MARLBOROUGH, YOU’VE GOT THIS

Kelli Brett guides us through the gorgeous food and drink experiences of Marlborough

Known world-wide as a paradise for wine lovers, with sauvignon blanc and pinot noir as the shining stars, my latest expedition to Marlborough had me firmly focussed on curating a trail that brings food and drink together with a special nod to the locals that drive that conversation so well. As you head into Blenheim those glorious vines will seduce you at every turn so it’s obvious that you need to head straight to a winery to get yourself orientated and into the Marlborough mix.

FROMM Winery delivers a superb cellar-door experience where you will have the opportunity to taste current release wines together with older vintage library releases. General manager and co-owner Stephan Walliser will proudly walk you around an intricate collection of corkscrews including the first corkscrew ever patented in 1795. There’s something to be said about that 15-second ceremony followed by the satisfying pop of the cork that is rarely executed these days. Winemaker Hätsch Kalberer helped Swiss couple Georg and Ruth Fromm establish this winery in 1992 and he is still the force that guides their outstanding 100% organic wines into each bottle. These are wines that are created with genuine concern for the health of the land, the plants and the environment.

While wondering about the person that would truly appreciate the FROMM approach to quality over quantity I asked Hätsch who he made his beautiful wines for: he answered, “Me.” I like that. frommwinery.co.nz

On the subject of making wine with a unique set of rules, Framingham proudly maintains some of the oldest riesling vines in Marlborough. As delicious as that riesling is, there is much more to discover inside their cellar door where accreditation of 100% sustainability keeps the focus intently on the future. Their experimental F-series range creates alternative takes on classic varietals and although most of the time the F-series wines are oneoffs, winemaker Andrew Brown takes what he and his team have learned and applies that to a range that runs the gamut through sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot gris, gewürztraminer, pinot noir, viognier and Montepulciano plus those much-coveted rieslings. Music is at their core with Brownie joining local winery band Renwick Nudes to take centre stage at the annual Framingham Harvest Concert – an event that I’m told is so good on so many different levels that hardly anyone ever remembers it. framingham.co.nz

To continue our wine theme and experience complete seclusion, a night or two in the vineyard cottage at artisan winery Hans Herzog is unforgettable. While our borders remain closed, owners Hans and Therese offer safe and exclusive private wine and food experiences by appointment in their gorgeous wine lounge, and their story is one of immaculate attention to detail.