The week is flying by down here in Marlborough! Every winery is being fantastically helpful, and I have stories to tell from each one..dont worry i'll spare you most of them!.

Marlborough - Not friendly enough to let me know I had something on my face all day… yet still a VERY friendly and helpful wine region!

I’m in love with this place and I’m falling in love with the idea of growing and producing Pinot Noir here. Interesting to find out that a few producers are making Syrah!! Which will be VERY interesting to see how that turns out - Maybe with global warming it will be a future varietal for Marlborough ? ;) Theres also a couple of places producing Montepulciano (yum!)

Driving west out of Blenheim towards Renwick with the numerous wineries and brown hills either side of the valley, vineyards as far as the eye can see, reminds me of Napa Valley. It is a very different climate obviously and none of the wineries seem to overshadow their customers with their prowess, prestige or money like they do in Napa. Its ‘New Zealand’s Napa’ having put NZ on the map in terms of premium wine, much like Napa did for USA, but its definitely still KIWI!

I really seem to get that the people here must LOVE their lives because everyone is so lovely. There seems to be a buzz here, every winery I go to the people have been receptive, positive and helpful. I can’t wait to get this product into their area because it will be another celebration of Marlborough and something else they can pat themselves on the back for.

Something I notice down here is the ingenious ways of using old barrels to decorate… Mahi winery has a stunning weave pattern of barrel staves from floor to ceiling… other wineries use old barrel staves to create a bike stand or two. I love it!

27 wineries down, all of which had some door of interest to photograph too!

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