Named after the founding runholder John Martin, the town of Martinborough was laid out in the form of a Union Jack. Situated on the southern end of the North Island, the quaint village of Martinborough sits at 42° south, a similar distance to Burgundy from the equator.
With a cool climate and Burgundian soil profile Martinborough, Wairarapa is an area initially renowned for stunning Pinot Noir. It is a windy and cool region – the cold southerly wind whips up from the Cook Strait and is funnelled towards Martinborough by mountains to the east and west. The wind has been known to reach 120km/h and can inflict a lot of damage! Luckily it has a particularly interesting impact on the Pinot Noir grapes – they are small and thicker skinned and have added structure, colour and tannin. These days Martinborough produces many different varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling.
