Winepress Magazine
Established in 1991, Winepress is the longest running wine publication in New Zealand, reporting the latest news, information & research in the Marlborough wine industry. For Winepress Advertising please contact Joanna May. For Winepress subscriptions please contact Sarah Linklater or please contact the Winepress editor Bev Doole at editor@winemarlborough.nz.
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December 2023
The December 2023 issue of Winepress looks at:
Celebrating Marlborough
Marlborough’s wine industry paid homage to 50 years of foresight, innovation and collaboration at the Marlborough Wine Show Celebration Evening - Honouring 50 years of Marlborough Wine.
Lifetime Achievement
Four Marlborough wine industry pioneers – James Healy, Dave Pearce, Tessa Anderson, and Murray Gibbons – have been awarded a Wine Marlborough Lifetime Achievement Award.
Winery Waste
As a whole, Marlborough wine companies improved their winery waste record in the 2023 vintage.
Cover: The Isabel Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021 was Champion Wine at the Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect. “Even though Marlborough is synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc, and that definitely paves the way, there’s plenty to be sung about in other varietals,” says winemaker Jeremy McKenzie. Photo Jim Tannock. See page 11
November 2023
The November 2023 issue of Winepress looks at:
Wine Show
Refined and thoughtful winemaking techniques have been celebrated by judges at the 2023 Marlborough Wine Show, sponsored by QuayConnect.
Business for Good
Increased awareness of the environmental and social impact of doing business is leading many Marlborough wine companies to take a long-term approach to business operations.
Independent Winemakers
Jordan Hogg, founder of tiny independent label Atípico, talks of a critical mass of small producers, and a market excited by their wines. “The enthusiasm in the group about where we are at is amazing.”
Generation Y-ine – Nick Lamain
Cover: John and Sally Flanagan donate grapes to Borough, a collaborative Marlborough wine brand that helps fund the Graeme Dingle Foundation in Marlborough. “It’s incredible to see the wine we help make being used in such a positive way,” Sally says. Photo Jim Tannock. See page 16.
October 2023
The October edition of Winepress looks at:
Circular Economy The Marlborough Circular Wine Group is taking a collaborative approach to waste, carbon emissions, soil health, and biodiversity. “In every session there’s someone saying, ‘we could do that’,” says facilitator Melissa Macfarlane.
Young Winemaker
Preparation, experience and loads of support from his ‘Matua family’ were key to Callum Haynes taking out the title of the 2023 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Marlborough Young Winemaker of the Year competition.
Vineyard Stalwart
Seventeen years after he arrived in Marlborough from Fiji and began his career in vineyard work, Dhirendra Swami takes huge pride in efforts that help ensure the quality of the region’s vines and wines.
Cover: Pernod Ricard Winemakers New Zealand regenerative viticulturist Jason Doughty at Triplebank Vineyard in Marlborough’s Awatere Valley. Photo Jim Tannock See page 15.
September 2023
The September edition of Winepress looks at:
Celebrating Marlborough
Plans to celebrate 50 years of Marlborough Wine will align with a new industry brand, building a visual identity that highlights the uniqueness and story of the Marlborough wine region.
Workforce Planning
A National Workforce Survey will provide a ‘stocktake’ of the roles and skills integral to Marlborough’s wine industry, “to get a sense of what skills are being looked for, and what future skills and roles we need”.
Geographical Indications
The Marlborough Winegrowers Board is looking for feedback on Marlborough’s Geographical Indications boundary, five years after its establishment.
Generation Y-ine -Estefania Suarez
Cover: Grove Mill assistant winemaker Zahn Webb-Thompson at the wetland integrally linked to the brand. Photo Jim Tannock See page 26
August 2023
The August 2023 edition of Winepress looks at:
Marlborough's 1990s
As Marlborough marks 50 years of wine, Brendon Burns looks at the 1990s, as the region’s wine reputation is sealed, despite a traumatic 1995 vintage. Mike Veal and Barbara Lawson share their memories of the decade.
Pastoral Caring
After a long working life with jobs in banking, healthcare support and housing, Ruth Gill has discovered her most fulfilling role yet – providing care and support to Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme workers in Marlborough.
Vintage 2023
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc accounted for more than 75% of New Zealand’s $2.4 billion in wine exports in the past year, driven by burgeoning demand, rising value, and replenishment of empty supply lines.
Generation Y-ine - Mengran ‘Joyce’ Zhu
Cover: Yealands’ Chief Winemaker Natalie Christensen says being named White Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge is a win for the team. “There are a lot of people involved in making these wines, it’s definitely not just me.” Photo Jim Tannock See page 14.
July 2023
The July issue of Winepress looks at:
Marlborough's 1980s
As Marlborough marks 50 years of wine, Brendon Burns looks at the 1980s, including the challenge of phylloxera, the opportunities of the vine pull, and the stellar success of Sauvignon Blanc.
Diversity Matters
Kat Pickford talks to two wine companies about the natural advantage of an equitable workplace.
Organic Conference
The Organic & Biodynamic Winegrowers Conference was as much about communities and culture as it was microbes and biochar.
Generation Y-ine - Benji Smith
Cover: Morgan Potts and Clayden Boyce help fire up wellbeing at Yealands Estate. Photo Jim Tannock. See page 12.
