Triple win for Clayvin Pinot Noir at 2024 Marlborough Wine Show

Clayvin Pinot Noir 2021 made big waves at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect, picking up three separate category trophies.

Giesen Chief Winemaker Jeremy Tod said a great vintage had made an already special wine even more exciting, and the fruits of the harvest were really just starting to shine through now. This was confirmed when it picked up Vit Management Ltd Champion Organic Wine, Fruitfed Supplies Champion Southern Valleys Wine and De Sangosse NZ Champion Pinot Noir 2021 & Older at the 2024 Show.

He shared a little insight into the wine and what makes it so special…

Clayvin Pinot Noir 2021 came away with three trophies at the MWS this year. Were you expecting such good results with this wine and what makes it so special?

We knew that we had a great wine, yet didn’t expect it to do so well. All of the classes are highly contested, so it was a humbling result. We take a very ‘hands-on in the vineyard, hands-off in the winery’ approach to this wine, so the result is a testament to the hard work the vineyard team has put into it.

How do you think this wine showcases the ageability of quality Marlborough Pinot Noir?

2021 was a great vintage, especially for Pinot Noir. It produced highly concentrated fruit, and the wines are really just starting to show well now. Marlborough is capable of producing some of the world’s best Pinot Noirs with great ageing potential.

One of the trophies you received was Champion Organic Wine, aside from demand, what was the driver for Giesen making organic wine? Why is organics important for the Marlborough wine industry?

Organic wines have long been an important part of the Giesen brand, with Clayvin leading the way. We believe legacy is vital, so we aim to leave the land in a healthy state for the future generations of Marlborough. It’s a no-brainer for us! The quality of our grapes tells us that we can produce organic wines of exceptional quality.

This Pinot Noir also took out Champion Southern Valleys Wine. Can you tell us a bit about the taste characteristics of the sub region that make this wine what it is? What elements of the area contribute to these characteristics?

Clayvin Vineyard is the cornerstone of our premium wine range. Set in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys, it’s on a north-facing site resulting in a warmer mesoclimate, and draws on clay soils. The first plantings at Clayvin were done in 1992 and the vineyard is characterised by high-density planting, encouraging vine competition and reducing vigour.  The wines are renowned for their natural acidity, floral notes and highly concentrated flavours.

About the sponsors.

All three of these trophy sponsors are key players in the Marlborough wine industry. Get to know them a little better below.

Vit Management Ltd (Champion Organic Wine trophy)

Vit Management is a local business that provides reliable and innovative vineyard management, operations and technical support. They provide viticulture solutions for grape growers and wine companies that want improved quality and returns.

Fruitfed Supplies (Champion Southern Valleys trophy)

Fruitfed Supplies is the horticultural service and supply division of PGG Wrightson Ltd with stores located in New Zealand's major horticultural regions. Alongside their store network, more than 50 technical horticultural representatives get out in the field to assist growers in producing profitable and sustainable crops. Their long time clients include grape growers, pip and stone fruit exporters and vegetable growers supplying local and overseas markets.

De Sangosse NZ (Champion Pinot Noir 2021 & Older trophy)

De Sangosse NZ offers high quality plant nutrition and pest control products, alongside technical support to customers throughout New Zealand. With a team based here in Marlborough, they’re the experts you need to keep your vines healthy and protected from pests.