasting will be at Atarangi
“In 1980, Ata Rangi founder Clive Paton made the bold decision to sell his small herd of dairy cows in order to buy 5 hectares of stony, barren sheep paddock at the edge of the small Martinborough village. His dream, inspired by a scientific soil and climate report on the suitability of Martinborough for grape-growing, was to become a world class vigneron. As a keen rugby player he had often skinned his knees on the free-draining gravels of Martinborough, so he knew very well the challenges he faced in nurturing the young vines. Clive was soon joined by his sister Alison who purchased a 2 ha adjoining paddock. Clive planted this in pinot noir while she worked in London, bolstering her knowledge of the international wine trade. Clive married in 1987, after meeting his wife Phyll in Marlborough where she’d also been working as a winemaker. Ata Rangi, thanks largely to talented and highly respected Winemaker Helen Masters, has an enviable reputation as one of the New World’s most respected Pinot Noir producers and remains proudly in family ownership.”
Our final tasting for the day will be at Colombo.
Raymond Chan in a review wrote:.
"The production of the Colombo wines is small and will remain so. It’s all part of the complete hands-on approach, where Baptist and Carolyn oversee and control as much of the process as possible. Their first harvest on site, in 2014 saw 6 tonnes of Pinot Noir from the home site processed, with 2.5 tonnes of clone 95 Chardonnay from the Escarpment Vineyard in Te Muna Road, 4 tonnes of Sauvignon Blanc from Palliser’s vineyards, and 4 tonnes of Syrah from the William Murdoch vineyard in Hawke’s Bay, run by friend Jenny Dobson. To make a rosé, they contract Pinot Noir fruit from a local site, so as to not use their precious resource of old vines from their home block. This amount of fruit will remain pretty much constant.
The home block is planted wholly to Pinot Noir, 50% Abel clone and 25% each clones 115 and 667. Baptist notes that the vines are dry farmed. Being on the Martinborough Terrace, their vineyard is surrounded by illustrious neighbours, with a Palliser vineyard on the other side of the road, the former Martinus vineyard, now used by Kusuda, the Dodd vineyard to the west, and Olly Masters’ vineyard to the south. Being on a high point of the terrace, they seem to escape frost."
13 MARCH - DAY 3
Today, we will begin at HAYTHORNWAITE WINES.
Mark Hornthwaite, a wine afficinado originally from South Africa, planted this vineyard in 1992 & are the only vineyard in the area that has persevered with Gewurztraminer.
"II's our passion, it's the wine we love. So we make a dry Gewurztraminer, and an of-dry....and at the other end of the spectrum we do an Auslese or late-harvest style."
CONEY WINES is owned by Tim & Margaret Coney. We will enjoy lunch & a tasting here. When they bought 16 acres of bare land south of Martinborough, those cognisant of Tim’s rock ‘n roll past thought the couple were mad. We love that the wine name’s reflect his past passion & the Coney sense of humour: - Pizzicato Pinot Noir, Rallentando Riesling, Ramblin’ Rosé, Que Sera Syrah. Prepare to be entertained while indulging your palate; Tim has the same linguistic gifts & sense of humour as his brother, cricketer & commentator, Jeremy.!
ESCARPMENT
The Escarpment Cellar Door offers a wine and food tasting experience with canape food matches to a wine flight. We will have the mixed range, including Rose, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.
in a sit-down setting the Cellar Door Host will bring the four wines to your table and give a presentation about each of the wines and an explanation of the food pairings. Questions & discussion are encouraged, whether it be about the winemaking process or the Escarpment vineyards, or whatever!
For the more hardy, who are not "wined out" we have two boutique wineries we would like to visit, SCHUBERT & ON GIANTS' SHOULDERS. They do not take bookings, only accepting walk-in clients & have extremely small tasting rooms which precludes being able to have larger groups. However, they do have great reputations! Our accommodation & both venues are not far from each-other, so we have arranged to phone to check availability & intend to ferry/swap clients to fit in with these constraints.
14 MARCH -DAY 4
As you enter the gates of this vineyard, you realise that the deep-rooted, well-tended vines have been here for a long time. Planted in 1986, by the Kernohans, the site grew form 2.7 to over 18 hectares over the next 20 years. When new owners Ediee Mc Dougall & a consortium (The Flying Winemaker's) took over, they retained much of the philosophy & system of vineyard management, but ushered in their own vision for the brand. & collaborates with several premium vineyard & growers across the Wairarapa & Hawke’s Bay, which helps to diversify their portfolio of wines.
Cameron Douglas, in World of Wine recommends trying The Single Vineyard Dakins Road Pinot Noir 2018 …but your selection should include all the Pinot Noir on offer, as well as the Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Gris.”
Our “Talk & Taste” will include 3 x Gladstone Vineyard Estate wines and 1 x Gladstone Vineyard Single Vineyard wine.
We will lunch in Palmesrston North (at client's cost) before making comfort stops in Taihape & Taupo.
Expected arrival time in Tauranga wil be approximately 19.30.
BE QUICK TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT! ONLY 14 SEATS AVAILABLE!
Cost: $2730.00 pp. ($2340.00 pp. Twin share).$250.00pp. deposit to be paid on booking; remainder by 12 February. Deposits are non-refundable, but can be transferable. Should the tour, for some reason, not proceed, all monies paid will be refunded.
Includes: Transport (including flight to Wellington), accommodation (Greyfriars Motel), tastings, continental breakfast, winery lunches.
Account for payment: 01 0322 0214423 00
Does not include dinners or lunch/tea/coffee on return trip. Accommodation has cooking facilities in its rooms and is within walking distance to restaurants.
CONTACT: LYN OR PAUL MARSTON
TAURANGA TASTING TOURS & CHARTERS
PH:(07) 5441383 or 0275224607