Wine Notes
Testify wines live up to their name.
Introducing Testify, a wine inspired by music
Take an American restaurateur who loves music, Martinborough pinot noir and great food and transplant them to Hawke’s Bay for the day. That’s the story, in a nutshell, of how the newest Hawke’s Bay wine brand was born.
The brand is called Testify and it’s the brainchild of Daniel Brennan, who launched his new wines in September 2020. There are three wines, each one a representation of place.
“The Testify range focuses on three of the North Island’s greatest appellations: Te Awanga chardonnay, Martinborough pinot noir and Gimblett Gravels red.”
Brennan has a bit of a thing for malbec, which he has made over the past 14 years at wineries such as Te Awa and Vidal. He worked for Paritua Vineyards in 2017 where he made robust, full-bodied reds. And he now also makes a range of wines called Decibel, using grapes grown on single vineyards. The name pays homage to his initials, DB, and also to his love of music. Impressive as they are, it’s the Testify range that Brennan is most excited about. And while the name could be said to be testament to good wine quality, Testify was actually inspired by his other enduring love – music. The song Testify by Robbie Robertson evokes gospel music for Brennan, who was inspired to name his wines after the song.
“To me these wines are about bearing witness, standing up and declaring what I believe in, what I see in front of me and what is the truth. To that end I’m putting myself on the line with my wines and my music when I play as an amateur musician.”
Brennan was born in Philadelphia where he grew up in his parents’ restaurant, which influenced his taste buds and desire to work with flavour and taste – something he says translates to his taste in music too. It was through his work in the restaurant trade that he came upon a Martinborough pinot noir that wowed him, luring him to New Zealand.
“I stumbled on the winemaking course in Hawke’s Bay, so I came here 14 years ago to study the three-year degree in viticulture and oenology at EIT.”
The rest is history – and his passion for Martinborough pinot noir endures.