NEW ZEALAND'S PREMIER WINE, FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Toast Martinbouough
Key Facts and Award Winning Wines

Martinborough - key facts

  • The vineyard producing area has more than doubled since 2000.
  • The total Wairarapa/Martinborough producing area is 855ha in 2008, compared to 327ha in 2000, and with 870 ha forecast for 2009.
  • Wairarapa/Martinborough represents just 3% of the total producing area nationally.
  • The Wairarapa currently has 58 vineyards, more than double the number the region had in 1995 (24 vineyards).
  • The predominant varieties for the 2008 vintage were Pinot Noir (54%), Sauvignon Blanc (23%), Chardonnay (8%), Pinot Gris (5%) and Riesling (4%). 
  • The 2008 vintage produced 4,105 tonnes, triple the volume in 2003 (1,311 tonnes), and double the volume of 2007 (1,949 tonnes – this was significantly below average, due to climatic challenges).

Award-winning wines

Each year, Martinborough wins a disproportionate amount of trophies and medals for its size in international wine competitions, often outstripping the efforts of larger, more commercially focused regions. Unlike other wine regions where awards are generally concentrated on one or two varieties, Martinborough wines attract top awards across the range of varieties. Even varieties grown in relative small quantities are produced to award winning level.
Featuring small, largely family owned wineries where the focus is on producing quality rather than quantity, Martinborough has retained its boutique nature and down to earth spirit as recognition and demand for local wines and other produce has grown.