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Marlborough - New
Zealand |
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The
history of winemaking in New Zealand extends about 150 years, which is a
mere blink of an eye as compared to the wine history of, for example,
Greece and Italy. In a comparatively short space of time, New Zealand
wine has outgrown its fledging status and is now competing with the
world’s best, especially white wines to the like of Chardonnay (Neudorf
and Hunters) and Sauvignon Blanc (Cloudy Bay, Nautilus and Montana).
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In the Sunshine Stakes,
Marlborough ranks in the same category as Champagne in France, Sonoma in
California and Geisenheim on the Rhine. Blenheim has more than once been
called the “Sunshine Capital of New Zealand”, with total annual sunshine
hours often higher than anywhere else in the country, but the sun’s rays are
moderated by the cooling breeze, which blows up the Wairau River Valley, and
therefore ideal for exceptional Sauvignon Blancs.
Crossing the cool strait
on a hovercraft between Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island)
offers some of the most spectacular sceneries of the Marlborough Sounds. |
Renting a car in Picton,
we drove along the various bays and sounds to Havelock and Nelson, a typical
British settlement with traditional pubs and craft shops in its main street.
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The Tasman National
Park, with the Tasman Mountains, protecting Golden and Tasman Bays from the
inland, provides unspoilt scenery of blue seas and yellow sandy shores.
But
the main reason to visit this northern region of South Island is for its
excellent white wines. Visiting Allan Scott Wines not only gives you the
opportunity to experience a family-owned winery, but also enjoy a
typical provincial lunch in the Twelve Trees Vineyard Restaurant. |
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To the other side of Jackson Road lies Cloudy Bay Vineyards -
wine writers have had to invent new metaphors during the past fifteen years:
“A vinuous king kong in Manolo Blahnik stilettos” or “intellect of chamber
music and sheer decadence of striptease”. Believe it or not, they are
referring to wine and not a musical : the world renowned Sauvignon Blanc
from Cloudy Bay.
The third well known vineyard in this region is Hunter’s
Wines. The first woman to own a New Zealand winery, Jane Hunter, studied
Viticulture in Adelaide Australia and was running all of Montana’s vineyards
at a tender age of 27. Both reds (Pinot Noir and Cabernet / Merlot) and
whites (Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewürtztraminer and Alsacean wine) are
cultured by Hunters and have already received numerous international gold
awards.
Montana, New Zealand’s largest winery, is producing 30
million litres of wine annually. Led by the vision of Frank Yukick, Montana
Wines first came to Marlborough in 1973 and are now sold all over the world
and appear on the menus of many restaurants.
The stay in Marlborough was rewarding, the wines exceptional,
but the highlight of the visit to this wine growing area was the early
morning trip in a hot air balloon over quiet vineyards, with only a dog’s
bark in the distance ...
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