wa2.gif (4241 bytes)


abut9.gif (3095 bytes)



abut12.gif (3207 bytes)
abut10.gif (3636 bytes)


abut11.gif (4039 bytes)



 

New Zealand's Marlborough region: some pictures

We humans are pretty visual creatures, so I thought it might be quite nice to try to give you the feel of some of the wine regions I've visited by means of some nice pictures. I always find I understand a region's wines a little better when I've seen the vineyards, so here are some pictures from New Zealand's Marlborough region, with a bit of annotation after each one. 


The Wairau Valley floor, looking over to the Wither Hills: this is the heart of Marlborough, and this wide row spacing is typical.


The Awatare Valley, over the other side of the Wither Hills


Montana's Brancott Estate, Wairau Valley


Another view of Brancott


Wind machines are all over the place: frost is a real issue here, and one way to deal with it is to use these propellers to get the inversion layer (a layer of slightly warmer air above the freezing lower layer) to mix in and raise the temperature. Helicopters are also used for this. 


This is the other option: to use sprinklers as frost control. The vineyard pictured is part of the massive Winegrowers of Ara estate which has been newly established.


Stoneleigh Estate's vineyard in Rapaura, another subregion


Awatare Valley


New plantings, Wairau Valley


Sauvignon Blanc, Rapaura


Frost damage


Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau Valley

Pictures taken, November 2007

see also: My guide to New Zealand wine, based on a visit in November 2007

Back to top