Highfield Media Releases

New Zealand Pinot Noir is currently flavour of the month with local and international consumers and judges. But this somewhat temperamental grape has a history dating back to the mid 1970s when Pinot Noir plantings were first undertaken in Auckland.

Over the following decade plantings took place in Martinborough, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough and Central Otago. The success of these planting has enabled New Zealand to become a world-class producer of high quality Pinot Noir in a relatively short time.

Pinot Noir plantings in New Zealand now cover 3000ha and are forecast to reach 4000ha by 2007. Marlborough now has 45 per cent of New Zealand’s Pinot Noir and continues to grow.

While Martinborough became the initial benchmark for Pinot Noir, Otago was for a time the “Prima Donna” as wine writers sought somewhere new to write about. Now it’s Marlborough Pinot Noir winning top accolades at international wine competitions.

Marlborough’s Highfield Estate is leading the way and recently won the Air Sea Global Perpetual Trophy for Best Pinot Noir of Competition at the 2005 Sydney International Wine Competition.

The trophy winning wine, Highfield Marlborough Pinot Noir 2002, also won gold medals at the recent WINPAC (wines of the Pacific Rim) 2005 Competition in Hong Kong and the 2003 Royal Hobart Wine Show. And other Marlborough Pinot Noir wines have shared Highfield’s success at international competitions.

Highfield Estate managing director David Direen says these successes clearly demonstrate that the Marlborough region is capable of producing high quality, internationally award-winning Pinto Noir.

Highfield Estate winemaker Alistair Soper created the award-winning wine and freely admits Pinot Noir is his favourite varietal. He says the Sydney accolade is confirmation that Marlborough can produce a Pinot Noir that is not only full-bodied and concentrated but also rich in fruity flavours.

“Marlborough has the right ingredients for creating great Pinot Noir as it flourishes in areas that enjoy cool temperatures and low rainfall. It is a very exciting time to be winemaking and the emerging quality and recognition of Pinot Noir from Marlborough confirms my belief that we live in a very special part of the wine world.”