Martinborough's Climate: Moderate Maritime
Moderate Maritime
Temperature range 16.5 - 18.5°C
Low diurnal (Day night time temperature differences)
Low Continentality. (Summer winter temperature differences)
Rainfall even throughout the year. Spring rainfall can result in poor flowering and fruit set. While rains at harvest increase the risk of moulds and mildews.
Martinborough's Grapes: Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir (pronounced PEA-no NWAHR, the grape that produces Burgundy's finest red wines, is one of the hardest to grow. This thin-skinned variety is generally an early budder and ripener, so it is best-suited to cool, marginal climates - 40 to 50 degrees latitude - and only produces good wine when the fruit is controlled to very low yields. It has the problem that it mutates easily and is also particularly susceptible to leaf roll, and to rot because of its compact grape bunches. Pinot has no single recognisable flavour or style. Young Burgundy, however, can be reminiscent of raspberries or strawberries, while mature French Pinot tends to evolve into anything from violets, game and truffle to farmyard aromas and compost. Despite its difficult temperament, Pinot Noir is hardly just a French phenomenon. It crops up in Northern Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Eastern Europe as well as California, Australia, New Zealand and even South Africa and Chile. It�s a successful ingredient for sparkling wine and is one of three grapes used in champagne, bringing good acidity, structure and body. Pinot Noir goes by a long list of names, which include Spatburgunder and Blauburgunder in Germany and Klevner in Switzerland.
Martinborough
Climate: Moderate Maritime
Key Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
The township of Martinborough is in the centre of the region of Wairarapa, an hour's drive from New Zealand's capital, Wellington. Grape growing has been carried out in parts of Wairarapa since the 19th Century but planting in Masterton started in the 1980s after a geologist identified it as superb for growing vines. The vineyards tend to be planted on the old river beds in deep stony and free-draining soils, which ensure a good supply of minerals to the vines. Climatically, the area is similar to Marlborough, with low rainfall, high sunshine hours and cool nights. Pinot Noir is the particular stunner from this area.
