Martinborough
Martinborough features smaller, boutique wineries that are often family-owned and where the focus is on producing quality rather than quantity. Relatively small yields enable Martinborough winemakers to devote themselves to producing superior, handcrafted wines. Wines produced from the region are considered to have excellent concentration, texture and depth, due to generally low cropping levels and the area’s unique soil and climatic qualities. The region’s terroir, together with the skill and passion of local winemakers, is generally recognised as Martinborough’s point of difference. The area is also unique in the diversity of varieties produced in the compact region. While Pinot Noir initially established itself as the region’s signature variety, Martinborough has become renowned for producing premium wines across the range of varieties.
Terroir
A 1979 DSIR report first identified Martinborough as having similar climate and soil types to Burgundy. This report sparked initial interest in the area’s wine producing potential, with the first vineyards established in the early 1980s. Located on an ancient alluvial river terrace made up of deep, free-draining gravel overlaid with gravely silt loam, Martinborough has low rainfall, hot summers and a long, dry autumn. It is the consistency of the region’s autumn that’s believed to provide the right balance of warm days (creating ripeness) and cool nights (creating elegance) for producing top quality Pinot Noir, and other early-ripening varieties.
While on a smaller scale than other regions, the growth in planting and establishment of new vineyards in Martinborough over the past 25 years has transformed the local landscape dramatically. Experimentation and ongoing innovation has been a feature of winemaking in the area. The wines produced have continued to evolve as the vines have grown older, the winemakers have become more experienced, and viticulture and winemaking techniques have been refined. At the same time, the ongoing establishment of new wineries has brought fresh ideas and new approaches into the region. As the number of vineyards and total producing area has increased, the region has retained its boutique nature and focus on quality. A strong sense of collaboration and sharing of ideas has also contributed to the collective development of the region’s wines.