Address: Princess St, Martinborough
Region: Wairarapa/Martinborough
Size: Small
First Vintage: 1984
2004 CQI: 4.37 out of 5 (18 reviews)-.2
Exported to US: Yes
In 1979, Dr. Derek Milne of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research issued a report identifying Martinborough as potentially prime wine country due to its similarity to Burgundy in climate and soil conditions. Demonstrating full confidence in his report, he,along with his brother Duncan, Duncan's wife and another couple, founded Martinborough Vineyards, now one of the renowned producers of Pinot Noir in the new world. A big step toward that goal happened when they hired Larry McKenna in 1986 as the winemaker. Mckenna was an experienced winemaker but not in Pinot Noir. Learning as he went, he soon began to produce outstanding wines and put the quiet town of Martinborough on the world wine map. McKenna has since moved on to a new project but the tradition continues with winemaker Clare Mulholland.
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