Wine TimelineThe decision made by Montana in 1973 to plant wine grapes in Marlborough was the most visionary and vital one made in the short history of the New Zealand Wine Industry. It wasn’t an easy road to success, but led by science, our enviable natural environment, and a brave small community who got together and got things done, Marlborough put New Zealand wine on the world map.
Marlborough has quickly grown to be New Zealand’s largest producer and has grown at an outstanding rate, growing from 6,831 hectares in 2002 to 22,819 in 2013. Today, almost 30,000ha of vines (around 2/3 of the national total) are under the care of local wine producers, making it the country's largest wine region.
Coincidentally, 2023 also marks 150 years since Marlborough’s first vineyard of Muscat was planted at Auntsfield by Scotsman David Herd in 1873. These vines were pulled out in 1931 and no others were recorded in the region until 1973.
Ballinger Horticulture Centre opens
1986
In 1985 Nelson Polytechnic and Blenheim Borough Council leased land in Budge Street, Blenheim from local horticulturist Ralph Ballinger and the $300,000 Ballinger Horticulture Centre was opened the following year.
Vavasour Awatere
1986
In 1986, the Awatere was a distant landscape dotted with sheep and thought too extreme for vines, so Peter Vavasour had the pick of the Valley. With sheep and beef farming suddenly marginal, Peter started looking to diversify, and planted 30 acres of grapes in 1985-86.
Vavasour’s first vintage was in 1989 and it wasn’t long before they discovered their punt had paid off, with their Sauvignon Blanc winning Champion Wine in the 1989 Air New Zealand Wine Show.
QEII
1989
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II visited Brancott Vineyard, 13 Feb 1989.
IWSC
1990
Montana reveives the Marquis de Gourlaine Trophy for best sauvignon blanc in the world at the 21st International Wine and Spirit Competition in London.
Wirecare clip
1990s
Developed and manufactured in Blenheim. Plastic clips that are designed to hold wires for the vine canopy. They were developed by Rex Brooke-Taylor, owner of the local company, Wirecare. Previously wires were held up by nails but these wore both the wire and nail.
Education Vineyard
1991
NIMT vineyards established to support their education programme.
Wine Marlborough Ltd
1992
Formed as the trading company for Marlborough Winegrowers Association.
Corbans
1993
Alan McCorkindale, winemaker, wins five national trophies at the Air New Zealand Wine show for Corbans Marlborough wines.
Taylors Engineering
1990s
Geoff Taylor designed and manufactured some of the region's earliest wine tanks for Montana and many of the pioneering wine companies. By the 1990s, with the wine industry well and truly established, he began to develop other products including the tipping bin and wine tank.
Bill Walsh
1992
Bill Walsh becomes the first life member of the Marlborough Grapegrowers Association. He was a founding member and former president.
No .1 Family Estate
1997
Pioneers of Méthode Traditionelle in New Zealand for 40 years, Adele and Daniel Le Brun launched No.1 Family Estate, their family-owned winery, in July 1997.
Rootstock
1993
Ormond Nursery get permission set up a root stock venture at the Research Centre.
Weta on vines
2000
In the early 2000s, a then little-known species of ground weta was discovered, causing significant damage to vine buds in the Awatere Valley. This led to a decline in grape production and caused big problems for grape growers.
Tohu Wines
2001
Tohu wines buy 120 hectares of land in the Awatere and first vines planted by board members James Wheeler, Rore Stafford and Mugwi MacDonald in 2002. Tohu is the first Maori owned wine company.
Screwcap initiative
2001
This captured the attention of winemakers in New Zealand, particularly Marlborough, where, due to increased cork related problems, research was already underway. In February 2001 during a meeting, sponsored by Marlborough winemakers, the screw-cap seal/ closure was identified as the most promising alternative to cork closures for wine.
Irrigation bungy valves developed locally
2001
“Great result for the team with the Clever Business Award from Marlborough Chamber of Commerce. With our launch of the new flushing valve for irrigation, batten bungee and solid core bungee for wakeboarding boots it’s been a good year for R&D”.
Modified Net winder
2005
Ormond Nurseries develop a modified net winder to remove nets before harvest and that can be operated by one person.
Carbon-neutral
2006
The New Zealand Wine Company located in the Waihopai Valley in Marlborough (brands Grove Mill, Sanctuary and Frog Haven) become the first carbon-neutral certified-winery in the world, which it achieved in September 2006.
RSE Scheme
2007
Government-run, the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme allows employers within the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit a capped number of workers from overseas – predominantly from the Pacific – for seasonal work in New Zealand.
KLIMA
2008
KLIMA was established in 2008 by two leading New Zealand viticulturists Nigel George and Marcus Wickham.