June 2023
The June issue of Winepress looks at:
Fifty years of wine
One man’s maverick move saw Montana kick start Marlborough’s wine industry in 1973. Fifty years on we look back at those early days and some of the key players.
Pruning tips
With pruning progressing across Marlborough’s 29,650 hectares of vineyard area, it’s vital to ensure growers, contractors, workers and wine companies work together for the best results..
Tiraki B Corp
A bottle of bad quince schnapps proved perfect motivation for a family wine business focussed on environmental and social good.
Generation Y-ine - Ashley Stace
Cover: Spy Valley good sports from left, laboratory manager Vera Amorim, assistant winemaker Ashley Stace, and winery manager Jassi Brar. Photo Jim Tannock. See page 12
May 2023
The May 2023 edition of Winepress Magazine looks at:
Vintage 2023
Vintage 2023 came as a happy surprise for many Marlborough winemakers, with a relatively long and late ripening season that delivered beautiful fruit, despite challenging conditions over spring and summer.
Wellness in Wine
To mark the inaugural Marlborough Wine Industry Wellness Week, we take a glimpse at some inspirational wellbeing initiatives.
Environment Award
Judges in the 2023 Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards were delighted by Repost’s plans to divert 3,750 tonnes of broken vineyard posts from landfill each year, while providing a cost effective fencing option for farms, riparian plantings, and significant natural areas.
Generation Y-ine - Katie Cunningham
Cover: Booster Wine Group chief Marlborough winemaker Helen Morrison welcomed a long Autumn harvest. The block of Cabernet Franc on the hillside behind her was handpicked in late April. Photo Jim Tannock.
April 2023
The April 2023 edition of Winepress looks at:
Vintage 2023
“The crew is super experienced,” says Vine to Wine intern Lisa Morgan (page 11) in her second vintage. That’s a welcome change for Marlborough wine companies excited about the quality of this year’s crop.
Wellness in Wine
An industry is only as healthy as its people, says winemaker Stewart Maclennan on the cusp of Wine Wellness Week. “We hope to foster a friendly competition that brings out the best in everyone.”
Trucking On
A pencil and rubber are Jax Smith’s “best friends” when coordinating grape harvest trucking each year. “Over the whole period of time you make tweaks and change things and try to make it as efficient as you possibly can.”
Generation Y-ine - Dr Sachi Rana
Cover: VinLink winery production manager Kathy Cooney and Fabiana Basso, one of VinLink’s permanent winery staff, are relishing an almost-back-to-normal vintage.
Photo Jim Tannock. See page 10.
March 2023
The March 2023 edition of Winepress looks at:
Fabulous Festival
The 36th Marlborough Wine & Food Festival - held two years later than planned - was “world class”. Having an event in the heart of New Zealand’s largest winegrowing region is absolutely a winner,” says Tracy Johnston.
Wear not waste not
Giesen Group is upcycling its worn-out wardrobe in a step towards circularity. “It’s amazing how many dirty old high vis are hanging around tucked away in corners,” says Renee Sturch.
In the Pipeline
Continuing a series on water regulations, resource management expert Quentin Davies looks at what’s in the pipeline for Marlborough grape growers.
Vantage Point - Mark Unwin
Environment Awards - Cropsy Technologies
Generation Y-ine - Cameron Steel
Cover: As vintage 2023 kicks off for some and looms for others, Babich Wines’ David Bullivant reflects on the season to date. Photo Jim Tannock. See page 10.
February 2023
Model Vineyard
High yields and increased grape prices in the 2022 harvest provided a “welcome improvement” for Marlborough grape growers, according to the latest Marlborough Vineyard Monitoring Report.
Cooperative Approach
Cloudy Bay founder David Hohnen is working with grape grower cooperatives around the world, including one in the ‘heartland’ of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
In the Pipeline
In the first of a series on water regulations, resource management expert Quentin Davies looks at what’s in store for the wine industry.
Pioneering Spirit - Murray Paterson
Environment Awards - Wither Hills' Rarangi Wetland
Generation Y-ine - Lewis Davidson
Cover: Kathryn Kleboe at Wither Hills’ extraordinary Rarangi Wetland, Photo Jim Tannock. See page 18
January 2023
The January 2023 issue of Winepress looks at:
Wine Festival
Next month’s Marlborough Wine & Food Festival will be a “stellar” event after a tough couple of years for the industry, says Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens.
Happy New Year
Winepress gleans insights into the year ahead from those grappling with challenges - from short labour to skyrocketing costs - and leveraging opportunities, including stellar demand for our flagship variety.
Seddon on Track
A new cruise ship steam train excursion from Picton to Seddon is a huge leap for the Awatere Valley community and economy, say Tūpari Wines general manager Olivia Doonan.
Future Lens - Next Generation Viticulture
Environment Awards - Smart Machine
Generation Y-ine - O'Shea Bailey
Generation Y-ine - Lucas Strong
Cover: Jamie Marfell and his classmates planted some of the region’s earliest vines, on a Montana vineyard neighbouring their Fairhall school. Nearly 50 years on, the winemaker looks back at a transformative industry. Photo Jim Tannock. See page 14.