BLENHEIM
AND MARLBOROUGH WINERIES
Blenheim is the
focal point for the Marlborough wine growing region.
A number of wineries are located on the towns edges,
with many more just a short drive away. Synonymous
internationally for its distinctive, herbaceous Sauvignon
Blanc. It is New Zealand's largest winemaking region
with around 65 wineries and 290 grape growers and
over 4000 hectares planted in grapes, mainly Sauvignon
Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
and Gewurztraminer.
The annual Wine Marlborough festival (second Saturday
in February each year) is held in Blenheim. It is
a show-case for the region's bounty and draws people
from all over the world to taste Marlborough's wines.
The
original grape plantings were on the southern fringes
of the plain, but have since spread across the landscape
onto the river flats of the Rapaura district, west
to the Waihopai and lower Wairau and further south
into the Awatere Valley.
From these
plantings has come a string of national and international
awards, vindicating the region's excellence in producing
both still and sparkling wines. The jewel in the
Marlborough crown is undoubtedly its sauvignon blanc
wines, critically acclaimed as among the best in
the world.
Those same
climatic and soil qualities that ensure the success
of the region's wines, also help to produce fine
fruits and vegetables, seafoods, meats, and dairy
products which have collectively earned Marlborough
the title "Gourmet Province of New Zealand."
Villa Maria
Villa Maria is one of New Zealand's leading
winemakers. Villa Maria has been New Zealand's leading
wine award winner, both nationally and internationally
since the early 1980s. Villa Maria's talented people
have an unrelenting passion to produce quality wines.
Realising that it takes more than just good winemaking
to produce quality, a passion to succeed begins
in the vineyard.
Huia Vineyards
Huia Vineyards was established by Winemakers
Claire and Mike Allan, who were drawn to Marlborough
by the intense fruit flavours in the wines. This
boutique-sized Marlborough wine company is committed
to the production of premium and classical Marlborough
wines. Huia is focused on hand crafting fine unique
wines expressing the richness of Marlborough grapes
from the vineyard through to the table. Blending
modern and traditional techniques Huia makes seven
premium wine varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris,
Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot
Noir and Vintage Huia Brut. Claire and Mike Allan
were drawn to Marlborough by the intense fruit flavours
in the wines. They gained further winemaking experience
in key Marlborough wineries, along with an extended
stage in Champagne, France.
Lawson's
Dry Hills
Ross and Barbara Lawson founded Lawson's Dry Hills
in 1992, they had been growing Gewürztraminer
grapes for other wine companies on their Alabama
road vineyard since 1980.
Their first vintage, which included the Gewürztraminer
grown on the Alabama road vineyard, was just fifteen
tonnes and was managed by Ross from the old tin
shed on the property, which is still standing and
forms part of the winery cellar door.
Their Gewürztraminer has gone on to be recognised
as one of the country's finest and has firmly established
Lawson's Dry Hills on the national and international
wine stage.
Other plantings soon followed and the company now
produce a benchmark range of Marlborough wines including
Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris
and Pinot Noir, as well as outstanding Gewürztraminer.
All the grapes for Lawson's Dry Hills are sourced
from Marlborough's Wairau, Waihopai, Omaka and Brancott
valleys.
Allan
Scott Wines
Allan Scott Wines & Estates Ltd is a family
owned and operated vineyard and winery group. In
1985 the family moved to the Rapaura district where
they developed their first block of Sauvignon Blanc.
The winery
facility was architecturally designed and built
in 1990, from rammed earth and rough sawn timber
for a sophisticated yet rustic appearance. The
winery is firmly nestled amongst the prime vineyards
in Jackson’s Road surrounded by mature trees
and manicured gardens where the Cellar Door shop
and Twelve Trees Restaurant complete the facilities
available. An
ongoing desire to create aromatic estate grown and
produced wines is reflected in the expansive range
of wines produced at the winery.
As the Marlborough
region has gained a well deserved reputation as
a wine and food haven, Allan Scott Wines has developed
its own reputation as a Marlborough icon and a sound
name for outstanding wines and fine food. Quality
and absolute dedication to achieving the best is
the key to Allan Scott Wines. The company prides
itself on viticultural excellence, extending through
to the finished product.
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